A STAR IS BORN

It had been a few weeks since the wedding, yet Shan Mei’s mind was still on honeymoon. If she continued like that, no work would get done.

Michael had informed her that Head Office had decided to increase the viewing hours from four to eight hours a day, once they began transmission through MBS.

In fact, Michael and his brother David really liked dealing with Xiang Zhe, rather than with those conservative decision makers at SGS. Of course for Michael and David, anything or anyone with Oxbridge connections was the best. So the four of them got on like a house on fire. Michael even hinted, at one time, there might be chance for one or two crossover programmes between CTN and MBS. He knew Shan Mei would like that very much.

CTN-KE would need more programmes to fill out the hours. Luckily for them, CTN had a very extensive resource library at their disposal. Shan Mei would need first rate dubbing or voice-over facilities. She would rely on MBS to provide this expertise.

She sent Michael an email outlining her thoughts. This would be the most cost-efficient method. She wanted Michael to send her 1 or 2 previous contracts CTN had with other dubbers of channel providers, for reference. She wanted to understand the terms, so when she approached MBS for negotiation, she didn’t want either CTN or MBS to hold the advantage.

Now that Michael considered himself as Xiang Zhe’s Senior, and Xiang Zhe was his Junior, they must give MBS a fair deal. Anyway, Michael was someone who abhorred unfair play. Wasn’t that the reason he took it upon himself to personally groom Shan Mei after he heard of her bad experience at MBS? Sometimes he couldn’t believe their good luck. Where were they going to find another gem like her?

Michael immediately faxed to her a couple of contracts, and in his email reply, gave her some parameters to work with, and the advice: Don’t be too hard on Junior

===

This morning, Xiang Zhe had just returned to his office after a morning meeting with his father. When MBS started out, it was private enterprise wholly owned by his grandfather and his mother. In its 10th year of operation, a few other television networks came onto the scene and competition was very stiff. In order to keep its position and competitive edge, MBS was forced to upgrade plant equipment and introduce new technology. MBS had to invite new shareholders who could inject cash into the company. Because of this, Yin Senior, although the majority shareholder of MBS still had to look to the BOD for consensus in implementing any changes.

When Xiang Zhe first joined MBS, the BOD gave him 3 years to turn the company around. Although it was a heavy responsibility for a young man tackling his first job, the BOD agreed he was the suitable candidate since his family founded the company.

Under his leadership, no great revenue improvement to the company was apparent, but a lot of money had been expended to upgrade plant facilities. Xiang Zhe was starting his fifth year with the Station, and the shareholders were beginning to grumble. Yin Senior regretted this sort of scenario. He realized the BOD would vote for showdown sooner or later. Father gave Son the behind-the-boardroom-scenes power wrangling so far.

Even though the BOD was very happy about the recent marriage of Xiang Zhe and Zhen Shan Mei, which brought a lot of publicity for the Station, and also an 8% rise in share price, they have yet to see the long term benefits.

Sitting down slowly at his chair, he felt an urgent need to talk to his wife. Her sweet voice had a calming effect on him. He was about to pick up his phone to call, when his handphone began ringing.

“Hello, Yin Xiang Zhe here.”

“Xue Zhang, it’s me”. Xiang Zhe was tingling. It’s only 11 in the morning and his dearest wife had called.

“Yes Shan Mei, missing me already?”

“Xue Zhang! Please be serious. I would like to see you to discuss the possibility of CTN using MBS’s dubbing facilities. Can a meeting be arranged for this afternoon?”

Xiang Zhe couldn’t believe his ears, his wife wanting to see him during office hours. “How about 2 this afternoon? Come to my office then we’ll go together to meet the controller from that department. Okay?”

“I’m rather pressed for time. I’d rather not drop by your office. Another time, okay? I can find my way to the conference room. What, Room A? See you at 2 then. Sorry for the short notice. Thanks, Xue Zhang.”

When the call ended, Xiang Zhe couldn’t hide a smile. “Want to play the big girl? Okay, I’d humour her.”

He called Mr. Ang, Controller of Dubbing Department, and told him to meet him at conference room A at 2 this afternoon for business meeting.

Xiang Zhe had no idea what to expect from Shan Mei from across the negotiation table. The contract for CTN channelling rights was negotiated directly with CTN-UK. He thought it would be fun if Zian Da was there too.

At the meeting, his wife addressed him as Mr. Yin, Zian Da was Mr. Kim, Dubbing Controller was Mr. Ang, and she of course was Miss Zhen. As the meeting progressed, Xiang Zhe suddenly realised it was serious matter she was proposing. After that, Xiang Zhe was quiet. She was able to elicit so much information about the dubbing department that he was not even aware of. She found many things not up to her expectation but she assured Mr. Ang that those things could easily be rectified. Not to worry. It wasn’t his fault.

At the end of the meeting, she made a thorough inspection of the dubbing department, asking many intelligent questions about the facilities, some of which his staff could not answer. She also left a brief demo tape for dubbing trial. Could she have it back in a week’s time? Mr. Ang was so charmed by her, he promised to return it in 3 days.

After Xiang Zhe arranged for MBS company car to send Shan Mei back to her office, he walked back to his own office, deep in thought. Zian Da was waiting for him.

“What happened to her in London? It’s only 2 years since she left MBS, yet at this afternoon’s meeting, she was carrying on about dubbing techniques and facilities that even Mr. Ang, with 15 years experience in the business, wasn’t even aware of.”

Xiang Zhe sat back in his chair, he gave Zian Da a long, hard stare. “Even if I tell you, you will not believe it. But I can tell you that she has suffered too much to come to this stage. Now, I need to clear my table, if you don’t mind. My wife Mrs. Yin may call any time. After this afternoon’s meeting, you will understand why I don’t want to upset her.”

Alone again in his office, Xiang Zhe began to understand the magic of Zhen Shan Mei. It was obvious she wanted to cooperate with MBS. She had her own set of standards and she wasn’t going to compromise. With her dazzling smile and charming tact Mr. Ang didn’t feel threatened at all by her and in fact was only too eager to cooperate.

She left a demo tape for Mr. Ang. Let’s see what the final dubbed version would be like. “Zhen Shan Mei” was all he could say in admiration as he rubbed at his habitual frown, his face breaking out in grins.

That night at home after dinner while sipping coffee, Shan Mei casually asked her husband his thoughts on this afternoon’s meeting. He looked at her, just smiled and said nothing. “Oh Xue Zhang, please say something.”

“My thoughts? I thought you looked so beautiful and adorable poor Mr. Ang fell instantly and completely under your spell” he laughed out.

“Xue Zhang, be serious please” she gave him a frown.

“Okay, okay, here’s what I think. I know whatever you decide, it won’t be because I’m your husband but because you’re Zhen Shan Mei, right?”

She nodded.

“And because you’re Zhen Shan Mei, I know you will make a very fair offer. Therefore, whatever it is, MBS will accept.”

“Thank you Xue Zhang for what you have just said” and, for the very first time, without any encouragement from him, she leant over and kissed him full on his lips. Xiang Zhe was stunned and immediately kissed her back hungrily. Shan Mei gently pulled away, and continued with the conversation.

“Because of what you’ve just said, you will know that I am acting out of character. I want to cooperate with MBS only because of my husband. I’ve decided to make a very good offer to MBS only because of my husband. And the contract will only be in force as long as my husband and his family have a controlling stake in MBS, because I love my husband very much.”

Xiang Zhe looked at his wife, his fingers running through his hair, not knowing whether to laugh or to cry.

In July, a week before their wedding when Michael was in town, CTN officially announced that MBS had been awarded the channelling rights for CTN-KE when their contract with SGS expired, the share price of MBS immediately rose. Now, if MBS held the exclusivity for dubbing all of CTN’s programmes for the Korean market, MBS share price should rise again. Was Shan Mei aware of this?

“Thank you, my dearest wife” he then pulled Shan Mei onto his lap, and began kissing her reverently.
==

Three days later, as soon as Mr. Ang, the Controller of MBS Dubbing Department brought the dubbed demo tape to Xiang Zhe, he called Shan Mei wanting to know whether she had time to review the tape that afternoon.

“Husband, really? Mr. Ang is really good with his word. I am now on my way to Pa’s noodle shop. I don’t think I want to get back to the office since I am taking the afternoon off.”

When Xiang Zhe heard this, he wanted to join her and told her to wait for him. He took the demo tape with him, told his secretary to cancel all afternoon appointments. He would be back in the office only the next morning.

Pa and Ma were so happy to see Shan Mei. She had bought some meat snacks from Lotte Department store, wanting to try them with their kimchi noodles. Xiang Zhe soon arrived. They appeared so in love, and it was obvious to any on-looker the man only had eyes for his wife.

When they were just about to leave, Shan Mei taking her rose with her, Ma told them, “Shan Mei, I’ve prepared several tasty dishes for you. These are all stored in the fridge at Pa’s house. Pick them up on your way home.

On hearing this, Xiang Zhe then told Shan Mei that he too had decided to take the afternoon off. He drove to Pa’s house, they then raided the fridge. When all the goodies were loaded into the car, she told him, “Let’s head for home!” Xiang Zhe liked the idea very much, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

At home, Shan Mei prepared some coffee, then asked Xue Zhang for the demo tape. “I want to watch the tape now. Maybe you should watch it together with me.”

She gave him some note paper for note taking. The tape was only 20 minutes long, yet Xiang Zhe noticed Shan Mei was furiously writing away during and after the review. Actually he did not make any notes, so he was curious to know what she had written. Had she found so many faults?

While she was in the kitchen storing away the food boxes, Xiang Zhe stole a look at her papers. She was so organised. Everything had a rating from 1 to 10, 10 being the best score. All four remarks on the Positive side scored 10 each, the first being “Xue Zhang”. He wondered why he was there, then “Reliable”, “Convenient”, “Cooperative.” All had nothing to do with the dubbing quality of the tape. He then reviewed the tape again to look out for the parts she had made remarks under the Negative side. She was so meticulous and observant. All her remarks were justified.

Later on when Xiang Zhe asked, “Darling, how come I’m first on your list?”, she simply smiled and said “because you are Xue Zhang” as if that was explanation enough. He couldn’t quite understand but he should be so happy with the fact that he scored a perfect 10.

The next day, Shan Mei was at MBS to review the demo tape with Mr. Ang. She praised him highly for the fast work. “Mr. Ang, everything seems to be alright except I feel somewhat uneasy about the voice matching. But if MBS had the talent, I shan’t worry too much. From now till the first transmission through MBS, barely 10 months away, CTN will need at least 10,000 – 20,000 hours of dubbed material. We can’t afford any mistakes. Can you let me have a detailed Equipment List so I can determine whether any item needs to be upgraded? Thank you,”

Xiang Zhe came to the Dubbing Department towards the end of the meeting to collect Shan Mei. He was so looking forward to enjoy coffee with her in the privacy of his office.

“So sorry, darling. Another time, okay? I’m running late for an appointment with a sponsor.”

“Shan Mei, take the company car. Where do you want to go?” Xiang Zhe asked as he walked his wife to the front lobby.

Shan Mei simply replied “Bansung Group Building. Thank you.”

He kept his feelings under control, not saying a thing. Before she climbed into the car, he gave her a kiss on her cheek telling her he would wait for her call later. He stood there watching as the car moved away. “What is this Mr. SD Sung up to? Still hasn’t given up on Shan Mei even though she is now a married woman – married to me, Yin Xiang Zhe, no less.”.

Chapter AW-2

That night, at home, Xiang Zhe was dying to ask Shan Mei about her meeting at Bansung, but he didn’t because that was her company’s business. He was hoping she would tell him, both being aware how interested Mr. Sung was in her before her marriage. He was getting so impatient, he began showing his displeasure over the slightest excuse.

“Xue Zhang” Shan Mei started in her sweetest voice, “are you so tired from your office work?”

He didn’t even look at her. He kept quiet. Shan Mei came to where he was sitting in the armchair and started gently massaging his neck and shoulders. He felt better but he was still waiting for some explanation about Mr. Sung.

“Xiang Jie is doing very well at his Assistant job. May be you should start grooming him to take over some of your responsibilities. Next year he will be going to university in England. After he graduates he can take over your responsibilites at MBS, when you move over to Wen Rong Group.”

The issue of Mr. Sung was at once forgotten. Coming was a more important battle. The conversation Xiang Zhe had with his father that morning was still very fresh in his mind. He knew his Step uncle was the one doing all the behind the scenes manueovering to oust him from the Station.

“No way! MBS belongs to my mother’s side of the family. The only person going to take over when I move to Wen Rong is you.” He gave her hand a hard squeeze. Shan Mei’s hands were by now smoothing the deep furrows on his forehead. He felt her soothing strokes releasing the tightness around his head.

“He can learn, may be head a small division, but I would prefer him to join Wen Rong after his graduation. When the time is right, I would like to delist MBS from Wen Rong. This station is going to you and our children.”

“Husband, don’t think so far ahead. We haven’t even got any children yet”

“Then we’d better start making some soon!” He pulled her over the arm of the chair, to land on his lap and gave her that special so-in-love-with-you look.

“I’m sure several major shareholders in MBS will help me because they are all family friends, and they don’t want MBS to fall into the wrong hands. If I’ve a choice, I’ll ask father to let me have all his shares in MBS. I won’t want any part of Wen Rong; he can leave that to Xiang Jie. I’ve several trust funds, from my mother, my grandfather, which I haven’t touched at all. If necessary, we’ll also sell this house, and move back to my old apartment.”

Shan Mei became very agitated all of a sudden, and burst out, “I don’t want to live in that apartment ever.” She got off her husband’s lap and faced him, sad shadows hidden behind her eyes.

“Why? You’ve grown used to living in fancy houses?” Xiang Zhe almost forced out the words, he didn’t want to believe it.

“Xue Zhang! How can you even think like that?” With that, Shan Mei ran sobbing to their bedroom upstairs and locked the door behind her. Xiang Zhe was getting quite impatient when the door wouldn’t yield. He had to go look for the spare keys. He wondered what was eating her. She had never ever done that.

He found her sobbing into his pillow on his side of the bed. The sight was so heart wrenching. He lay very gently down over her back, raining soft kisses along the spine of her back, her nape, apologising for his rash and hasty remarks, but asked her what was wrong? If she didn’t tell him how was he to know?

She wriggled round to face him “Because Ying Mei was always at that apartment. She made it out like she and you were on intimate terms.” Shan Mei began sobbing again “I don’t ever want to see that place.”

His thumbs were rubbing, his mouth was kissing away the tears, berating himself silently for his stupidity. “Okay, okay. I don’t even want to keep that place now. I’ll put it up for sale immediately. Please don’t cry. I can’t bear to see you cry. I swear nothing happened between her and me, okay? My heart only has room for Zhen Shan Mei, and no one else. She did try to seduce me, and told me you were the one who told her you had broken up with me. And that you still loved You Zhen, that was why he was in your hotel room one time when you were both away shooting Music Stage Show. And when you met up with You Zhen in the rain, after I saw him and Xu Ying Mei going off to a love motel, I thought I had lost you to him. Do you know how many sleepless nights I endured imagining you in his arms? I was so eaten up with such insane jealousy thinking you were playing me for a fool. Loving you really made me lose my senses. I didn’t care what went on between you and You Zhen, as long as you agreed to come walking straight back towards me, I was willing to play the lovesick fool!”

He smiled inside himself at a startling discovery. His wife was unwilling to share her precious Yin Xiang Zhe just like he was unwilling to share his precious Zhen Shan Mei with anybody else. This discovery was so sweet like honey coating around his heart.

Another thought struck him “Is there a reason why you are always reluctant to come up to my office?”

“Yes, that was the place you told me not to ever go to you with my personal problems, and even when I felt unwell, you ignored me. Like you didn’t care or want me anymore, because the night before when I was going to meet up with You Zhen, you told me you would give me up. Those were my darkest hours. I don’t want to be reminded of them ever again.” So sad. She buried her face into his pillow, wishing she could bury the unhappy memory just as easily.

Xiang Zhe was so grieved. He remembered that rainy night so well and hated himself for losing his senses. He couldn’t sleep at all that night, all he did was drink and smoke and seized with sexual jealousy thinking of Shan Mei and You Zhen cuddled up together at some motel. The next day when Shan Mei was late for production meeting, he had assumed she was late because she couldn’t bear to leave You Zhen’s arms, and had spent her time doing naughty things with You Zhen she didn’t even complete her assignment, he began venting his angry jealousy on her.

Love could really make a person lose his senses. Even though he had told her he would wait for her, no matter what, she was to go and do what needed to be done to help You Zhen, to go to him if she encountered problems. When it came to real facts, he simply couldn’t take it, becoming jealous and suspicious! The seeds of doubt being so deviously sown by Xu Ying Mei! After all, he was a man.

He smoothed her hair away from her forehead and curled it behind her ear. He trailed soft kisses along the lobe and murmured ever so tenderly into her ear “there is no one I care or want more in this world than my darling Shan Mei”. He drew her close to him and began to kiss her lips, her cheeks, her eyes, and her neck with soft fervent words of love.

“Darling, please forgive me” as he slid his hands lightly from her shoulders down her arms. With a sensuous smile, he asked his wife, “How about continuing with that lovely massage you were giving me downstairs just before you blew up? Ehm? How about it?” Not waiting for an answer from his wife, he joined her in bed, his clothes gone. After he lay down, to lie beside her, he slowly slipped her t-shirt over her head and took off her bra. His hands began to explore her body, slowly, sensuously. “Darlng, you feel simply wonderful” he said in a low, husky voice. “So soft, and warm, and smooth” as he carefully cupped her breasts in his big hands, and stroked her nipples with his thumbs. “Shan Mei, Shan Mei, I love you, I love you ….!” Xiang Zhe whispered the words like a litany until they became a breathless, hoarse chant against her tingling skin.

Tomorrow, he would bring in the ID people to immediately redo completely his office, leaving no trace of the old office, not even a tiny shred.

And he would get rid of the cars before she remembered that Ying Mei had ridden in them too. He would have the BMW people come over to arrange a trade-in for new cars in new colours. Yes, aqua blue for the smaller model and dark blue for the larger one.

The stormy weather had just cleared. The moon was shining through like her bright, radiant smile. “I love you, Zhen Shan Mei. Never doubt it”

Chapter AW-3

His office was finally ready. He went to have a good look and was satisfied with the results. The re-layout changed its look completely, nothing at all like the old set-up. Even his secretary was happy with the change.

They spent all morning moving their things back into place. He sat back in his very comfortable new office chair, and gave Shan Mei a call. On hearing her sweet voice, he suddenly forgot what he had called her for.

“Hello, Miss Zhen?” At the other end Shan Mei smiled lovingly into the handset.

“Yes, Mr. Yin?”

“Mr. Yin would like to make a date with you tomorrow.”

“Oh, another tape review ?”

He laughed under his breath, rubbing his eye with his knuckle, “No, no. Something more fun. A drive to the countryside, seafood dinner somewhere, then stop off some place for coffee?”

“Sounds delightful. Thank you Mr. Yin”

“I’ll collect you tomorrow afternoon at 4 at your office, okay? Bye.”

“Mr. Yin? Does Mrs. Yin know about this?”

“She’d better know. She’s the reason for all this!”

“Huh?”

“Bye” then quickly hung up. “Zhen Shan Mei, got you” he laughed satisfied with himself.

All night at home, Xiang Zhe was aware Shan Mei was eyeing him secretly with puzzled looks trying to fathom what he was up to. He acted normal. Neither of them mentioned anything about tomorrow’s date.

The next morning, Xiang Zhe took a long time in dressing carefully. He changed 4 times before he settled on a final choice. Shan Mei followed his cue. She saw him finally walking out of his dressing room. He matched his suit with a blue silk tie. That suit looked new, yes?

She decided to put on her new soft light blue 2-pc Chanel pant suit, to match his tie. She simply loved the cut of their pants. Always made her feel extra special. In fact Madam Kim, the boutique owner, asked her to buy a few more sets, one in each colour. She always gave Shan Mei very special deals, because she was good advertisement for her boutique.

Today, she was extra careful with her make up. She met Xiang Zhe in the kitchen where he had already prepared some toast and coffee. They ate in silence. He was stealing glances at her whenever he thought she was not looking. She looked simply breathtakingly beautiful.

The whole morning in her office, Shan Mei kept looking at her watch to see whether 4 o’clock was here yet. After lunch, her whole body was tingling with bated anticipation. She smiled to herself, “That Xue Zhang has finally learnt to loosen up. Engaging in suspense games, eh?”

Xiang Zhe’s call finally came through. “Darling, it’s me. I’m downstairs at the front of SGS building.”

She went downstairs, but she didn’t see Xue Zhang or his car. She bit her lower lip and frowned. What game was he playing?

Just then he appeared beside her, and told her she looked gorgeous. He pulled her along to a brand new aqua-coloured BMW parked at the side of the driveway. She looked at him, “Ours?”

He nodded his head, a rakish grin playing around his mouth. Then he opened the front door for her.

As Xiang Zhe made his way out to the highway and headed towards the nearest country town towards Incheon in a leisurely drive, Shan Mei kept repeating excitedly, “Xue Zhang, the colour of this car is so beautiful. I can’t believe you chose this colour.”

Looking at her, Xiang Zhe felt so blessed. Although she looked so poised and elegant most of the time, she was still that little girl at heart, the little girl who loved the simple pleasures of life and starry nights. Xiang Zhe hoped they would get their stars tonight.

They stopped for dinner at an open air food stall serving seafood. The air was clean and fresh, the food was simple yet delicious, the sky was clear and full of stars. The setting looked so magical. They were so reluctant to leave when dinner was over, but it was getting late and a bit chilly.

Before he started the car, Shan Mei caught hold of his hand and brought it up to her lips. Then pressing his palm to her cheek, she looked at him, tears swimming in her eyes, “Xue Zhang, you have made me the happiest woman in the world. I don’t want to be with anyone but you forever in this life, next life and eternity.”

Xiang Zhe was so choked up with emotion, he pulled her into his arms and held her tight. He breathed hoarsely into her hair “don’t you ever forget what you have just said, my dearest Mrs. Yin.”

By the time they were back in the city it was past 9. Xiang Zhe drove the car into MBS carpark. Shan Mei didn’t ask questions nor nag; she had learnt her lesson! When Xiang Zhe pressed on the button 7 in the elevator, she became apprehensive. Xiang Zhe held on to her hand tight. There was no way she could escape. At her enquiring look, he simply said “Coffee.”

“But I like the coffee at Coffee Express. Shouldn’t we be going there?”

He shook his head, smiled at her “this is better.”

Arriving at his office, he opened the door to his office and gently pushed her in. They were in the secretary’s area. Shan Mei remembered it wasn’t like this before. When Xiang Zhe led her through to his own office, it looked like another brand new office. She looked at him, her eyes all questioning. He circled his arms around her waist and looked indulgently into her eyes, “Anything, except me, that my wife doesn’t like must go”.

Shan Mei couldn’t contain those tears anymore, those tears which had been threatening to flow since dinner time. She wound her arms around his waist, her face sobbing quietly into his shirt, his tie.

He lifted up her face, to wipe away her tears. He then led her to the brand new sofa. After she sat down, Xiang Zhe asked, “Comfortable?” She nodded. He went into the newly added pantry to make coffee.

While waiting, he switched on all the TV screens for their entertainment pleasure. Shan Mei could see herself on one of the screens in a replay of this morning’s news. She suddenly felt shy – Xue Zhang watching her every day like that!

The coffee when it came was very good. They sat there watching MBS programmes. After watching awhile at a MBS drama series, Shan Mei went to sit at Xue Zhang’s desk, took some note paper from the paper tray and started making notes. Xiang Zhe gave a despairing look. Who was the workaholic now? She concentrated 100% on the task at hand.

When Xiang Zhe came around the desk to fill her cup with more coffee, she gave him an apologetic look. She waited to read the credit lines. She was always interested in credit lines. She liked to sieve through them waiting to discover a new talent.

When she had finished and just about to leave her chair, Xiang Zhe came over, lifted her up, sat on the chair himself, placed her back on his lap, gave her a light kiss on her cheek, then took the paper from her to see what she had written. She was after ‘voices’. She liked some of the voices from that drama. May be Xue Zhang could ask Mr. Ang to line up the talents that she had marked out so she could meet them? She would like to give Mr. Ang another short tape to try out the new voices. He shook his head in disbelief.

“Hard work has to be rewarded”. He pulled open a side drawer, took from it a small jewellery box. He snapped it open. In it was a simple pearl brooch, but there was nothing simple about the pearl. It was the most exquisite baroque Australian natural deep sea pearl. Shan Mei very delicately picked it up from the box to admire. It was so beautiful. Xiang Zhe took it from her and pinned it on her jacket.

Shan Mei looked into Xiang Zhe’s eyes now clouded with passion. She caught his face between her hands and gave him a slow sweet kiss. Xiang Zhe was gratified. His shy wife was learning to take the initiative. He put a hand under her chin, tilting her face up to hold her eyes with his, then slowly, his open mouth came down on hers. Her lips parted under his, and as his tongue filled the inside of her mouth, the taste of him, the feel of him sent every nerve in her body tingling, filling her with hot desire. When she straightened up, she avoided looking at him, her face was blushing profusely. “Xue Zhang, are we ready to go home now?”

“Can’t wait to get your claws into me?” he laughed teasingly at her.

“Xue Zhang!!!!” her blush had deepened, she began hitting his chest.

Laughing wickedly, he lifted her off his lap. She cleared away the coffee cups and tidied up his desk.

With his arm wrapped around her shoulders, he switched off the lights of the office as he led the way out. Outside the office, he pulled the door shut, then they walked towards the elevator, engulfed in each other’s love!

Starry, starry night

Star light, Love bright!

Will you be my Love tonight?

Chapter AW-4

This morning, Xiang Zhe arrived at the office very early. Last night, he couldn’t sleep well. His dearest wife was supposed to return from Sydney, instead, she had called to inform him she was delayed by one day.

As Xiang Zhe walked through MBS main lobby, he had a strange feeling all eyes were on him. In his office, while taking his coffee, he read the morning’s papers. After that, he found the coffee too bitter for his taste.

Xiang Zhe was furious as he threw down the morning’s newspapers on his desk. Irresponsible reporting or truth ?

He suddenly riveted his eyes to give Peter Rabbit a quizzical look. “What’s up with you again?”

World News Section: Big coloured photo of Shan Mei holding on to an award CTN-KE had just won for Best TV Documentary under 30 Minutes during the Asian-Pac Special Film and Television Documentary & Feature Festival. Next to her was Michael, of course! Who else? It was reported that immediately after the award ceremony both of them disappeared together for a secret rendezvous. From the photo, Xiang Zhe noticed that Shan Mei wasn’t wearing his rose pendant necklace. Hummpf! She’d better had a good explanation for this!

Shan Mei was supposed to leave Sydney last night immediately after the award ceremony, instead she had called to inform him her departure was delayed for one day. She didn’t mention anything at all about going off somewhere with Michael ?

He tried to call Shan Mei several times on her mobile, but there was no connection. She’d better have a good explanation, otherwise………. Just imagine a husband not knowing his wife’s whereabouts. He had tolerated her work with CTN. By sheer hard work and talent she had gotten to her present position. He was not going to deprive her of her rewards, but what about him? He wanted her to spend more time with him at home! Was that too much to ask for ?

Michael had confirmed to him that CTN-KE would increase their viewing hours from the current daily four hours to eight hours when they begin channelling through MBS. If that was the case she would find it harder to spare him more time. It was bad enough now, he was lucky if he could manage lunch with her once a week. And the workload she took home most nights was heavier than his!

Just then his mobile rang. It was Shan Mei calling from Brisbane airport. She was just about to board a flight for Seoul. She would be arriving around midnight. “No time to answer questions, just be at airport, o.k. Xue Zhang?”

He thought, served her right if he didn’t show up at the airport. Let her take a taxi. But inside, he was getting all excited, he was going to see his angel tonight. He had missed her so much. Should he go shop for some late-night snacks? Yes, he would fill the whole house with flowers. He immediately put a call through to their usual florist to put in an order for Shan Mei’s favourite roses. All his threats from a few minutes ago had vanished.

He arrived at the airport well before midnight. He was getting impatient, the time was passing by so slowly. He had in the fridge some avocado and salmon sushi rolls and a bottle of the best French white. The house was filled with roses, especially in their bedroom.

An hour later he saw her coming through customs, she too saw him at the same time. She only had a shopping bag, and no luggage. She ran towards him, straight into his arms, “My darling Xue Zhang, I’ve missed you so much. Can we go home now? I’m so tired.”

Xiang Zhe thought “Darling”? “Missing so much”?, from the shy baby in a public place? What got into her? Where was her luggage?

“If you were missing me so much, why did you take off the rose pendant necklace I put on you before you left for Sydney?”

“Oh Xue Zhang, what rubbish are you talking about? I wouldn’t NOT wear it for anything in the world! See?” And she rolled down her high-neck collar to reveal the diamond rose lying on the exact spot of her throat that he always loved sipping. “I thought being Spring in Sydney, the weather would be nippy and pleasant, but it was still very cold. I bought this turtle neck light wool dress in Sydney to keep me warm. The party dress I took with me from Seoul for the ceremony was not warm enough.”

“What have you and Michael been up to, that you’re so tired?” he hedged around delicately, although he had grudgingly accepted Shan Mei’s explanation about the pendant.

“Lots of things. Oh, Xue Zhang, I’m so happy. Things are going to be so different for us soon. That Michael is simply the best.”

He took the shopping bag from her as he led the way to where the car was parked. She didn’t notice he was suddenly quiet. She was hanging on to his arm. She really must be tired. He was not happy. Before, he was the best, now suddenly Michael was the best. When did this change occur?

At home, Shan Mei didn’t even notice the flowers. The shopping bag contained the award and the accompanying certification, etc. “Where’s your luggage?” Xiang Zhe asked irritably.

“Oh, that! It’s in Michael’s hotel room”. With that she ran upstairs claiming she needed a shower and hair wash really bad.

Xiang Zhe followed her into their bedroom. Her discarded clothes were strewn all over. He stopped just inside the bathroom, she was in the shower cubicle washing her hair. “Xue Zhang? Want to give my back a good scrub? I feel as if ants are crawling all over my back”

“Are you sure it’s not Michael’s hands you feel are crawling all over your back?" He tried biting back the words, alas, too late !

“Xue Zhang!” With that, Shan Mei turned off the shower faucet, and popped her head out of the cubicle, “What’s the matter with you again?” glaring at him angrily.

“The matter is very simple. The whole of Korea knows, from the newspapers, that my wife had a secret rendezvous with the director of CTN. They disappeared without a trace for one night and one day. Now my wife tells me she has left her luggage in the director’s hotel room?” He arched an eyebrow at her ?

Ignoring him, Shan Mei wrapped herself with a towel, then proceeded to run a hot water bath. She threw in a handful of bath salts. She stepped back into the cubicle to continue rinsing her hair. When the bathtub was almost full, she stepped into it. She let out a yelp, the water was really hot. Her skin was burnt, yet she endured the pain. The pain was nothing compared to the pain her husband had just inflicted upon her by his stinging words. She eased herself into the water, rested her head on the ledge, letting the heat from the water release the stress from her aching muscles. She closed her eyes, but she couldn’t stop the tears from streaming down her face.

He was not going to be taken in by her tears. He turned around and left the bathroom quietly. He picked up the clothes on the floor, bunched them up and angrily threw them into the laundry basket. He went to lie down on the bed. Didn’t he have a right to let off his anger? She had made him the laughing stock of Seoul. Where did they go to that she had to fly in from Brisbane and not Sydney?

He suddenly jerked himself up. It was more than half an hour since she went into the tub. He made his way stealthily to the bathroom and peeped in. She was still in the tub, not moving. Her eyes were shut, her lashes still wet with tears. Suddenly, he was gripped with guilt. Seeing her cry was the most heart-wrenching thing for him, yet he was the one inflicting the hurt.

He went to lie on the bed again. Tossing this side, then that side. He couldn’t stand it anymore. He went into the bathroom, removed his clothes, then stepped into the tub. He caught her to him cradling her tight in his arms. He began to kiss her all over: her hair, her face, her neck, her everywhere. He wanted to make things right between them. He kept murmuring, “Darling, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I made you cry. Please forgive me, I love you.”

She started to cry harder. He felt so helpless. He began stroking her back in soothing movements, hoping the calming strokes would ease away the pain. After that he scrubbed her back like she had wanted him to before his jealous rage. When she had tired herself out, he carried her out of the tub and laid her down on the bed, grabbing a towel to gently and tenderly wipe her dry.

When he was done, he caressed her face, willing her to open her eyes to look into his, so remorseful. When she finally did, she slowly sat up, circled her arms tightly around his neck, softly sobbed “I’m sorry, Xue Zhang”, her face buried into his chest.

He cradled her face against his, his fingers running through her hair “Darling, I was going frantic with worry. I couldn’t sleep all those nights you were away. What happened to the mobile? Why did you fly home from Brisbane? Weren’t you in Sydney?”

Finally, she looked at him, she smiled. ‘I’m hungry. Can you put my pyjamas on for me? I’m too tired to move.”

He quickly put some clothes on her and some on himself. He then carried her piggy-back style to the kitchen, sat her down, before taking the sushi from the fridge. Did his lady love want coffee too?

When they had finished, he carried her back to the bed. He took a hair dryer from the bathroom to dry out her hair. After that, he placed her head in the crook of his arm and hugged her tightly to him. Let her tell him in her own good time. Now that she was safely home in his arms, nothing else mattered.

After a while, Shan Mei raised her head up to his chin and whispered softly, “Xue Zhang?”

“Emm..?”

“I love you, love you so much”

He was very moved. He turned to look down at her. “I love you too”, he whispered back and then he bent down, his lips meeting hers, in a tender kiss. He felt her lips quiver, he kissed her deeper, his tongue slowly sought hers. But he was going to stop at that. She had been through too much tonight. “Go to sleep, you must be so tired” he murmured, planting a light kiss on her hair.

“I’m okay now, after the delicious sushi. The flowers in the room are beautiful. Thank you.” She planted a soft, tender kiss on his palm before she continued.

“Michael and I went to the tropical jungles of Queensland, to meet You Zhen Ge.” On hearing this, his body stiffened.

“As soon as I arrived Sydney I contacted him in New Zealand to try to arrange a meeting. He was just flying out to Brisbane with a film production crew for movie shooting. After the jungles they would be flying out to one of the islands to continue shooting. To catch him at his first stop we had to travel overland into the jungle. We left the award ceremony as soon as our Landrover came to collect us.

These past few weeks, Michael and I had been discussing and working out ways to lessen my workload, so I could spend more time with my husband,” she said shyly.

“I wanted to do a year-long series covering the whole Korean peninsula. I told Michael about You Zhen Ge. Remember how successful we were with our Music Stage Show at MBS? If he agrees to join CTN-KE, with his experience and local knowledge, I can entrust the whole project to him. For overseas projects, we have decided to put Uncle Jose in charge. He will now be based in Seoul assisted by Jun Mao. With them being my right and left hand, I’ll not need to travel unless absolutely necessary. I want to handle only programming, planning and production. Right now, we have more sponsors than shows. After You Zhen Ge gets his camera team into place. Uncle Jose will then return to London.

Brisbane was the closest airport to the place where You Zhen Ge was. I wanted to get home to you as quickly as possible. I was missing you too much.” By this time Xiang Zhe had eased his arm from under Shan Mei, and was lying on top of her, his mouth nuzzling that throbbing pulse in the hollow of her throat. Raining feathery kisses along the side of her face, murmuring words of love and apology, his lips trailing down to her breasts, his hands tenderly caressing, setting her entire body alight. She became very quiet. He stopped what he was doing to look up at her face. Her eyes were unfathomable dark pools, her face radiated with such passion, he couldn’t hold back his raging emotions anymore. “Shan Mei, I’ve missed you so much” he cried hoarsely and sought her mouth hungrily, forcing his tongue in, while his hands were busy unbuttoning her pyjama top.

Xiang Zhe awoke with the sun. He looked lovingly at the precious bundle now snuggled so trustingly in his arms. He simply couldn’t have enough of her. He was so tempted to wake her up and start loving her all over again.

He let off a sigh. So You Zhen was going to be back. Michael was another thorn. He must think of a way to stop hurting Shan Mei with his jealous seizures.

No wonder Shan Mei said Michael was the best. He was, wasn’t he? Understanding their newly married state, and going all out to ensure she could keep work and family life in equal balance. What a boss? He himself wouldn’t have been able to do that, but what if he had an employee like Shan Mei ? Apart from the huge revenue she was pulling in for CTN-KE from sponsorship deals and Internet subscription fees, she was also their biggest human resource asset.

Her weekly 1-hour Musical Postcard over MBS airwaves was now the most highly rated local radio show. The station had to arrange for 2 assistants, one of them being Xiang Jie at the insistence of Shan Mei, just to handle listeners’ letters and her personal fan mail. Fan mail?, he shook his head in disbelief and let off a short laugh. “This child?” But, wasn’t he her No. 1 fan? Maybe, he should start sending her fan mail too through email!

He had promised Michael that MBS would not sign up sponsors for Musical Postcard. But, Sponsors had been harrassing their radio programme controller for slots on Shan Mei’s programme. To appease the sponsors, the station finally sold 2 advertising slots, one before the hour and one after the hour of Musical Postcard, at unbelievable premium rates.

How would Shan Mei want him to handle his jealous outbursts? She had always behaved with great decorum. It was only his own crazy mind working over time, all the time!! She treated Michael, Jose, You Zhen and Xiang Jie as brothers and cared for them as such. Those she didn’t welcome into her inner sanctum, she avoided politely. That was it. Hadn’t he been doing the same? He treated Yong Xi as a sister, and Zian Da as a brother. If Shan Mei treated them as her beloved brothers, he would also look upon them as such, not as rivals.

Chapter AW-5

After 2-1/2 months of marriage, Xiang Zhe had changed completely his outlook of the world. He now always appeared happy, smiling all the time, and had a word of greeting or a friendly nod for his staff whenever he bumped into them, in the lifts, in the building corridors, in the canteen or in the carpark.

It was now nearing the third week of September.

Uncle Jose would be arriving in Seoul any one of these days, his main duty was to take care of filming further episodes of Korean Kinship, and assist in the backrooms whenever he had no out-of-town assignments.

They had prepared for him the company apartment that Shan Mei used to stay in. Unfortunately, the typhoon that swept through the peninsula three days ago had caused some damage. Several glass windows in the apartment were broken.

Shan Mei had missed Uncle Jose. He was not able to attend her wedding because of an urgent overseas assignment.

Shan Mei asked Xiang Zhe whether Uncle Jose could stay with them instead of in a hotel, until the windows in the apartment were repaired.

Xiang Zhe had no objection. The only time he met Jose was at Shan Mei’s mini concert in March. He wanted to get to know the man, who had become such an important part of Shan Mei’s professional life, better.

At the airport, Shan Mei and Jose fell automatically into each other’s arms, Jose carrying on in his Spanish and Shan Mei blushing to whatever he was saying. He gave Xiang Zhe a strong handshake saying “You’re so blessed to have such an enchanting wife”. Xiang Zhe smiled and nodded in agreement, wrapping his arm lovingly around Shan Mei’s shoulders as they made their way towards the carpark.

They stopped at a typical Korean restaurant for a traditional Korean dinner of BBQ meat, kimchi side dishes and ginseng chicken soup.

After the heavy meal, Jose couldn’t sleep at all. Shan Mei and Xiang Zhe didn’t mind staying up with Jose since tomorrow was Sunday.

They sat outside in the garden. The sky was clear, stars twinkling, very quiet and peaceful. Just their favourite kind of setting. Seeing the couple sitting there, so in love, Jose was inspired. He brought out his guitar and began serenading them.

After a while, Shan Mei went to the kitchen to prepare some snack dishes. Jose helped with the wine, wine glasses and ice bucket, just like old times when they were on shooting assignments.

Xiang Zhe sneaked upstairs to get their guitars. He had become inspired too. He had never played to Shan Mei, except that time on stage at the concert. Jose was happy to see two other guitars. Now, he had friends!

They sat there in the garden eating, drinking and playing until 3 in the morning. Jose was still into his music. He told the kids to go off to bed.

In the bedroom, while Xiang Zhe helped Shan Mei undressed, he agreed there really was something magical to the music coming from an old flamenco guitar. Shan Mei must play more often.

After taking warm shower together, they went to sleep. They were so tired.

===

Early the next morning, Shan Mei was on the phone with her Ma, then she was on the phone with Xiang Jie.

When Shan Mei hung up the phone, she noticed Xiang Zhe was looking at her through half slit eyes, his face expressionless, with just a trace of a smile on his mouth. He didn’t look like he was ready to get up from the bed yet.

“Xue Zhang, are you tired?” she asked anxiously across the room.

He had heard her inviting Xiang Jie and family over to the house this evening. Uncle Jose was in town. That kid must be having plenty to report to Shan Mei because she was laughing at something Xiang Jie was telling her. Them two partners-in-crime! He wasn’t going to indulge her just yet, suspecting her plan was to drag him off shopping for food for the BBQ tonight.

“Yes, very tired. So don’t think of dragging me off to the market.”

“Actually, I was thinking of something else, but never …” she broke off and gave him an enigmatic, hesitant look from under her lashes

“Yes?” Xiang Zhe fixing his eyes on her, not knowing what to expect, yet his heart was racing.

Her face now a deeper shade of pink, mumbling shyly “Mrs. Yin was thinking of asking Mr. Yin for some loving……...”

Before she could say more, Xiang Zhe leapt out of the bed, swooped her up into his arms and deposited her on their bed. As he bent down to take her quivering lips, he let off a triumphant laugh, adding Mr. Yin would never be too tired to make Mrs. Yin happy.

Fully sated and rested, Xiang Zhe turned onto his side, propped his head on his elbow on the bed, and looked adoringly into Shan Mei’s eyes. “What brought that on, Mrs. Yin?” as if she could read his mind then. Wasn’t he yearning for the same? Now, seeing her lying there, she appeared both childlike and bewitching at the same time. He couldn’t help himself but plant yet again another deep kiss on her luscious lips.

“I was still drowning in last night’s music. Uncle Jose was right when he insisted I learn the flamenco guitar. Only its music can touch our very souls. Xue Zhang, was yours touched?” She put out one hand shyly to caress his cheek in the special way he was always caressing hers.

He nodded in reply as he turned his head slightly to plant a tender kiss on her palm. His eyes glistened with joyous unshed tears, basking in the knowledge that his Shan Mei was slowly awakening to the passions of womanhood, and not afraid to show it. He caught her hand which had been caressing his cheek, and brought it down to place over his heart. They just lay there side by side on their bed, enjoying in silence the deep sharing of love surrrounding them.

Shan Mei snuggled up to Xiang Zhe. He caught her closer to him in a warm embrace. Very soon, they dozed off.

===

Shan Mei awoke to the rich aroma of coffee. Xiang Zhe was sitting next to her on her side of the bed, smiling at her as if they were sharing a secret. She pretended she didn’t understand. He laughed softly at her.

Suddenly she jerked up. “Uncle Jose?”

“It’s okay. Last time I checked he was still asleep. I left the coffee percolator on. What about food for him?”

“Don’t worry. All he needs is his coffee fix. And his favourite cereal which I have already bought. May be some fruits.”

“Do you want to go shopping now? May be have lunch at some place?”

“We’ll just need more fruits. Ma is bringing over the marinated BBQ meat. You’ll take care of the BBQ set, right? Let’s nip out before Uncle Jose wakes up.”

He suddenly caught her in his arms and asked curiously, “What was Xiang Jie telling you that made you laugh away so happily?”

“He said he had composed a love tune for us to commemorate our 3rd month of marriage. Isn’t that sweet? He was so excited, he thought I could read his mind when I asked him to bring over his guitar when he’s here later this evening. And you know, Uncle Jose and him got along so well last time they met. Oh, yes, please remember to take the love seat out to the patio. Xiang Jie wants to play his dedication when we are sitting in our love seat, those were his words.”

“My lap is your love seat! Tell him that”

“I know. That’s also my most favourite seat. But we are having guests, so we must behave with some semblance of propriety. Okay, darling?”

He pouted, and admitted grudgingly. That Shan Mei was always good at cajoling her way into everything, or out of everything, depending.

“Xue Zhang, may be you can polish up our guitars too. Xiang Jie is not the only one who has a new tune. I was working on one too. I’ll play for you tonight” and gave him such a look of love, he sucked in his breath.

He came close to her, caressing her, “Not tonight, darling. Play it when we have the house back to ourselves.” And he gave her a deep, meaningful look. Shan Mei nodded, eyes brimming with tears remembering the loving they shared this morning. The same thought was passing through Xiang Zhe’s mind. His arms went around her tight and he whispered softly, “Want me to help you change?”

“No thanks” she answered with a shy laugh suspecting her husband would have other bedroom games in mind, she shot off to the bathroom.

Xiang Zhe laughed softly, collected the empty coffee cups, and went back to the kitchen. He thought he’d better check on the electric BBQ grill to make sure it was working. This was only the 2nd time they would be using it, the first when he had a small informal gathering for his staff from the MBS News Department, soon after their wedding.

===

Everybody sitting around the large round table in the patio was either busy chatting, eating or drinking. The seniors were in a group, Xiang Jie was with Uncle Jose, Shan Mei was helping Xiang Zhe at the electric grill, a happy family gathering without a care in the world.

Later in the night, when it looked like there wouldn’t be rain, they moved out to the garden. The night breeze was cooling. Xiang Zhe was sitting on the grass. Just as Shan Mei turned to talk with Jose, Xiang Zhe let off a sigh of contentment. He looked up at the clear sky, wishing for his mother to appear. He was sending her a prayer of thanks for sending Shan Mei into his life. His father, sitting with the other seniors, noticed his look of contentment as well as regret, and understood his son’s feeling. Father felt pain too. He promised himself he would never ever again inflict suffering on his elder son, and if there was a way he could right the wrong, he would do it. Then Father’s eyes fell on Shan Mei. He too believed Shan Mei was a blessing from his former wife, not only to their son but to the entire Yin family. A sign that she had forgiven him?

Looking at how loving and caring the young couple was towards each other, he decided it was time for him to relinquish his post as MBS president. He would arrange for Xiang Zhe to officially take over the post at this year’s Company Christmas celebration.

Xiang Jie whispered something into Uncle Jose’s ear. They went off together and came back with their guitars. Jose had told Xiang Jie to play his piece, while he would support him in the background with a very soft refrain.

Xiang Jie asked his sister where the love seat was? She looked at Xiang Zhe, he laughed innocently then pulled her down onto the grass right next to him, his hand went around her waist hugging her close. Shan Mei was shy all at once and tried to beat him off. “Xue Zhang !!!” All the others started to laugh heartily and affectionately at the display.

Xiang Jie was really serious. He stood before the couple, wished them everlasting happiness, followed by a short ode of dedication. With cue from Uncle Jose they began playing. Shan Mei was so touched, tears were swimming in her eyes. She forgot where she was. She just clung on to her Xue Zhang and cried softly into his shirt. He was overwhelmed too, surprised at his own reaction. His arms circled Shan Mei softly stroking her hoping she would understand his silent message that he had finally accepted the boy as his blood brother. Shan Mei was right, Xiang Jie was the other innocent party. He shouldn’t have to bear the burden of the mistakes made by the adults, just like he himself was a victim too in the tragic triangle.

As soon as he finished playing, Xiang Jie ran up to his dad hugging him tightly, burying his face into his dad’s shoulders. He was weeping quietly too, as if he felt a momentous occasion had just passed. His dad’s eyes were red with unshed tears. Jose looked confused, the others kept quiet and didn’t move. Xiang Zhe was the first one to make a move. He pulled Shan Mei up to her feet, gave her a tender kiss and wiped away her tears with his thumbs, saying it was time for champagne. And to reward Xiang Jie for playing so beautifully, the boy would get 2 glasses, one from his sister and one from his elder brother, the first time he had openly declared himself as Xiang Jie’s elder brother.

Xiang Jie loosened his arms from his father, looked up at his brother, the significance of what his elder brother had just said was not lost on him. He ran towards Shan Mei and shyly hugged her at her waist. Xiang Zhe jokingly chided, “Look, I’m the one giving the reward, but she is the one getting the hug” and all laughed. Xiang Jie then ran up to Jose and gave him a tight hug too. Jose didn’t understand what went on, but the teenager’s hug spoke volumes. He patted Xiang Jie fondly on his back and was relieved it was happy ending all around.

Chapter AW-6

“Mr. Yin?” Shan Mei’s familiar dulcet voice came over the phone

“Yes, Miss Zhen ?”

And they both laughed so hard.

Shan Mei composed herself first and became serious again.

“Xue Zhang, free for lunch today?” Her voice sounded inviting.

“With my dearest wife, of course. Anything special?”

“This morning Uncle Jose and I had a long meeting regarding the new CTN office.

After lunch, Uncle Jose would like to see the plan for the construction of the new extension to house our CTN office and its facilities. He would like to familiarise himself with MBS facilities. It wouldn’t be wise to duplicate facilities. Resources could be utilised more sensibly in other areas.

While Uncle Jose look over the facilities, I would like to meet up with the talent I had previously marked out; remember the one who acted as the Prince, the heir to the throne in that MBS period drama?”

“Are you referring to me?” Xiang Zhe teased.

“I am if you’re interested to do the voice-over for the programme I have in mind. You’d be perfect.”

Xiang Zhe was still looking at the phone in his hand after Shan Mei had hung up. He shook his head, laughing softly to himself “this Zhen Shan Mei” as he replaced the instrument back on its cradle.

Soon, word got around the MBS studio. Miss Zhen from CTN would be visiting them that afternoon. An air of excitement pervaded the studio. Many of the MBS staff had seen Shan Mei on television when she collected her many awards at the Award Ceremony. In fact, many of them had voted for her through the Internet. She looked so beautiful then, they wondered whether she would look just as captivating in person and up close?

After lunch, they went straight to the conference room where Xiang Zhe had arranged for the project manager and engineers to be present. Two floors would be constructed on the top of the present MBS building to house the CTN Division. An outdoor bubble lift would be installed to give CTN-KE separate access to their two floors. Jose was more concerned with work flow, like easy access to the facilities they would be sharing, rather than going down one lift, then up another lift. They finally decided to interconnect on the 7th floor, access controlled by a tight security system.
The team to work on the constructive feasibility of this immediately, because work on the extension would be starting in a week’s time.

After that, Xiang Zhe’s assistant accompanied Jose to the Editing and other back rooms to check out the facilities, while Xiang Zhe himself accompanied Shan Mei to see Mr. Ang.

They sat down in the small conference room in the Dubbing Department. Shan Mei took out her notebook. The three of them made small talk while waiting for the actor. When he arrived, he apologised for being late. He had to reshoot some NG scenes. He was Mr. Han Jae Hoon. Dressed in his Armani suit, and not the gowns of traditional Korean dramas, he looked very handsome, very distinguished and was very tall.

Xiang Zhe became quiet, his hands interlocked and clasped over his mouth and a big frown appeared on his forehead. He was fuming inside. He couldn’t understand why Shan Mei always managed to get the best looking guys? He was praying this Mr. Han would croak like a frog as soon as he opened his mouth. Without looking at Xiang Zhe, Shan Mei could already read the signs too well. She was hoping Mr. Han’s voice wouldn’t sound as good as he looked, otherwise they would have no peace in the house if she decided to use Mr. Han for the voice over.

Shan Mei decided to move out of the conference room, and sit somewhere away from Mr. Han. He was to go into the recording studio, and read out a passage that she had earlier given to Mr. Ang. Just hearing the recorded voice, without looking at the face, the effect was perfect. She was very pleased with the outcome. They thanked Mr. Ang and Mr. Han, then left the studio, the recorded voice tape in Shan Mei’s handbag.

Xiang Zhe caught hold of Shan Mei’s hand possessively as they made their way back to his office. He didn’t say a word, neither did she. They went inside Xiang Zhe’s office to wait for Jose. Shan Mei made some coffee in the pantry. When she brought the coffee to Xiang Zhe, she whispered something into his ear. At last his glum look lifted. His face broke into a grin, and he then gave her derriere a smack!

“Ouch, that hurt!”

“Serves you right for making such suggestive remarks to your husband during work hours” and gave her a wink.

Shan Mei called Michael and gave him a run down of what was decided on secured direct access to the MBS building. They would interconnect on 7th floor, same floor where Xue Zhang’s office was located. Michael laughed and said now he knew where to hide to get away from her nagging.

After a while, Jose came into the office with a whole stack of papers and notes. He was satisfied with most of the set up at MBS, but there were certain things that needed changing, not immediately, but when they start sharing. He would study carefully the notes he had made, the equipment lists he had been given, and draw up the most efficient yet cost-saving plan. On the whole, this was a better set up than the one currently provided by SGS.

That evening they went to Yin Snr’s house for dinner. Xiang Jie was ecstatic to see Uncle Jose, and immediately took him to his room. He showed him the photos taken during his trip in London. Even though Uncle Jose was there with them in London, that time he was too shy to talk with him, because his English wasn’t good at all. Sister was the one who insisted he took extra English language tuition, after his return to Seoul.

During coffee, Jose told Shan Mei he would prefer to work during the next few days out of the MBS office. Xiang Zhe had no problem with the arrangement. Xiang Zhe would arrange for MBS company car and his assistant to collect him tomorrow morning from his apartment. Jose wanted to have everything settled soon because he wanted to start scouting for locations for Shan Mei’s other projects.

As soon they entered the house, Xiang Zhe rushed Shan Mei up the stairs.

She resisted. She wanted to first watch the disc which she had brought back.

He wanted to claim the reward which she had promised him in the office.

“Please?” in her sweetest voice plus her most dazzling smile, and he caved in.

Xiang Zhe was the one to set up the system. Shan Mei handed him the programme master copy disc and the taped recording of Mr. Han. He pursed his lips when he saw the tape. The disc was a documentary on natural formation of limestone caves.

Xiang Zhe was to forget the look of Mr. Han. He had to concentrate on the voice instead. After watching the programme, Shan Mei wanted him to give her his candid opinion. Then he had to answer a questionaire, the more careful and detailed his answers, the better the reward.

Xiang Zhe was getting excited and ready to go. Mr. Han’s voice came over the programme as the disc played. The tape recording was only 10 minutes long. So they stopped video disc at that. Xiang Zhe stole a look at Shan Mei. Surprisingly, she wasn’t making notes this time. He had to admit he was disappointed when the recording ended. He wanted to hear more. He replayed both the tape and disc. He had to agree Mr. Han’s voice was very pleasant, just the right intonation of confidence yet had an authoratitive ring to it. At the end of the second replay, he gave Shan Mei the thumbs up with both thumbs, and sat there waiting for the questionaire. She pulled him up from his seat, and told him “meeting adjourned to bath tub.” Grinning broadly, he scooped her into his arms and ran up the stairs to their bedroom.

Shan Mei felt there was an immense void in the availability of good quality educational yet entertaining programmes on local television. She could understand, because the purchase price for screening rights for such programmes was very exorbitant. Her idea was to launch the Natural World Phenomenon documentary as their first programme when CTN-KE tranmit through MBS channel. She believed this programme would be highly successful in Korea. CTN would be the first to screen the episodes, MBS six months later. Bansung Group had agreed to sponsor CTN for the entire year-long series. Bansung was paying top dollars to ensure CTN would not negotiate with another sponsor. It would be easy for MBS to sign up another major sponsor, because no other station would be able to offer something similar. Xiang Zhe had to ensure Mr. Han was locked in to a foolproof contract. He would become the voice of Phenomenon. They would get another voice for another documentary series, giving each documentary an individualistic character.

“Director Yin, what do you think?” Shan Mei asked her husband as she was scrubbing his back.

“All agreed and approved only if you remember Mr. Han is a voice without a face. I don’t want to see him anywhere near my wife, or my wife anywhere near him. Understand? Can we now start on second part of meeting in the bedroom?” as he stretched out his hand to grab hold of the large drying towel next to the tub, letting his wife know that bath time was over.

“And please remember, for the bedroom meeting, I’m the one chairing the meeting. I won’t need any comments from you unless I ask for them specifically. All I want is your 100% cooperation, okay, dearest wife?” Xiang Zhe laughed excitedly as he carried his wife to their bed.

Chapter AW-7

It was the last day of October; Michael Dutton had flown into Seoul last night. Michael was in town to meet with You Zhen, knowing he was officially starting with CTN-KE on 1st November.

Michael was watching MBS morning show while having breakfast in his hotel suite. This was the show he first saw Shan Mei on television almost 3 years ago, yet the standard of the show, according to him, had not improved all that much.

During one of their rare private conversations in London, Shan Mei had confided in him she would never want to think about this show, because during her last Morning of Eve production meeting at MBS, her Xue Zhang gave her a real dressing-down in front of her colleagues. He also said some very hurtful words to her. Were those the words that sent her running off to London? She nodded her head slowly, winced at some kind of bad recall.

Shan Mei and Junior had been married almost 4 months. Even though Michael wished Shan Mei had chosen him, he doted on her so much, he wished her to be happy. That was why he arranged for Jose and You Zhen to be based in Seoul to lighten Shan Mei’s load so she could spend more time at home with her husband. Knowing how much Shan Mei loved Junior, he wondered whether Junior realised the hurt that was buried so deep inside Shan Mei’s heart.

“Hello, Yin Xiang Zhe here”

“Junior, it’s me. How about meeting for lunch? At the Grill Room, my hotel at 12 noon. Shan Mei is not to know”

Xiang Zhe felt uneasy and guilty about not telling his wife of his luncheon date with Michael.

After lunch, while having coffee, Michael asked Junior about Morning of Eve show. He first saw Shan Mei on this programme almost 3 years ago, and decided then she was their girl for CTN Korea. Because of this, he extended his stay in Seoul by 4 days, wanting to catch her every morning on the show. At that time, he had found many production faults with the show. The two main presenters were wrong choices. He had wondered why Shan Mei was not made the main presenter. She had natural flair. Also the production was not up to standard. While he watched the show this morning on TV, he didn’t notice any improvement in production. The viewership rating % must be below expectation?

Xiang Zhe told Michael it would be great if Shan Mei could sit on the main presenter’s seat, but she was not ready at that time and they were secretly dating. People were already gossiping in the office.

Michael rebutted with an unbelieving guffaw. “Junior, believe me, she was ready but lacked confidence. This was some psychology game someone was playing on her. Obviously, that someone had recognised her talent. Instead of encouraging her to go for it, this someone kept passing disparaging remarks about her ability and looks. Sooner or later, of course she would fall. She was, after all, an innocent babe.”

Michael gave Xiang Zhe another exasperated look before continuing, “What is this nonsense about Shan Mei being your girlfriend, that’s why she couldn’t be made main presenter because of gossip? Anyone telling you this doesn’t want you to put Shan Mei in any presenter’s seat. Even if the whole of Korea is gossiping, let them. We are talking about big money here, sponsor’s money to keep the station afloat and not some childish game. If Shan Mei is my wife, and she is the one pulling in the viewers, I would put her in front of the camera regardless. That is the reason she is in the broadcasting business. Her sole business is to communicate with the viewers and sway the masses. I cannot believe you were thinking in that way, preventing Shan Mei from doing her job, robbing her of her chance to reach her true potential. If that is the way you think, then you shouldn’t be in this business.” When he made the statement, Michael emphasized he was serious.

Just looking how beautiful Shan Mei now was, Michael was sure Junior had been telling his wife she was the most beautiful woman in the world. Being imbued with such praise all hours of the day and night, no wonder she was radiating with such beauty all the time. Did Junior want to know the secret behind Shan Mei’s fast absorption of training and incredible performance at CTN?

Michael simply told her, his head was on the chopping board if she didn’t work out, because he was the one who insisted on signing her on without even a face interview.

For MOE, if Junior had told Shan Mei she could do it, and truly believed she could, and he would lose his job if she didn’t work out, he would be reaping great rewards by now. Michael then looked at Junior and laughingly told him, luckily for CTN, he didn’t otherwise Shan Mei would not now be running their CTN-KE operation.

“Junior, do you want Shan Mei to assist you in finding out where the problems lie with MOE? Shan Mei is very good with this sort of things. CTN will give release to Shan Mei to help MBS handle this problem. Better to do something this year while CTN-KE is delivering only 4 hours daily of entertainment. Next year when CTN is delivering 8 hours a day of entertainment, Shan Mei will have her hands full.”

Xiang Zhe looked at Michael silently, with very sad and sorrowful eyes. Xiang Zhe confessed he would be afraid to mention the words “Morning of Eve” to Shan Mei, in case it triggered bad memories in her. Three months ago, he sold his apartment, renovated his previous office and changed his cars, because of bad memories from her last day at MBS. Shan Mei was so grieved, she locked him out of their bedroom.

At the last production meeting Shan Mei had in MBS, he reprimanded her so harshly for arriving late for the meeting, not realising she was feeling unwell and had just finished broadcasting a programme at the radio station. Even if she was well, he was so blinded with insane jealousy he was not prepared to behave reasonably, because she was out the night before with You Zhen. Later that night before she could finish recording Musical Postcard, she fainted and was admitted to hospital. She remained unconscious for one whole night. Three days later she flew off to London.

“Junior, relax. I’ll talk to Shan Mei about Morning of Eve, only if you’re willing to give her free hand to revamp the show. The first person to go, if Shan Mei is really doing her job, would be the producer, and may be some of the other presenters.”

That night at home, during dinner, Xiang Zhe hedged around and asked Shan Mei whether she ever watched MBS programmes while she was in her office. She nodded her head and when asked to be specific, “I like the children’s and educational programmes, as well as the drama series.”

“What about the morning show?”
“I only like parts of it.”
“What’s wrong with the show?”
“After 3 years, if a show is not receiving good ratings, the first step to freshen up the image, is to give a new name to the show. But knowing the people at MOE production team, no one will dare suggest such a thing. The show is the Director of Planning’s baby, isn’t it?”

Xiang Zhe very hesitantly asked, “Do you have any recommendations?”

Shan Mei answered flippantly, “I wouldn’t dare touch it. Who am I anyway? The Director of Planning has criticised me in front of the MOE team that I was someone who shouldn’t be in the industry at all because I was not serious enough about my work and I couldn’t even keep punctual time.”

Something clicked in her mind. She suddenly turned around to face Xiang Zhe, her eyes flashing with confused rage, her brows knotted.

“What am I doing here? I don’t want to be married to you! I was right, you are hypocritical. Telling me I was doing all right by my own efforts, then turn around cutting me down in front of my colleagues who were already thinking I was slow, forgetful and blurry. Telling me you would be waiting for me no matter what, even though time and again I had told you not to. And to go to you if ever I encountered problems, then turn around telling me you’re letting go of me, and never to go to you with my personal problems. I was a fool believing you. You really did a good job, cutting me down in front of my colleagues especially in front of that Ying Mei (she remembered Ying Mei’s gloating smirk over her misfortune), cutting my segment out of the show, then cutting me out of your life”.

With that, she ran sobbing out of the kitchen, grabbed her handbag that was lying on a side table, and ran out of the house. Xiang Zhe was stunned by Shan Mei’s sudden outburst. By the time he was at the door, Shan Mei was nowhere around. He took the car out of the garage and drove frantically around the area where they lived, searching for her.

After half an hour getting nowhere, he parked the car by a roadside. Cupping his head that was resting on the steering wheel, tears falling, he wondered whether Shan Mei really meant what she said about not wanting to be married to him. She had made him so happy; she was the perfect wife in every way. Since their marriage, he had grown to love Shan Mei even more. Swayed by Xu Ying Mei’s devious talks, he had sometimes wondered whether Shan Mei had been intimate with You Zhen. On their wedding night, he had found her pure, innocent and shy, she was simply too adorable and irresistable. They had only been married hardly 4 months, yet there were already 2 major bust-ups, through his fault.

During their time apart when she ran off to London, he had dwelled constantly on their times at MBS. He learnt to try to see things from other’s points of view, not only from his own. His step uncle was not wrong when he insisted he was a spoilt brat. He would do whatever he liked, because since the time his father left, his mother was in no way able to control him. If she was not moping at home, she would be at Wen Rong or MBS office working. Whatever he wanted, he got. Especially when in London, he lived within his own world and did what he liked. No one was there to deny him anything. He didn’t have to consider anybody else’s feelings, because there was no one. He was king of his own little world.

Shan Mei was right too. He was a hypocrite. When Shan Mei so much as looked at another man, he would become jealous. Yet he never considered You Zhen’s feelings or position, when he took Ying Mei out or allowed her to visit him at his apartment. Ying Mei was supposed to have been with You Zhen several years. In the eyes of Shan Mei’s innocent world, Ying Mei was considered wife of You Zhen. How could he have allowed his employee’s wife into his apartment, or took her out, and expected You Zhen to stand by and watch silently without making a scene? He should have stopped her the first time she came calling, telling her not convenient to visit him at his apartment, knowing she was up to no good. If Ying Mei wanted to go out, he should have invited You Zhen along, to make sure there was no misunderstanding. Even if others in the company didn’t know Ying Mei and You Zhen was a pair, this fact was not a secret to him. He already knew the fact the first time Shan Mei was in London.

He should have told that Zian Da to stop arranging dinner dates with Xu Ying Mei. All office work should be conducted in the office. He realised every time Zian Da arranged something like that, he would always run off saying something had cropped up in the office, leaving him alone with Ying Mei. Wasn’t this the age-old match-making trick? If it was really office work, shouldn’t the meeting be in the office? He began hitting his head hard. And that Zian Da was a rascal. Why was he trying to push that Ying Mei down his throat? Zian Da already knew he was interested in Shan Mei. He had staked his claim so boldly at the MBS 20th Anniversary luncheon, although Shan Mei had thought it was a huge joke. If he didn’t make it sound like a joke, he knew Shan Mei wouldn’t play ball. Xiang Zhe smiled wryly remembering Shan Mei’s perplexed look. If he had mentioned the word ‘engagement’ to some other girl, he was sure he would be held hostage to his word and be led to the marriage altar without delay. But not his Shan Mei. How ironic! The only girl he wanted and she had been non-committal.

“Shan Mei, where are you? Don’t scare me. I love you, love you. I am so, so very sorry for my bad attitude and harsh words. That morning, seeing how tired you looked when you walked into the meeting room, I was so sure you had spent the night with You Zhen. I was so crazed, I had to lash out at you. I didn’t care about all those other people sitting around the conference table. As soon as you appeared, in that conference room, there were only 2 people who mattered, you and me. If I didn’t lash out at you, I would have gone out of control and tore the whole place down.”

Xiang Zhe decided to get out of the car and make his search on foot. It would not be possible for her to catch a taxi so quickly. Very few taxis cruised around the area where they lived. All the residents had at least one car at their disposal.

Soon, he came to a children’s playground. On a bench in a dark corner, he was so relieved to see Shan Mei’s tired hunched-up body. He knew she had been crying. He was so heart broken seeing her like that, he actually thought of killing himself, so he could stop causing pain to the one person he loved the most in the world. He walked up quietly to sit beside her on the bench. Without a word, he cradled her tightly in his arms, no chance for her to run. She must have sobbed her heart out, because there were no more tears except hiccups coming from her.

The night was getting cold. He didn’t want to rouse her, afraid to face another rage from her. He eased her slowly onto his back and carried her back to their car. Very slowly and as quietly as possible, he drove back to their house. They spent that night in the back seat of their car, with Shan Mei in his arms, her head resting against his shoulder. He lifted a hand and brushed a stray tendril of hair behind her ear with incredible gentleness.

Early the next morning, Xiang Zhe called Michael, letting him know what happened last night. It was obvious to Michael, Shan Mei had to get MOE out of her system. He could help them resolve some of their misunderstandings, but for how long? Michael knew this other girl, whatever her name was, was the cause of Shan Mei’s inane misery and fears. Not so much that Shan Mei harboured jealousy towards her, but for the very reason that Shan Mei had looked upon her as someone who had saved her from a group of hooligans when in fact she was the one who had sent the hooligans. She was possessed with such obsessive ambitions, she was prepared to use fatal malice to reach her objective. Just the thought of this girl was enough to give Shan Mei the shivers.

As long as MOE was around to serve as reminder to Shan Mei, the hurt and fear would not go away. Michael let off a deep sigh. He didn’t understand what Junior had said or done to hurt Shan Mei so deep.

“Junior, are you prepared to give Shan Mei free hand in revamping MOE?”

“Shan Mei can have free hand in running the whole MBS Station, as long as it will make her happy.”

On hearing this, Michael told him not to worry. Just behave like normal. He would be at their house in about 2 hours’ time. Junior told him MBS car would be at his hotel to collect him.

Chapter AW-8

After Xiang Zhe phoned Zian Da that he would not be in the office that day, he went to the kitchen to clear away the mess from last night.

He had heard Shan Mei making her way up the stairs to their bedroom. He went outside in the garden to clear his head. He had felt so guilty.

When Michael arrived, Junior served him coffee in the patio. Michael told him to answer truthfully to the questions he was going to ask the two of them afterwards. Regardless of how Shan Mei answered to the questions, he has to be truthful with his. That was how misunderstandings were usually resolved. Michael would spin a story, Junior would back up according to the drift of the scenario. Understood? Junior smiled and nodded his head.

Out of curiosity, Michael asked Junior whether he knew Shan Mei’s one weakness. Xiang Zhe was surprised. As far as he knew, Shan Mei had no weakness. Michael threw his head back and laughed until tears came to his eyes, murmuring the two of them were perfect for each other, each unaware of the other’s power. Shan Mei’s weakness was her husband, just like his weakness was his wife, got it? Xiang Zhe’s eyes rolled about big and unbelieving. Michael patted him on his back in a fond manner. They were really his most favourite couple!

A little while later, Shan Mei came down, and they all sat down in the living room. Michael apologised for causing misunderstanding between husband and wife last night. Actually, he was the one who asked Junior to get her opinion about MBS on the whole.

Michael wanted to help them resolve their differences so he told them to answer honestly to his questions. He asked them whether they could live without one another, whether they wanted the best for the other, and so forth and so forth. Their answers were similar, which meant they truly loved each other, so no more tantrums from either of them.

“Princess, you have to understand Junior’s position. He is under constant and immense pressure from his step uncle who is out to make mischief. When the share price of MBS rose because of CTN channelling through MBS, he insisted it had nothing to do with competence of Junior. (Apparently Step uncle had forgotten very conveniently who initiated the channelling rights talk and who negotiated the contract.) That Mr. Jin insisted the share price rose because of the reputation of CTN. Then his step uncle started attacking Junior through Morning of Eve programme saying it didn’t bring in the viewership % and revenue as expected, apart from the first few shows.”

Michael heaved a sigh. “I’ve heard that if ratings for the MOE show do not improve by next season, Step uncle has persuaded MBS directors not only to axe the show, but to remove Junior as Director of Planning. Yin Snr’s hands are tied. He can do nothing but to agree.”

After a slight pause, waiting to ensure the fact has sunk into Shan Mei’s head, Michael continued, “I am anxious because I don’t want Mr. Jin to become DoP of MBS. Mr. Jin made his move very stealthily, knowing very well when CTN channels through MBS, CTN will bring many benefits to MBS. It will then seem like he is very competently managing the station.”

Shan Mei was fuming. This Step uncle was always playing dirty tricks on Xue Zhang, though she had, since their marriage, advised him to keep the peace and leave his Step uncle alone and not think of retaliation. Though MBS was by birth right Xue Zhang’s inheritance, the pie was big enough to share around so each one in the family could have a comfortable living. It looked like he wanted to steal the whole thing from Xue Zhang.

Her protective instinct immediately came to the fore. She looked at her husband, her eyes apologising for not being an understanding wife, asked softly: “What’s the deadline and minimum numbers they are talking about? What’s the rating now?”

Michael was smiling, Xiang Zhe’s heart was in 7th heaven, but he answered soulfully “by March next year they want to see at least 30% viewership and enough sponsorship deals to self finance the show. Current rating is hovering around 18% - 20% to a high of 25% once in a while. There is sponsorship money coming in but we’re still working at 15% loss per show”

Shan Mei looked at Michael, and asked what he thought of the situation.

Michael smiled at her, pinched her cheek playfully “I think you can pull it off, princess.” Michael wanted to know, since the two of them had been discussing it last night, what would be her first course of action.

“To refresh the image completely, I suggest changing the name of the show and revamp its contents.”

Shan Mei stole a look at Xiang Zhe from under her eyelashes when she said that to gauge his reaction. His face was inscrutable. “When we have our first meeting, I want to see what fresh concept the producer can come up with. If nothing is up to my expectation, he will have to be removed.” Michael thought both were the right moves.

Shan Mei told Michael when she first started off with the show, she noticed this producer was led through the nose by the main host, Ying Mei, who always favoured sad family stories, trying to elicit sympathy from Xue Zhang, thinking broken family themes were his favourites. This Ying Mei did a lot of research on Xue Zhang, telling anyone who would listen in the office, their lives were so similar.

Shan Mei gave a soft laugh. She gave Michael a look, asking him whether he would like to wake up a few mornings each week, to be faced with sad stories, as if the world was not a sad enough place. Michael laughed and said if that station kept running along that kind of concept, he would switch to another channel asap.

“Someone once told me presenting a show was like keeping a date with the viewer. If I was the viewer, I wouldn’t want to keep such a date with the TV station.” Xiang Zhe kept very quiet. Astute Michael immediately caught on and knew what Shan Mei was driving at. Of course, he helped Shan Mei rubbed salt into the wound. “Was there really such a station that would let their planning team do something like that, running sad stories first thing in the mornings? The whole lot should have been fired!” Michael further asked whether this station was any of MBS’s competitors. If it was, Shan Mei would have an easy walk.

Michael wanted to know what concepts she had in mind.
“I’ve loads. I favour one that is finance-related seeing how the disposal income in the average family has shrunk over the past few years, and inflation has gone way out of control. I’ll decide after the first meeting with the MOE production team.”

Shan Mei also wondered whether Michael could ask David to introduce her to a local law firm that could explain legal terminology or offer legal advice gratis to their viewers. Maybe, the legal advisor could be at the studio once a week.

Anyway, she had to be sure none of Stepuncle Jin’s spies was part of the new team. Because the first season was very crucial to Xue Zhang’s position, she only wanted to work with a team she could trust.

Xiang Zhe had been keeping quiet all this time while Shan Mei was carrying on conversation with Michael. He wondered whether they remembered he was still there. Shan Mei also wanted to know whether CTN-KE could issue the Letter of Release for Michael to sign. She didn’t want step uncle to have chance to kick up a fuss with the media that she was doing something behind CTN’s back, if he found out she was in charge of MOE revamp. He never liked her. Finally, Xiang Zhe got his chance. “Of course he wouldn’t like you. You’re my dearest wife.”

Shan Mei laughed softly, giving Xiang Zhe’s hand a gentle pat. “In that case, he wouldn’t like you too, because you’re my dearest husband,” leaning over to kiss him on his cheek.

Michael was very happy. The air had cleared. Xiang Zhe told Shan Mei to go freshen up, he would treat them to lunch. Before running upstairs, Shan Mei threw her arms around Michael’s neck, gave him a kiss on his cheek, followed by a very sincere ‘thank you’. Michael patted her hands still clasped around his neck, sending her along to change. Getting such treatment from Shan Mei in front of her husband, his day was made. Michael gave Junior a wink and a wicked laugh, whispering “step uncle better watch out. Our Shan Mei has put on her gauntlets, ready for a fight with anybody out to attack her husband.” Xiang Zhe responded with a shy smile and a soft ‘thanks’.

After lunch, Michael told Shan Mei to take rest of the day off. He would go back to CTN office to get the Letter of Release ready and signed and see how You Zhen was getting along. He was leaving for Tokyo that evening. Xiang Zhe told him MBS car would be at hotel to collect him for airport. Junior’s firm handshake, at the hotel entrance, conveyed to Michael a whole lot of meaning and gratitude.

Xiang Zhe decided to stop by the park to drop in at the noodle shop, hoping the visit would put his wife in good mood. Shan Mei always loved seeing her Pa. Sure enough, she was all in giggles and went to sit at another table with Ma, wanting her advice about a new programme for television.

By the time Shan Mei and Ma finished their ‘top-secret’ discussion, it was almost closing hour for the noodle shop. They all packed up, and went back to Pa’s house. Xiang Zhe wanted to take them for seafood dinner at the seafood stall where he took Shan Mei to 3 months ago. While the parents took their shower, Xiang Zhe and his wife rested in Shan Mei’s room.

Back in their own house, after a wonderful dinner which earned high praises from Pa for the deliciously fresh seafood, Xiang Zhe was trying to gauge the mood of his wife. Seeing Xue Zhang sitting in front of the television set waiting for 9 o’clock News, Shan Mei went to get some coffee ready for him.

When Shan Mei snuggled up next to Xue Zhang on the sofa in front of the television, he was so happy, knowing his wife had really forgiven him. He whispered “I’m so sorry” into Shan Mei’s ears.

He reminded his wife, he had told her on the eve of their wedding, he was not used to living with someone since he was 17 years old when he left for London, he had been afraid he might somehow unintentionally upset her, he had asked her to bear with him patiently. Not like her, even though she grew up without a mother, she had so much love surrounding her, from her Pa, Ma, Gugu and You Zhen. She wouldn’t understand what it felt like to be growing up unloved, neglected and all by himself, not knowing who was a true friend, whether he was appreciated for himself or for being heir to some fortune.

Shan Mei behaved differently towards him, right from the beginning. She never once delved into his family background. She was very concerned for his welfare, asking whether he managed to find a job when he returned from London, even suggesting he worked at her Pa’s construction site until he found a suitable job. Never letting him pay all the time for drinks when they were out assuming, he was still unemployed, she chipped in her share sometimes. He appreciated her understanding and valued their friendship. She was his one true friend. He wouldn’t be able to bear it if she left him.

All this time, Shan Mei was lying down, her head on her husband’s thigh, silently weeping, angry with herself for her stupid outburst about not wanting to be married to him. Of course she didn’t mean any of it. He was her perfect husband. She must let go of MOE bad memories; she must let go, or else she would never be able to go forward. She truly loved Xue Zhang, there was no doubt about that. Her husband was himself a bundle of insecurities. She had got to be caring, understanding and loving towards him, no matter what, to help him through. Right now, she didn’t want him to see her tears. She didn’t want to distress him further. He was her precious treasure.

Shan Mei brought his hand that was stroking her hair to her lips and gave it a tender kiss. She then clasped the hand safely and lovingly within her own hand and placed both their hands against her heart. Xiang Zhe, with his other hand smoothed her hair from her forehead, then bent down and gave his wife a tender, loving kiss on her cheek.

No further words of apology were necessary. Silently, they promised each other love, patience and understanding.

Xiang Zhe freed his hand from Shan Mei’s clasp. He put the hand under her chin, tilting her face up to hold her eyes with his, then, slowly, his open mouth came down on hers, and she kissed him back, warmth radiating through her at the taste and feel of him.

When the hand under her chin moved downwards, to the base of her throat, past the opening of her blouse, to settle on her breast, she closed her eyes and breathed a deep sigh of pure contentment. “Xue Zhang, I’m blessed to have you for my husband. I love you, oh so much!”

Chapter AW-9

At her first MOE production meeting a few days later at MBS, when Shan Mei walked in, Xiang Zhe introduced her as Miss Zhen Shan Mei to the team and revealed that she would be responsible for revamp of MOE. She had felt a little apprehensive since this was the first time after her departure from MBS, that she was back sitting around a conference table with the MOE team, supposedly in an official capacity.

She noticed the meeting was now being held in a different conference room. Shan Mei smiled secretly to herself. Her husband was trying to avoid at all costs anything that reminded her of that dreadful morning 28 months back, and she appreciated his thoughtfulness.

The team consisted of many of the old faces. Xu Ying Mei had gone, a new scriptwriter was included, and a graphic designer who designed the visuals.

Shan Mei’s secretary handed out some questionaires. She wanted the papers back in 15 minutes. Senior Zian Da was to ensure no one compared answers. They were to answer as much as they could. She didn’t expect them to be able to answer all questions.

Then Shan Mei went with Xue Zhang to his office for some coffee. As soon as they were alone in his office, Xiang Zhe drew his wife into his arms for an embrace and a kiss, murmuring into her ear that he loved her so much. She couldn’t begin to understand the depth of his love for her. Xiang Zhe then sat down on the sofa pulling his wife onto his lap, to give her a deeper kiss. Soon Shan Mei’s mobile rang. It was her secretary telling her that the girl in apple green sweater, maybe scriptwriter, had been calling out on her mobile to someone several times. Shan Mei thanked her for the message.

Back in the conference room, Shan Mei looked over the questionaires that were returned. After glancing through them, she thanked them. She asked the producer for some fresh ideas for the new show. Mr. Producer thought Shan Mei was responsible for the revamp, so he didn’t think of anything new. Xiang Zhe on hearing this fumed inwardly. It was obvious the man was being blatantly rude and uncooperative.

“Okay, how about sequence placement of segments so I can have some idea to work from.”
“Sorry Miss Zhen, I don’t understand your question.”
“Like from start of show till the finish, who should we target with first segment, so on and so on.”
“I feel the present format is good enough.”

Shan Mei looked at the answers on the producer’s questionaire. The target market for the morning show, according to him, was between 30 to 50 years old. Shan Mei asked her secretary for MOE File Lifestyle No. 3. Shan Mei flipped through the big binder, and took out a page with information showing the latest haute couture designer fashion shows in Paris on the MOE. Did Mr. MOE producer think this film chosen for the Lifestyle segment benefited his target market against the kind of disposal income he had indicated for his target market? She didn’t want his answer now, she wanted a short written note explaining his choice, and the sequence of appearance he recommended.

In fact, she wanted the production team members to write about their current segment, according to their target market, and the sequence in the show they would like the segment to appear. The scriptwriters and the designer did not have to undergo the exercise. Also, it would not be necessary for them to sit in on her future meetings, because depending on the others’ written notes, it might not even be necessary to revamp the show. However, they would continue to sit in on Mr. MOE Producer’s normal production meetings.

Thanking them for their time, she hoped Director Yin would receive their written notes in 2 days’ time. Xiang Zhe told his assistant to help Mrs. Yin’s secretary take the binders to his car. He would drive Mrs. Yin back to her office.

After Xiang Zhe dropped the secretary back at SGS Building, Shan Mei wanted to go home. From the look on her face, Xiang Zhe knew something was not quite right. After he brought the MOE files into the house, he flipped through them. Shan Mei had done her homework thoroughly. No wonder Michael said she was very good at such things.

Shan Mei sat down opposite her husband on the sofa after she came back from the kitchen with coffee. She showed Xue Zhang the completed questionnaires. From the answers given on the questionnaires, it would appear the team did not have the foggiest idea what they were trying to achieve on MOE. Even though the segment hosts knew what they were responsible for, there wasn’t a cohesive theme of sorts for any one show. No wonder the viewers were confused.

Shan Mei then gave Xiang Zhe a blank questionaire to fill out. He looked at her dumb founded. He sighed. She must have her reason, so he sat down at the dining table to try to complete the questionaire as best as he could.

She looked at Xue Zhang’s completed questionaire. She had expected him to do better, since he had access to the financial statements every month, at least he would know better the situation in MBS. Apparently not. If MBS was controlled by Michael, at least 10 of these 14 who answered the questionaires would have been fired, otherwise the head of the programme would get the axe. None seemed to know much about MBS except a bit of its history, or what it was that made the morning programmes shown by their rival stations so acceptable to TV viewers, so how could they identify their target market for their show? No wonder they had been offering a potpurri of nonsense on the show that the viewers could not relate to.

From another binder, Shan Mei took out a chart that she had summarised the data she had collected at MBS when she first worked there. She personally interviewed the staff at Kitchen, Housekeeping, Radio station, Security, and Library. Another chart showed summary of very recent data collected at Kitchen, Housekeeping, Radio Station, Security, Library, Dubbing and Drama. This already represented about 130 members of MBS staff. This was a no-cost market survey research. The data collected gave a pretty good idea of the average Korean family and some idea of each household’s disposal income.

For the new revamped version, the producer must go not because he was rude to her earlier, but because he was not capable of doing his job. He didn’t even know how to plan sequence of appearance properly. She suspected step uncle Jin had planted a spy in their midst. She was not sure which one, that was why she didn’t want to talk too much at the meeting.

Shan Mei then looked at Xiang Zhe. She was not angry with the producer for being rude to her earlier in the day. It was not his fault. It was Xue Zhang’s fault. He once criticised her so harshly in front of them, of course he had no respect for her. Next time, if he wanted to yell at her and put on his stern Director Yin’s look, please wait till they were home. Xiang Zhe went to sit next to her, begging for forgiveness and asking her not to remain angry with him.

“Who’s angry with you? Silly goose.” Seeing a trace of a smile on her face, he quickly planted several kisses on her cheek and neck. He laughed when she tried to push him away. He refused to budge, instead clung closer to her.

The new team would consist of the old faces: Li Qing Xi,Yong Xi Xian Da, Shen Qi Tong, Chen Siu, new face Han Jae Hoon and a few invited guests. There would be no scriptwriters, and they would meet in Mr. Ang’s conference room, in the evenings. The segment hosts to make their own brief scripting notes. Xiang Zhe was not happy hearing Han Jae Hoon’s name. He would wait to see what role Han would play in the revamped show. Her present top concern was to cut down on production costs.

By the end of the month, the team had met secretly 4 times and the duties clearly defined for each individual. Not all would be appearing in front of the screen. The behind the screen work was more important, otherwise the show wouldn’t work. Shan Mei didn’t want to waste time asking them to go research for an appropriate name and theme. Her concept was to concentrate heavily on researching the best bargains for the predominately female viewers of the show. “The Price Is Right” would be the new show. There would be no scriptwriters, all to make their notes, there would be very little for them to say, nothing that they wouldn’t be able to handle with their experience.

Five major segments: What’s best and fresh at the market, Travel Bargains for the whole family, Banking made easy for women, Understanding the Law, Shocking Prices at Bargain Corner. Li Qing Xi was responsible for Market, Chen Siu responsible for Travel, Yong Xi responsible for Banking, Zian Da responsible for Bargain Corner. Shen Xi Tong to give support to the team, mainly to Zian Da.

At the end of the meeting, Shan Mei introduced Han Jae Hoon, who had been sitting in for the last 5 minutes at the meeting, to the team. He would be responsible for Law. To demonstrate to the team what Shan Mei wanted from them, Shan Mei and Jae Hoon carried on intelligent interview naturally without script. They would work from questions from the viewers. Shan Mei believed there would be plenty of questions to keep tight momentum. Apart from Zian Da, partners for the other hosts had already accepted invitations to appear on the show. After the meeting, Shan Mei treated the entire team to supper at a popular all-night eatery.

While enjoying his supper, Xiang Zhe looked on, fascinated by his wife as she was telling the team members not to worry. Just be natural and believe in wanting the best bargains for the viewers. She believed rating for the first show would pass 40% if they were doing their job right, but to be on the safe side, make it 30%. She suddenly turned to her husband and smilingly asked him softly, “Director Yin, will you be happy with 30%.viewership rating?” He was caught unawares. He had actually been staring at her, his eyes so full of love for her; he became flustered at being caught, and could only nod his head. But the shy, happy look on his face said it all. The others were caught up in the excitement too. The concept for the show was very fresh. There would be no main host. The hosts would have to work out their segments with the producer at their own convenient time.

Xiang Zhe realised Shan Mei could move around MBS easily because she was very popular with MBS employees. They would do anything for her, especially the teams in the production department. He was sure they were planning something very secret with her. Whatever she didn’t know, they would surely tell her where to get it. No wonder her shows at CTN were so successful. They made it their business to make special and extra efforts for her.

Chapter AW-10

An air of excitement pervaded the MBS Christmas Party venue. Rumours had been rife at MBS for the past 2 weeks that their young and dashing Director of Planning was going to become President of MBS. Step Uncle Jin had heard of the rumours too, and he was patiently sitting at his place, thinking the DoP position would surely be given to him, who else?

It all started well at the MBS annual Christmas Party, when Yin Senior officially announced that his elder son would, from the start of the New Year, take over as President of MBS, and also remain as DoP. Shan Mei was introduced as the First Lady. She got a resounding round of applause from the floor. Of course she would. She captivated everybody with her charm, beauty and dazzling smile. Many of the employees knew she was the brains behind Korean Kinship, their current favourite television programme.

Stepuncle put up a brave front, but he was silently seething, thinking his brother-in-law was getting senile, giving such heavy responsibility and power to that immature kid. He had to be patient to bide his time. Surely one of these days that kid would fall.

When the new batch of trainee newscasters dragged Xiang Zhe over to their table and made him drink with each one of them in rotation, and wouldn’t let him leave; that was what got him into trouble.

As soon as he was away from his seat, that Han Jae Hoon immediately made his move on Shan Mei. When Xiang Jie came to extricate his elder brother from those girls, and told him Shan Mei was upset, Xiang Zhe thought he would go and make peace with her, but she was not at their table. Xiang Jie indicated with his head towards the dance floor.

Shan Mei and Han Jae Hoon made such an attractive couple gliding across the dance floor. Looking at them, Xiang Zhe had to admit they were very good dancers, dancing with such natural grace, enjoying themselves executing intricate steps as they danced along. He fumed.

He turned to Xiang Jie berating him for not coming sooner to rescue him. Xiang Jie gave him a cold stare “you shouldn’t have gone over there in the first place. Those girls looked and acted disgusting!”

Mr. Han escorted Shan Mei back to her seat. He acknowledged Xiang Zhe with a polite nod and thanked him for giving him the pleasure to enjoy a dance with Mrs. Yin. He then thanked Shan Mei and returned to his table.

Xiang Zhe gave Shan Mei a dark look, she smiled sweetly at him and commented that Mr. Han was a great dancer. Xiang Jie became excited too and said when he grew up, he wanted to learn to dance like that. Then Shan Mei turned to her father-in-law and told him Mr. Han was the one doing the voice over for their new documentary series, an episode of which she showed him 2 weeks ago. He was going to host the Law segment on the forthcoming morning show, Price Is Right.

“Oh, that’s him? He not only has a beautiful voice but look so handsome and cultured. And by watching the pair of you dance, I can see he is also an accomplished dancer.”

Xiang Zhe wished he could stop his father from making more favourable comments on that ‘frog’. Shan Mei continued, “he’s got a major in history and is really into Korean history. Father, do you think there is a sizeable percentage of TV viewers interested in Korean history? I think it will make a very interesting theme for a TV documentary.” If Shan Mei thought she was making him jealous, she was succeeding, ably supported by his father and younger brother. Traitors!

“Xue Zhang, aren’t you drinking a bit too much? I don’t like you getting a headache later. How many girls did you drink with just now at that table?”

Before he could react, Xiang Jie answered for him “6”. He glared at his younger brother, couldn’t he keep his mouth shut?

Shan Mei gave him such a look of deep concern, he immediately felt guilty. What to do, he was sure she was still paying him back. He caught hold of her hand under the table, and started writing on her palm with his finger S O R R Y a few times. She continued carrying on her conversation with Mr. Jin of Wen Rong Heavy Industries as if nothing was happening.

When it was time to leave, Xiang Zhe avoided the girls like the plague. Shan Mei was right. He shouldn’t give any one of them even the slightest bit of encouragement otherwise he would be misunderstood and invite another Xu Ying Mei situation. For him, it was all in pure innocence, but for the other party, one could never tell what was in their mind.

On their way out, he noticed Han Jae Hoon was trying to catch Shan Mei’s eye. As soon as Shan Mei saw him, he gave her a nod of his head together with the most charming smile, while she gave him a little wave of her hand in acknowledgement.

In the car he couldn’t help asking her “What was all that about?”

“Huh?”

“That little wave to Han Jae Hoon”

“Just a ‘thank you’ wave for keeping me company while my husband was away making other girls happy.” Shan Mei sounded extra smooth and sweet.

Xiang Zhe was silent. She was jealous? So was he. And that Father and Xiang Jie were not helping him at all; they were on her side.

Looked as if this time she was not so forgiving!

“Didn’t we have an understanding he wasn’t to be near you or you near him, outside of PIR activities?” he gritted.

“Didn’t you promise you would not look at another girl?” she countered back.

He was again silent. In his mind, that Xiang Jie was right, he shouldn’t have gone over to those girls’ table in the first place. Even a 16 year old boy could see that they were up to no good, why couldn’t he?

“I don’t care how good he is for the NWP documentary series and PIR. If he doesn’t behave, he’ll get the sack.” His mood was dark.

“Good. CTN will sign him up immediately.” Shan Mei shot back at once.

The car screeched to a halt. They were about 5 minutes away from their house. Xiang Zhe applied the hand brake, turned around to look at his wife

“Shan Mei, please????…..do we have to fight? It’s Christmas!”

“No one is fighting with you. You are the one bringing personal feeling into a commercial deal. Mr. Han is doing great work for the documentary and PIR. Just because you think he likes being around me, you dismiss him. This doesn’t make sense. He is a fanatical history student, and I appreciate his knowledge in this area. He’s a talent that CTN can use, if MBS doesn’t appreciate him, simple as that! Besides, he is a very good dancer!”

“Shan Mei!!!!” He grabbed her into his arms, and kissed her hard and deep.
She was fighting to get loose, he tightened his embrace. She was struggling for air, finally he let go of her mouth, but not her. He could see her eyes glistening with unshed tears. He held her face to the crook of his neck on his shoulder, stroking her hair lovingly, murmuring “Darling, I’m sorry, so sorry.”

All her pent up emotions went loose. Her tears came down in buckets. She had been so afraid of losing him again. She saw the looks on those girls tonight. They reminded her so much of Ying Mei. She shuddered.

Xiang Zhe thought she was cold. He pulled her coat tighter around the collar. He gave her another reassuring kiss, rubbing the wetness from her cheeks, before speeding off for home.

After a quick shower, Shan Mei said she was tired, and crept into bed. When he joined her in bed a little while later, he saw that she was already asleep. He sighed; he was not getting his special Christmas goodnight kiss. And what would his younger brother have said to him “Serves you right!”
==

Christmas morning.
Pa and Ma welcomed Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei in, and were beaming from ear to ear because they didn’t expect them so early. You Zhen had gone with Minnie very early this morning to check on a location which he found on the internet, for the series he was shooting. Ma again was hugging and hugging and hugging Shan Mei for convincing You Zhen to return to Seoul. Not just that, but seeing how happy he was now since he began working at CTN!

Xiang Zhe brought in presents for them. The seniors were very happy, saying that they had a present for them too, but You Zhen said to wait for him before they hand over the present. They should be back home by tomorrow.

While her husband was sharing a Christmas drink with Pa, Shan Mei went up to her room wanting to go through some of her stuff. She took her mother’s diary from out of her desk drawer. She ran her hand lovingly over its cover, and softly breathed “Merry Christmas my dearest mama” into it.

When Xiang Zhe came looking for her, he found her in bed reading a book. Bending down to give his wife a sweet kiss, he shoved her gently over so he could sit next to her on the bed and read the book together with her. In it were such profound thoughts, he began to understand a bit why Zhen Shan Mei was Zhen Shan Mei. He felt envious. If only his mother had done something similar for him, his outlook on life, on love would have been different

All the food boxes prepared by Ma were loaded in to their cars. They should be leaving for home to prepare for the Christmas Day BBQ party Shan Mei was throwing for selected media personnel to give them more details on the morning show she had been approached to produce for MBS.

Before starting the car for home, Xiang Zhe caught Shan Mei’s hand in his, gave it a kiss then looked at Shan Mei telling her he loved her very much. She caressed his cheek with the back of her hand lovingly, and smiled at him, not trusting herself to say anything. She was ready to cry all over again, recalling some of the words of wisdom from her mother’s diary.

Yin Snr, stepmother and Xiang Jie soon arrived with tubs of ice cream and special Japanese sweet cakes. All assisted in setting up the tables and stove in one part of the garden of the Yins’ residence.

The reporters at the party were told the new MBS morning show would be launched on 1st January. To thank the viewers who would be tuning in, great bargains would be offered by MBS at 70% discount from normal retail price, e.g. Italian sofas, 42” screen television sets, Jacuzzi sets with multi function spray jets, home use sauna rooms suitable for installation using very little space, etc. When asked whether there would be conflict of interest as CTN-KE also had their morning show. Shan Mei was very specific: CTN’s show concentrated on topics of interest from around the world. A very high percentage of their viewers subscribed to their internet service to catch their programmes on internet, at all hours of the day, so the ‘conflict’ issue was not important at this point.

Shan Mei also used the opportunity to introduce the morning show’s production team, in front of the screen and behind the cameras, to the press. The food was prepared entirely by Aunt Shu who would front the Marketing segment with MBS’ popular presenter, Li Qing Xi. Han Jae Hoon, with his good looks, soon caught the eyes of the reporters. He looked even more impressive in casual wear since he had this very natural grace about him. When asked, he said he would host the Legal segment and went on to elaborate more of what that segment would bring to viewers.

Shan Mei, being very popular with the press, of course received a lot of support from the press. The reporters assured her their newspapers would give daily press coverage on Zhen Shan Mei’s new production “The Price Is Right” for MBS. They were told the telephone number for the show’s Bargain Corner Hotline would be changed on daily basis. First bargain on offer would be imported Italian pure leather bound sofa, normally retailing for 1,000,000 Won, would go for 300,000 Won to the first 50 callers.

By 4 p.m. the crowd had thinned out. Seeing how tired Shan Mei was, those who remained helped clean up. After that, they left. Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei sat down out in the patio for a cup of coffee before doing anything further. They happily agreed the BBQ party was a huge success, and looked at each other, thinking of Mr. MOE Producer and step uncle’s faces, when they read about the new morning show in tomorrow’s newspapers. Shan Mei went to sit on her husband’s lap, circling her arms around his neck. Still staring at each other, they burst out laughing uncontrollably.

They had just finished storing the food boxes left by Ma, in the fridge, when Xiang Zhe noticed Shan Mei’s face had gone pale. As she was standing up she held on to him, almost going limp against him. He caught her before she slid to the ground. “Shan Mei? Shan Mei?” he called out at her frantically. He shook her but she was not responding. He called Dr. Kim telling him that his wife had fainted and he was now taking her to the hospital. “Dr. Kim, please meet us there. Sorry for Christmas interruption but this is an emergency. Thank you.”

Xiang Zhe was scared. His mind went back to one night 2-1/2 years ago. That night she remained unconscious for a whole night in the hospital.
Two hours passed. Dr. Kim came into the room beaming. “Xiang Zhe, nothing to worry about. Prelim tests show your wife is 5 weeks pregnant. Congratulations. You can take her home now. Bring her back to see me in 2 weeks’ time at my clinic. Meanwhile, make sure she maintains a healthy diet. This note contains some guidelines. No coffee and no smoking.”

Xiang Zhe was ecstatic. He punched his fist into the air. What a wonderful Christmas present his wife had just given him. He looked at her on the hospital bed still asleep; he was filled with such love, such tenderness, such possessiveness. He clasped Shan Mei’s hand within his big hands, hoping the flow of love from his heart was being transmitted through their joined hands to her heart, pure and blissful.

With his baby now growing inside of her, Shan Mei was now truly, completely, totally, utterly all his, no one could take her away from him!
What a wonderful day!
[tbc]

Chapter AW-11

When they arrived home from the hospital, Shan Mei had no idea why she had fainted. Xiang Zhe carried her up to their bedroom, and wouldn’t allow her to move about in the bed. Whatever she wanted, she needed only to call out to him. He brought her some warm milk. And told her doctor’s orders were, “no coffee and cigarettes”.

“Does that mean Xue Zhang is going to throw out his cigarettes?” his wife asked teasingly.

“Haven’t you noticed, darling? I have been trying to curtail my smoking for a few months now, except for the occasional cigarette with the boys at the canteen. I’ve noticed no one at CTN smokes. Since I’m going to work so closely with them, I’d have to cut out the bad habit.”

“You’d better substitute your cigarettes with something else to stay awake when you’re dealing with David and Michael. They are not known in the industry as DDM (Double Dutton Missile) for nothing. Everything you get, you get double dosage of, the bad together with the good.”

“What about you?” Xiang Zhe asked anxiously.

“I’ve got my secret weapon when dealing with them singly or doubly.
Xue Zhang, what did the doctor say? I’ve been feeling so tired lately. Thank goodness PIR will be launched in a few days’ time.”

Xiang Zhe couldn’t suppress his excitemene as he sat on the bed and pulled Shan Mei onto his lap, hugged her close to him, then whispered something into her ear. She let off a loud shriek “You’re going to be a father? That means, that means I’m going to be a mother?” He nodded.

She clung on to his neck, rubbed the tip of his nose with hers, then stared directly into his eyes, “Is it really true?” He nodded again, grinning broadly. “How far along?” He put out one hand with all five digits outstretched. Before she could jump out of his lap, he held her back tightly and smothered her with hard kisses. A moment later they became soft nibbles, and finally he grinned broadly at her.

He told her both their families would be at their house tomorrow afternoon. They would then make the announcement, okay? She nodded shyly. There was a look of disbelief in her eyes, at the same time full of excitement.

They couldn’t love each other more that night
==

The next day.
After lunch You Zhen’s Landrover arrived. Pa and company followed behind in his 4WD.

There was a lot of excited commotion in the driveway. They were trying to get their Christmas present out of the Landrover. Xiang Zhe went around the vehicle to see how he could help.

The 3 men started assembling a kind of structure. It was a big portable greenhouse specially imported from New Zealand with temperature and climatic control suitable for the cultivation of rare roses. They unloaded pots and pots of the most fragrant and rarest roses also from New Zealand and Australia. You Zhen took one bloom and presented it to Shan Mei. He gave her a big hug and a deep kiss, then meaningfully added “Thank you, my darling sister.” Minnie ran up to hug and kiss her too. You Zhen gave Xiang Zhe a firm handshake, the undercurrent very strong, “Thank you for everything. You’re the best brother ever.”

Just a whiff of the fragrance from that particular bloom was enough to send one’s senses reeling. You Zhen told Shan Mei of course they couldn’t find a variety with the name Shan Mei, the closest they could match was ‘Charmaine’ and this variety was known as “Sweet Charmaine’. The greenhouse would be filled with this variety in different colours, plus other rare varieties of old roses. Tears of happiness were rolling down her cheeks, she loved her instant greenhouse. Even Xiang Zhe was profoundly touched. His sweet Shan Mei could from now onwards have her Sweet Charmaine every morning.

The Yin family soon arrived. The women went into the kitchen to prepare dinner. Shan Mei was sitting with the men, listening to them talk, like she was holding court.

During dinner, Yin Snr asked why You Zhen decided to come back after 2 years in New Zealand ? Then, to join CTN and not MBS?

You Zhen told them the funny incident when Shan Mei visited him in the Queensland jungle with Michael.

“Both of them were in their fancy clothes because they came straight from some kind of function. They arrived dishevelled due to 7 hours of rough travelling. They had to leave their mobiles off because they must not disturb the crocodiles we were filming at that time.

Shan Mei was okay, she had only one phone. But Michael was different. He had about 4 or 5. He became very disoriented, at one stage, without his phones. The location was most uncomfortable for city dwellers; there were all sorts of creatures crawling around, on the ground, along tree branches, just about everywhere.

Soon my baby sister was bawling for her Xue Zhang non stop. I thought the easiest way to shut her up was to let her call Xiang Zhe before she frightened all the crocs away. But we were too deep in the jungle. She couldn’t get a connection, yet she clutched on to that phone like some kind of life line. In order to shut her up, I simply told her I would return to Seoul if she stopped crying, right that instant. She did!”

You Zhen was deeply touched by their sincerity. For someone like Michael going into the jungle, simply based on the recommendation of Shan Mei, was not easy. He had to return, not only to handle Shan Mei’s project but to prove to Michael his efforts were not in vain. Ma went around the table to give Shan Mei a grateful kiss. Xiang Jie ran up to her next. He hooked an arm around her neck and gave her a kiss on her cheek, declaring “Sister, you’re my idol.”

Every one sounded concerned and began to ask Shan Mei a lot of questions about the overland drive. But she made it like she wasn’t the least scared, all that was related by You Zhen was a figment of his imagination. Xiang Zhe kept looking at Shan Mei quietly from under his lashes. He had really hurt her that night she flew in from Brisbane, yet she was so generous in her forgiving. [ “Yin Xiang Zhe, never ever doubt her love again!”]

It was getting to be too cold out on the patio, so they went into the living room for fruits and dessert. Soon coffee was served. Everybody was sitting around with Christmas cheer.

Shan Mei and Xiang Zhe exchanged deliberate glances. He went to pull her up from her seat and stood there with his arm around her waist. The others looked up at them, curious. Very shyly, Xiang Zhe announced that Shan Mei had yesterday given him the best Christmas present ever. He was going to be a father. Suddenly the room was filled with excited chatter after the fact had sunk in. Ma immediately asked how far along? They answered, “5 weeks.” Shan Mei had to go back to Dr. Kim in 2 weeks’ time for follow up check. The grandparents suddenly asked Xiang Zhe to bring out the cognac for celebratory toasts, all laughing and talking of a summer baby.

Xiang Jie was quiet and did not look at all happy; he said he didn’t want to go to university in London next year. He would miss the baby. Shan Mei laughed, pulling him down to sit next to her. “How about returning during the Christmas holidays to babysit the little baby nephew so your elder brother and sister can go for romantic holiday?” His face lit up again.

Shan Mei gave him another surprise. Knowing he was a whiz at the computer, she asked him, “Will you be interested to help out with the morning show? You can go in and help with data entry. Chen Sui has a lot on his hands. One data entry clerk is not enough.”

Xiang Jie clapped his hands excitedly. He went over to his dad, and told him he wanted to be at the station to help out Brother Chen Sui, and he didn’t want to hear a No from his dad. Shan Mei laughed, again thinking how alike he was to Xue Zhang.

They wanted to guess the gender of the baby, asking Shan Mei to walk this way and that way, never mind the fact her figure was just as slim as ever, her stomach still flat without the slightest trace of a bump. It was getting very late. Xiang Zhe reminded them his wife needed to rest. They got the hint. They cleaned up then left. The house became very quiet again.

Xiang Zhe carried his wife up to their bedroom. He wanted to help her undress, but she refused. She became shy imagining her tummy might look strange. Xiang Zhe got upset. “From tonight onwards I will need to check on your stomach at least 4 times a day, twice in the morning: once before and once after bath, and twice at night: once before and once after bath. Shan Mei couldn’t fob him off. They eventually ended up in the tub together, her husband ever so attentive.

In bed that night, he told her how very sorry he was for his hurtful words the night she returned from Brisbane. Shan Mei kissed him quiet.

“Xue Zhang, please stop saying you’re sorry all the time like a little boy. You’re going to be a father soon, you have big responsibilities, so remember to do or say things you won’t be sorry for, okay?”

He felt humbled at her good sense and by her love. He cupped her cheeks with exquisite tenderness, fingers moving over her face, into her hair, down to her neck. He would never get enough of touching her. Finally, he buried his face into her breasts, “Oh Shan Mei, you really are the best.”

Chapter AW-12

If an order had been placed, the weather this morning couldn’t have been more perfect!

“What a beautiful morning”, Xiang Zhe thought as he stood out in the garden doing some stretching exercises !

Xiang Zhe was out and about in the garden very early. He wanted to check on the roses in the greenhouse. As he inspected, he realized these were really special strains. The blooms were huge, their petals thick and velvety, their scent pervasive.

Xiang Zhe cut the biggest and most radiant bloom, put it in water on the breakfast table in the patio. The fresh air would be good for Shan Mei.

When he returned to the bedroom, he found her waiting for him in bed. “Xue Zhang, I want to take a shower. Do you want to do your checking now?” He smiled at her obedience.

He came to rest on his haunches by the bed, flipped away the quilt to reveal Shan Mei in all her glory. He ran his big hand reverently over her flat stomach, his fingers shaking slightly with the knowledge that a new life was growing within. He placed his lips to her stomach, hoping the ‘fruit of their love’ could feel a father’s love and protection.

“You’re sure you want shower and not bath?” Shan Mei nodded. Xiang Zhe went into the bathroom to turn on the shower faucet. After testing the water temperature was right, he took a robe out to his angel. She protested when he wanted to carry her to the bathroom. She didn’t want to be mollycoddled. Just be normal. He let her be, and told her not to take too long; breakfast would be ready in 5 minutes out in the patio.

After a solid breakfast of toast, eggs, cereals and milk, both of them cleared the table together. Shan Mei didn’t want to be treated like an invalid.

Shan Mei decided to lie down on their love-lounge in the patio to enjoy the refreshing morning air and the faint scent of Sweet Charmaine wafting throughout. Xiang Zhe was at the table with his stack of Sunday papers. After going through the headlines, he threw the papers aside and decided to join Shan Mei on the lounger. She cuddled up to him for his warmth and his hug.

“Do you want to let Michael know about the baby?” he asked softly as his lips brushed Shan Mei’s jawline.

“Of course, but only after the next visit to Dr. Kim” and she tried to cuddle closer to her husband, if it was at all possible.
==

Shan Mei’s mobile began ringing. After she answered, she started talking in riddles into it, sometimes smiling and at one point laughing quite wickedly. After that, she called You Zhen asking him to be at their house this afternoon for meeting. Xiang Zhe frowned at all this flurry of activities. “What’s up?”

“Mr. Han Jae Hoon would be at our house this afternoon for meeting.” Xiang Zhe arched his brow?

“You Zhen Ge has a brilliant idea for the new series. But he will need a knowledgeable partner with a good voice. Mr. Han has a student who just completed his post graduate studies, and would love to stay on in Korea indefinitely, before returning to the States, if there is something interesting for him to do.”

If they managed to pull this idea off, Michael would surely love You Zhen to bits. Xiang Zhe sat there, thinking, “CTN-KE is a small unit. They don’t mind who is overstepping into whose territory, as long as they get the job done. They are always bouncing ideas off each other. No wonder CTN has the cutting edge.”

“What was so happy about the conversation?” his voice was dangerously soft.

“Mr. Han said Director Yin was well known at the station for his hot temper and razor sharp stares. Did I get hung on the cross after we arrived home that night after the party?” she answered, then laughed softly with an impish glint in her eyes, recalling that night; how she was pretended to be fast asleep when her husband got into bed.

“And, Xue Zhang, please be civil,” Shan Mei reminded her husband remembering how he purposely ignored Han Jae Hoon at yesterday’s BBQ party for media to meet the PIR team.”

Again, Xiang Zhe was left to set up the stereo system. They would want to test Mr. Han’s friend’s voice through a microphone. After lunch, Shan Mei prepared some English style finger sandwiches. She also took out her special English Minton afternoon high tea service.

Xiang Zhe was rattled when he saw this and asked her why she was going all out to impress Mr. Han.

“Darling, it’s his friend I’m trying to impress. Mr. Han won’t recommend just any body. This friend must have all the prerequisites that I want. This time it isn’t simply a voice. I want someone who is articulate, friendly, presentable in an open kind of way, knowledgeable, conversant with the internet, good researcher, good writing skills, around 30 years of age.”

Xiang Zhe shook his head, amused. His angel was again asking for the moon. “Good luck” he whispered into her ear.

If she told him what CTN-KE was getting from the Korean Tourism Board for this project against the minimal outlay incurred by CTN-KE, he would want to do the same and more, if it was a MBS project. When Shan Mei showed two sample trailers to KTB in October, they immediately accepted CTN’s proposal. The 50% deposit from KTB had been received just before Christmas.
==

All enjoyed their tea and sandwiches. Mr. Han’s friend and pupil, Mr. Patrick Lee, from their extra curricular classes, looked very much like that Hong Kong movie star Tony Leung. In fact, on casual sight, one could mistake Patrick for Tony. He had that kind of expressive handsome face with boyish charm. He was simply oozing with charisma. He had the same kind of smile as Shan Mei, sometimes shy, sometimes wavering, at times bequiling, most times brilliant. As soon as he was introduced to Shan Mei, Patrick was dazzled by her smile.

All afternoon, he only had eyes for her. Shan Mei could already visualise him in front of the television screen. Looking at them, Xiang Zhe thought, they made a dynamic duo. Put them on stage together, they would blow apart any auditorium. Suddenly, he decided he would follow Shan Mei’s plan of action. Instead of getting all hacked up with jealousy, he would think positive. Where could he put them together on stage? Anything would surely be a sell-out.

Both You Zhen and Shan Mei were very happy with the outcome. Shan Mei asked Patrick, “Can you come by CTN office tomorrow at 10 so we can go over contract terms?” Meanwhile, You Zhen went with Patrick to Shan Mei’s office to access Internet to extract some notes, so Patrick could prepare some script for their shooting. You Zhen was planning to leave for location in the next two days.

The remaining three went out to sit under the warm winter sun. Xiang Zhe helped Shan Mei bring out lemonade for herself and 2 beers for the men. Xiang Zhe immediately pulled her chair next to his, holding on to her hand, while they chatted away about PIR and most other things, but not MBS Christmas eve party.

Xiang Zhe was so relieved after You Zhen, Han Jae Hoon and Patrick Lee left. Finally he could have his wife all back to himself. Shan Mei wanted a lie down. “Xue Zhang, want to join me?”

He thought she wasn’t going to ask. He lay down beside her; his hand went to her stomach. “Can’t you take a couple more days off? I don’t like you to tire yourself. Don’t worry about PIR. I’ll take care of it.”

“Please don’t worry about me. I’ll be alright. I’ll never let harm come to our baby. Just like when I felt my husband needed me, we brought in Jose and You Zhen. Let them carry on the work. In the future, if my family needs me, I will give up CTN.”

Xiang Zhe immediately turned around, bent over Shan Mei and looked into her eyes, “You would, really?” A hint of disbelief crept into his voice.

“Of course!” She lifted her hand to his cheek and gave him a tender caress. “Remember? You’re my treasure. Nothing will be more important than you and our family. You are all I want and will ever need.”

“Oh Shan Mei”, he breathed hoarsely into her hair, his eyes having gone misty. He held her face, his mouth slowly descending down to hers, and tenderly caressed hers. Soft moans were coming from her throat. His tongue slipped through her slightly parted lips and began to work its magic. Very slowly and gently he covered her entire body with his. He moulded his body to her every curve. Without moving, just lying there, she became aware of his every inch. She responded. Her arms encircled him, her hands pressing into his back, drawing him closer.

He untangled her arms from around him. He lifted himself, and very slowly pulled her light wool sweater over her body, over her head and out of her arms trailing kisses as he moved along. He unhooked her bra. His mouth sought the erect buds one after another and sucked at them hungrily ….…soon, Shan Mei’s feverish moans were sending him spiralling out of control; he groaning away as he began to seek release.

Chapter AW-13

“The Price Is Right” D-Day approached. At 6 a.m. that morning, Li Qing Xi in MBS roving van painted with Sponsor’s logo, was at wet market. Li Qing Xi introduced her helper as Aunt Shu [Shan Mei’s Ma]. After a walk around the market, Aunt Shu recommended the day’s best buy and the freshest buy. She gave suggestions on ways to prepare her choice for the day. She demonstrated how to prepare one dish, after which a true costing for the dish was computed. Meanwhile, at the studio, the first segment would be detailed weather report for the entire day in Seoul, followed by the latest news headlines. Followed by delayed transmission of complete Marketing segment with Li Qing Xi informing the viewers she and Aunt Shu would be at another wet market tomorrow, naming the market. For more details on other recipes, visit MBS website.

Chen Sui came on to show places of interest around Seoul that would be good for 1 or 2 day visits. A chart showing costings was shown, for single, couple or a family of 4. He also included some interesting events going on for free in the city during the week. Tomorrow, he would continue to show more. Details available on MBS website.

Yong Xi came on, talking with NSK Bank manager introducing their newly offered banking services for female customers and what benefits were available. The bank’s financial advisor came on giving some advice to viewers on how to invest their money. Tomorrow, the bank would continue with their investment portfolio. For viewers interested to keep track of the investment recommendations, they could get print out performance chart from MBS website, or from the bank.

Han Jae Hoon came on to introduce Madam Kang Ching Ching, a lawyer, graduated from Harvard Law School and had been practising law in Seoul for the past 10 years. He pointed out to Madam Kang that most people became uneasy when confronted with lawsuits or when they had to deal with lawyers. Was there anywhere to seek advice? Madam Kang advised viewers that during the next 12 weeks, she would try to explain certain legal terminologies in layman’s language, and dispense some advice on real cases. She would also advise where to seek proper and free legal advice. If viewers had anything particular they wanted to know, send email or write in to MBS.

Highlight of the show, Shocking Prices from Bargain Corner. Today Bargain Corner would be offering 50 genuine leather bound Italian made sofas at the normal retail price less 70%. Only one sofa to one caller, the first 50 callers to get through their Bargain Corner hotline would get to buy.
Zian Da went on to explain the terms and conditions of purchase. The phone line would open to accept calls in 5 minutes’ time. Meanwhile, the sofa was shown at close up, how it was made at the factory, and the actual retail outlet for the sofas. Tomorrow, Bargain Corner would be offering 50 television sets newest models from Bansung at normal price less 70%.

At the end of the show, only credit lines appeared, first showing the sponsors’ name in extra big fonts, second part showing production team. Shan Mei had insisted Xue Zhang to be credited as Producer of the show, because she would be busy preparing for CTN’s daily 8 hours of televised contents beginning 1 July, and could spare only little time for PIR.

Of course, Shan Mei expected good viewership response. The press had gone out of their way to be extra supportive. She was so grateful.

Xiang Zhe, at the Bargain Corner Hotline desk, was grinning from ear to ear. The phones hadn’t stopped ringing since the lines were opened for order taking. Within 30 minutes, the 50 sofas had been sold. Xian Da was given the info, he announced to the viewers the 50 sofas at 70% discount had all been sold. Due to fantastic response, MBS management had agreed to offer another 50 sofas, this time at 50% discount. The phones were still ringing. Xiang Zhe was shaking his head, in disbelief, “That imp! She had it all planned.”

Morale was very high at MBS. “Shocking Prices” was hot topic for the day at staff canteen. The staff members had been trying to phone in to the hotline to try to buy the sofa. Only two managed to get through for the first batch and they were excitedly telling the others at the canteen of their good luck. One managed to get at 50% discount. Soon they were discussing tomorrow’s bargain of television sets.

By that night, MBS website had been bombarded with hits for more details on their tour packages. KTB’s website was getting similar activity. The viewers were asked to visit KTB’s website directly. If they visited MBS’s website, they would be re-routed to KTB. KTB general manager, Mr. Lee, was on the phone with Shan Mei, informing her the 2 day economy tour packages were very popular. Their offices had been inundated by calls since this morning, wanting more information. They would try to prepare more packages within this price range, and pass them on to Chen Sui. At a meeting that afternoon KTB management was considering sponsoring MBS with a KTB van Chen Sui and Zian Da could use for their errands around Seoul. Shan Mei thanked Mr. Lee profusely.

Step uncle Jin was deeply shocked. He had read about the revamped show in the newspapers. When he approached the MOE producer for details, the producer simply laughed telling Mr. Jin, Zhen Shan Mei was not capable of conceptualising or producing a complete morning’s show, 5 mornings a week. She thought it was so easy, aah? He couldn’t wait to see the chaos on the first day of the run. Anyway, Director Yin had pulled him off MOE and placed him in Drama starting from 1 January. Step uncle wondered how could this be? He never saw them planning anything in the studio? So it seemed that Shan Mei was not as stupid as she appeared to be. To cut the immature kid down, he would need to get rid of that girl. He would have to re-plan his strategy.
==

Yin Snr was smiling and nodding his head, deeply impressed and gratified. Xiang Zhe was grinning broadly with a smug look on his face. The 3 of them were sitting in Yin Snr’s private sitting room, talking about the show. Confirmed rating figure just came in from Zian Da. The show garnered 63%, the best among all local stations for that day, and an all time high for a morning show, during the past 36 months.

Yin Snr brought out his best whisky to celebrate. Xiang Zhe wanted only a little bit, because Shan Mei didn’t like him to drink when he had to drive. His father looked at him, and nodded his head in understanding. That Shan Mei was a good wife, taking such good care of Xiang Zhe’s health. And Xiang Zhe, understanding his wife’s concern, didn’t want to upset her.

Father hid a secret smile, recalling the time Xiang Zhe was drunk after sharing a meal with him, and how Shan Mei and he managed to get Xiang Zhe to move in to the family home. He nodded his head to himself. He didn’t have to worry about Xiang Zhe any more. He was sure these two, being so in love with one another, would make it together to old age. He said a silent prayer of thanks to his dead wife, thanking her for her protection of their son.

The following few days, the press was reporting daily on MBS morning show, even pictures showing themselves at the Bargain Corner Hotline desk monitoring the situation, to ensure all was fair and no queue jumping when answering the phone. For those viewers who had not managed to BUY IT, simply keep trying to phone in.

The reporters also roasted the previous producer of Morning of Eve. In his 3-1/2 years of producing Morning of Eve, there was not even one episode that came even remotely close to Zhen Shan Mei’s “Price Is Right” in ratings and sponsors’ acceptance.

In fact, a reporter wrote, 2-1/2 years ago when she noticed Shan Mei’s absence from MOE, she had asked the producer what happened. Did Shan Mei leave because she was unhappy? She had liked Shan Mei best in the show and she had been voted Most Popular Newcomer. MOE Producer had laughed and said Shan Mei would never have the talent to make it far in the broadcasting industry, not like their main host, Miss Xu Ying Mei who was very beautiful, talented and hard working.

“Why was Shan Mei so popular on radio if she had no talent?” Mr. Producer had indicated her listeners were most probably uniformed boys or listeners with nowhere to go.

“And why was she so popular on TV?” Just a mere fluke of luck, replied the producer.

The reporter further wrote that every episode of MOE received mediocre ratings, well below MBS’ expectations.

One and a half years ago during launch of CTN-KE and introduction of Zhen Shan Mei back into the Korean broadcasting scene, this reporter knew Shan Mei would go far. In fact, she interviewed many of Shan Mei’s mates from university days, and they pledged their total support for her. They knew she would go far in the television industry. She was very popular at university and she always knew which topics were close to their hearts.

“What about Xu Ying Mei being main host for Morning of Eve? She also came from same university and was in same class as Shan Mei?” The class mates laughed. Zhen Shan Mei should have been the main host. She hosted several programmes at university. She was great. To be the host of a show in their university was not decided by the lecturers but openly selected by the university students. In fact that Xu Ying Mei lost out all the time to Zhen Shan Mei. She was a bad loser and so ambitious in an aggressive manner, she was not popular at all, especially coming with all her big talk, snobbish airs and unreliable claims. She really rubbed them the wrong way. The classmates were not surprised MOE didn’t gel with the viewers. It was the same during her university days. Ying Mei always thought she was too good for them, she chose topics the students couldn’t relate to.

This reporter then looked up those classmates again and interviewed them regarding MBS’ Price Is Right conceptualised by Zhen Shan Mei. What were their thoughts? “How would you compare MOE with PIR?”

“There’s no comparison. PIR is superb. I work in the medical field during night shift so I sleep most of the day. My husband stays home, his job, as an IT consultant, is home based. Before, he never liked watching MOE. Just the name ‘Eve’ reminded him uncomfortably he was doing a woman’s job at home and they were always carrying on silly talk. With PIR, it is completely different, not so gender-conscious. He likes everything about PIR. He doesn’t have to break his head deciding what to buy from the fresh market. He simply follows the daily recommendations. Weekdays, we eat in. Weekends we eat out if we are not visiting our parents. He has now also gained some legal knowledge that has helped him a lot in his home-based business. If there are any good bargains from the bank, he will simply get the necessary forms for me to sign to get the extra pivileges. And planning holidays and planning our financial position is now very easy. My husband never gives up calling Bargain Corner every weekday. At present, my husband tapes on VCR the day’s marketing and law segments. Yes, we will surely subscribe for access to PIR via internet once the scheme is open for registration. No need to record on VCR anymore.”
==

MBS website had never been so jammed with hits, except those times when Shan Mei made impromtu censor of those scoundrel kdnappers, the mobile fiasco in the News Room, and when the viewers realised Shan Mei had left MBS, they emailed in their support. MBS would start charging a small subscriber’s fee for access to Price Is Right, to weed out non-genuine interested viewers. 5000 Won per month per Internet connection point, to start from 2nd month of PIR. Payments made through NSK Bank by Female account holders, would be entitled to special discounted fee: 4500 Won; for a year’s advance payment, the monthly fees would work out to 4,000 Won. The reporter thought the idea was good and the fee extremely reasonable. She herself would register 2 accounts, one at home and one in the office.

Xiang Zhe, sitting in his office, wondered whether Shan Mei really had a magic touch. For the past 3-1/2 years, MOE not only lost money, they had sat down 2 times a week to production meetings, yet the ratings were not encouraging.

With PIR, the hosts’ duties were clearly defined and they planned on their own for their segment. The only people they liaised with were their segment partners and the production assistants. They only needed to email their weekly planning chart to the producer. Everything was so time- and cost-efficient, yet the results obtained were amazing.

Xiang Zhe stared at his cup of coffee as he sat at his table deep in thought, slowly stroking at his chin. He wondered whether two of the reporters who reported favourably daily on PIR were fans of Shan Mei? Since the first day of PIR, they had each devoted a quarter page of reporting on PIR in their newspapers. He must get their contact numbers and invite them over to lunch at CTN dining room, making sure his wife would also be present. He also noticed everyone on the team was suddenly working with inspired energy, and spilling over with ideas for their own segment. Even he himself kept a little notepad with him in his pocket. Every time he thought of something that would be interesting for sale at Bargain Corner, he would write it down to discuss with Zian Da later.

Today was 5th day of PIR, already the show had created media frenzy, the catch phrases coined by the media were ‘BUY IT’ and ‘GOT IT’. Next month when the show would start to receive Internet subscribers’ fees, it would seem like a dream.
==

KTB arranged for a few reporters to go on their 2-day economy package to one of the places of interest on the outskirts of Seoul as researched by MBS morning show. When they returned, they handed some photos to Chen Sui so he could include them in his travel segment or post on website. The reporters gave glowing reports on their trips, declaring it was really top value for money.

One day when Shan Mei heard Ma was going to visit the next morning a wet market near her house, she decided to pay the team a surprise visit. Of course, she asked her favourite reporter to come collect her because she didn’t want to wake her husband up. At the market, Ma was surprised to see her when she approached them. “Good morning, Aunt Shu. Can you recommend something I can cook and have ready within half an hour? My husband doesn’t like the cold weather, and would prefer eating at home with a warm quilt over his legs. He’s not particularly choosy about food, but he doesn’t like to be kept waiting. Usually when we arrive home after work, he’s hungry and wants something piping hot fairly quickly.”

Aunt Shu immediately suggested chicken that was a nutritious meat for winter. Today’s fresh vegetables she would highly recommend would be mushrooms and tomatoes. She suggested Hot Ricepot Chicken. Put marinated chicken pieces, sausages into ricepot of just boiled rice. 5 minutes later throw in sliced mushrooms. Close lid of ricepot for further 5 minutes. During this time, prepare fresh tomatoes, small servings of various kimchi dishes. All these would be ready on the dinner table within 20-25 minutes.

Shan Mei gave Aunt Shu a kiss on her cheek. Then went shopping for the exact ingredients, while the camera crew went around the market with her, and after she finished her marketing, a total was given on how much she had spent. Aunt Shu told her she could substitute chicken with other meats. For beef and mutton, she was to use more black pepper in her marinating sauce.

Later that morning, when Xiang Zhe was watching re-run of the show, he was surprised to see his wife on the screen. How did she manage to sneak out of the house without him knowing? He had better warned her not to do it again. She was now in the early stages of pregnancy. Didn’t Dr.Kim advise her to be careful during her first trimester? And there she was visiting a wet market! That imp was a natural in PR, especially when she faced the camera directly and gave her dazzling smile “Dearest Husband, now you know what you’re getting for dinner? Don’t join your drinking buddies after work tonight; hurry home.” Lifting up the packages for him to see, she gave him her special smile. He shook his head, grinning happily and rubbed at his forehead, then his eyes. He wondered how many other working couples would be having Hot Ricepot Chicken for dinner that night. It sounded so easy, he could make it too. He would surprise his wife one of these evenings when she had to record her Musical Postcard.

Again, that week, MBS website was flooded with emails requesting Aunt Shu to suggest more recipes like Hot Ricepot Chicken, easy to understand and easy to make using minimum number of kitchen equipment, making cleaning up afterwards so simple. MBS also began to receive emails and faxes from viewers telling them what they were interested in buying. Could MBS source these items and offer at special discounted price?

During Michael’s recent New Year holiday stopover in Seoul before flying off to Japan, he spent an entire morning watching MBS morning show. There was nothing he could fault with it except that the show was not available in English. The weather report was superbly planned. CTN-KE weather report segment was carrying the same design. He wanted the same thing for CTN’s other offices. Without understanding the language, the icons showed him what to expect, weatherwise, for the entire day.

Shan Mei was getting better at her job. He had often wondered when she was going to reach her peak. He knew Shan Mei had been unfairly treated at MBS before she ran off to London. He hoped this exercise would show those fools at MBS what his little princess was capable of producing.

He had discussed with Shan Mei and Junior the idea of a CTN/MBS crossover programme. MBS had a large market reach for free line viewers, especially after this revamped morning show. At least Shan Mei should be reaping some of the rewards. With MBS’s viewerbase and CTN’s subscribed viewers for cable and Internet, CTN-KE would be in top position where foreign-owned service providers were concerned.

Chapter AW-14

After accompanying Shan Mei for check up at Dr. Kim, Xiang Zhe took her back to his office. The progress report was good, Dr.Kim confirmed baby would be due in mid August.

Shan Mei sms’d Michael asking him where he was, to please call her back immediately, as she had some V.I. news for him.

Xiang Zhe wanted his wife to rest on the sofa, telling her he was worried today’s outing might have tired her. He brought her milk from his pantry.

Since he took over the presidency post, he went to office very early every morning. Shan Mei didn’t want to use company car and preferred to leave the house same time with him. He tried to cut down on business engagements after office hours. But, if he didn’t go, his step uncle would only be too happy to go in his place. Xiang Zhe didn’t like this at all. Shan Mei insisted he attend to his MBS duties seriously. “Xue Zhang, please do not be MBS president and DoP in name only.”

Xiang Zhe showed Shan Mei a stack of papers on his office table. They were all emails from potential sponsors wanting to have more information regarding advertising on PIR. Shan Mei told her husband to continue the good work. Their capable production assistant already was working within the production team, giving him excellent support.

While Xiang Zhe attended to other matters, Shan Mei called her office to check all was well. “Miss Zhen, your brother Xiang Jie dropped by the office, but left when he found that you were not in.”

Shan Mei immediately called Xiang Jie on his mobile. He was now in MBS building to collect her fan mail. All those that came through via email had been answered, except one. “I have printed it out and want to show it to you. But I don’t want to go to Elder Brother’s office. I’ll rather meet you in the staff canteen.”

After Shan Mei finished reading the fan email, she laughed. Both of them exchanged conspiratorial glances.

“So I was right. I guessed it was him right away,” Xiang Jie exclaimed triumphantly.

Reading over again the email, her eyes misted. What did she ever do to be blessed with such a loving husband? The silly goose. Of course he wanted her to know it was him, with hints like ‘telepathy’, loyal fan Y. He just wasn’t sure the email would reach her.

“Xiang Jie, I want to make a secret date with him. Somewhere romantic. You think it’s a good idea?” Xiang Jie nodded, totally agreeing. “How about the Westin Chosun Hotel.? Romantic dinner down in its main dining restaurant, then spend a romantic night in one of its honeymoon suites?”

Xiang Jie was clapping at the romantic expectation and was enjoying the game. “Please reply him, the dinner date on 16th January, 7 p.m. You’ll be able to come on that day to the house to pick up a fresh change of clothes for us?” Xiang Jie simply nodded in agreement to whatever plan his sister was hatching.

“I’ll leave the bag of clothes in the first spare bedroom. Then you go and get a bunch of those exquisite roses from the greenhouse. Be careful of those thorns. They are big and nasty and can hurt very much. In the fridge, I will leave a box of your brother’s favourite sushi rolls. You will have no problem getting your father’s chauffeur?”

Little brother laughed, thinking they were playing out a movie plot “Dad will be more excited than me when he hears of this game. He’d surely send the chauffeur to help.”

Shan Mei then went with Xiang Jie back to PIR team’s office. She asked Chen Sui how Xiang Jie was doing. Chen Sui was nervous facing Shan Mei. Before, she was his colleague, now she was the boss’s wife. He didn’t know how to react to the situation, face to face with her. Shan Mei gave him a pat and told him to relax. He was going to be the country’s most famous travel agent! Ha-ha all around.

As Shan Mei was walking back into Xiang Zhe’s office, her phone rang.

“Hello, Shan Mei here”

“Shan Mei, is everything okay? You had me really worried when you said it was very important news.” It was Michael and he sounded anxious because Shan Mei seldom called telling him something was very important unless the matter was really, really very important.

“Hi Michael. Your Junior has something to tell you.” Shan Mei passed her phone to Xiang Zhe.

“Hi Senior.” Michael thought Junior didn’t sound concerned; his tone was light and breezy.

“Hi Junior, something wrong with the channelling?”

“Are you sitting down? Okay? The doctor told us today you are going to be a godfather by mid August.”

Shan Mei could hear a loud shriek coming through the phone. Xue Zhang held the phone away from his ear, his eyes all crinkled up; and Shan Mei could hear his throaty laugh. Michael was ecstatic. The soonest he could find the time to fly into Seoul would be another month. By that time Shan Mei better had some proof to show him, at least a little baby bump, because Junior told him her stomach was still as flat as ever. Like he had always maintained, that Shan Mei was a good, diligent worker.

They were laughing over some secret jokes, exchanged some small talk, then Xiang Zhe hung up, smiling secretly to himself. He looked over at Shan Mei, smiling indulgently. “You have just made Michael the happiest man. His brother promised to make him an uncle before you made him a godparent. It seems he is going to collect big from his brother, and he is giving us half his winnings for our good work.” Xiang Zhe couldn’t help shaking his head in amusement.

Chapter AW-15

The whole scenario was like when Xiang Zhe wanted to surprise Shan Mei with the new car and the new office, repeated itself. Except this morning Shan Mei didn’t care how careful Xiang Zhe was with his dressing, she already had other plans. He really looked so handsome when he walked into the kitchen. She was sitting at the table having her breakfast. Xue Zhang’s toast and coffee were waiting for him. Xiang Zhe glanced over her, and was puzzled.

She had on a 2-pc pant suit, not something he would think special for such an important dinner date tonight at one of the most exclusive hotels in the city. Suddenly, he had his doubts. Did Shan Mei know she was inviting him to dinner? If it wasn’t her, who was it that sent that email reply to him?

It was 6 p.m. Shan Mei was already in the hotel’s honeymoon suite, hanging up Xiang Zhe’s suit in the wardrobe. She held up his shirt and sniffed at it; she loved the familiar scent of his cologne still clinging faintly to his laundered shirt – so very him, before laying it in the drawer. Her blouse was laid out in the same drawer. In another drawer, she put his socks and underclothes on one side while on the other side her own change of underwear. They looked so intimate side by side. She laid out a new negligee and his set of silk robe with pyjama shorts on the chaise in the large bathroom.

Looking at the double jacuzzi overlooking the city of Seoul through double glazed glass windows was enough to send a tingling sensation flooding through her veins. “Ehmm, heavenly,” as she inspected the large choice of bottled bath salts; lavender, tea rose, lily, orchid and ylang-ylang. Shan Mei held the ylang-ylang bottle up for closer scrutiny. “Isn’t this the flower in a recent write-up on Essential Oils that claims it produces a very seductive kind of scent that sends lovers grabbing for each other within minutes? Oooh, very naughty!” she chuckled with sensuous overtones as she put the bottle back in its place.

Very soon Xiang Zhe’s call came through, “Darling, what time do you want me to collect you?”

“Xue Zhang, it’s not necessary to wait for me tonight. I have to meet someone for dinner. Sorry I forgot to mention this to you earlier.”

“Are you going somewhere near the Westin Chosun? I am supposed to meet someone there at 7, so I may as well give you a lift.”

“Darling, it’s not necessary”, and she quickly hung up. She covered her mouth to hide a mischievous smile.

She checked on the champagne. Oh, her father-in-law was generous! Two extra bottles were in the fridge, so were her sushi rolls. When she checked in an hour ago, the receptionist had told her the billing was to go to Wen Rong Group account.

At 5 minutes to 7, Shan Mei was already in the hotel’s main dining restaurant, being seated in a very secluded corner. A bottle of champagne was iced perfectly in a silver antique ice bucket. Tonight, Shan Mei had on a black lacy midi Chanel cocktail dress that Madam Kim had specially reserved and gifted her. She looked so beautiful, elegant and so delicate in lace.

Ever since it was known among Seoul’s high society ladies that the very beautiful and elegant Miss Zhen Shan Mei was dressed exclusively by Madam Kim, business at her boutique had increased 5-fold. Madam made it a point to reserve one or two pieces of clothing item from new collections as gifts for Shan Mei to show her appreciation. Whenever Shan Mei insisted on paying, she only asked for a nominal sum.

Xiang Zhe walked up to the hotel’s main dining room, when he emerged from the hotel lift, and told the receptionist a Miss Zhen Shan Mei was expecting him. Since his earlier call to Shan Mei, he had been wondering what that imp was up to. If it was not her but an imposter inviting him to dinner, he would know soon enough. If it was her, he was going to make her pay tonight when they got home, for putting pins and needles through him that he was unable to concentrate on a thing in the office the entire day.

He was led to a quiet corner of the restaurant, tastefully and discreetly partitioned off from the rest of the room. Shan Mei stood up on seeing him enter. She took his breath away. Her complexion had a certain radiant glow. No words could come readily to his mind to describe her exquisiteness. Shan Mei became bashful under his keen scrutiny and gave him a shy smile. Xiang Zhe smiled back. He was so ravished by her beauty; he wanted to gobble her up. As they sat down, he grabbed her hand that was lying on her lap and gave it a gentle squeeze. With his other hand, he turned the pages of the menu. He was suddenly in high spirits. He turned to Shan Mei asking whether he should order for her. She nodded. He didn’t let go of her hand until the food arrived. They both enjoyed the next two hours eating, sipping champagne and delighting in each other’s company like any young, deeply in love couple.

Xiang Zhe asked Shan Mei whether she was ready to go home, then asked for the bill. She insisted on signing for it, saying it was her special treat for her first and most loyal fan. She owed her everything to this fan’s unwavering support. He let her, and gave her a ‘thank you’ peck on her cheek.

Holding her hand, they entered the elevator to get to the car park. Shan Mei pulled him back when the doors opened at the carpark level, and pressed Floor 10. She placed a finger to his mouth to stop him from asking questions. Shan Mei gave him the key to Room 1058. He was all excited, his head buzzing with the number 1058; it sounded so very familiar. Where had he seen it before? As soon as he opened the door of the suite, Xiang Zhe scooped his wife into his arms and carried her in. With one foot, he kicked the door shut. He carried her through to the bedroom and deposited her on the super large 8’ wide bed. After hurriedly divesting of his jacket and tie, he began raining frenzied kisses on her hair, her face, her neck, her breasts then finally her lips. He had been dying to kiss her ever since he saw her standing there by their table in her stunning little black lacy dress in the restaurant. Something hit him as he suddenly realised, there was something about lace on his wife that drove him crazy.

After a while, he rolled over on the bed. He berated himself. He should have sent that fanmail sooner, and he turned to look at Shan Mei with dark, narrow eyes. They both laughed so joyfully. He wanted to kiss her all over again. She pushed him gently away and made for the bathroom. He followed. He was completely floored by the view. Shan Mei ran water into the jacuzzi and turned around for Xiang Zhe to help her undress. He brought in the ice bucket with champagne into the bathroom, placed it by the window, and joined Shan Mei in the tub.

“Want some bath salts?” his wife asked.
“Okay, what’s a good choice?” as Xiang Zhe checked the row of bottles.
“You choose.”
“What’s this? Ylang-ylang? Sounds like grass. Nah, no good at all ! Lavendar is not bad, eh? What do you think, darling? Should we have this?”
“Anything you find soothing is okay with me.” Shan Mei hid a smile.
“In that case, I need these.” As the words rolled from his mouth, Xiang Zhe took hold of Shan Mei’s hands, planted them on his chest, and moved them across his front in gentle strokes. “Darling, I find this the most soothing” he moaned.

After a while of quiet, companionable respite, they gave each other scrubs and massages, and the jets in the jacuzzi hit into their tired muscles. Shan Mei leant back against Xiang Zhe’s chest, his hands were roaming the front of her body stroking gently; they murmured words of love to each other, watching the lit-up city below going about its business. So beautiful !

Xiang Zhe suggested may be they should get out of the water. They had been in the tub a long time. He took a large towel to wipe Shan Mei dry.
He saw her negligee, then his usual thigh length silk robe and pyjama shorts. After he dressed, he slipped the silky lacy negligee over her head. As he glided the negligee up and down her legs, he gave her a heady caress as he pressed her close to his full body length. “Shan Mei…darling….” His voice was thick with desire. His wife had other ideas and led the way out to the sitting room.

“There’s sushi in the fridge if you’re hungry.” Shan Mei told her husband.

“I haven’t started anything yet so how can I be hungry?”

“Because you didn’t eat much during dinner. You were too busy looking at me. It was so embarrassing.”

They brought the bottle of champagne into the bedroom. Xiang Zhe tested the big bed. “Ehmm, this feels good. Do you want to change our bed at home for this model?”

“No way, this bed is too big. Our bed at home is just the right size and holds too many special and loving memories.” They then lay in each other’s arms on the huge bed, just reminiscing about those ‘special memories’. They also talked about You Zhen Ge, now making their Zhen family unit complete. CTN would soar to new heights with him on board.

And how Shan Mei loved her Xue Zhang even more for his generous acceptance of his younger brother. In fact, this evening’s date would not have been possible without his help. He was a very good assistant. A person whose life had been touched by genuine love would change. The proof was before their very eyes. They felt blessed. They felt contentment. They felt love. So much love. They shared a deep kiss.

Xiang Zhe suddenly placed his hand on her stomach and rubbed it with light circular movements. It still looked flat. He looked at her with arched brow?
“Two months”. He lowered his head down and placed his ear on it. Shan Mei combed her fingers lovingly through his hair, hoping each stroke will release a further unhappy memory, very soon all unhappiness could be forgotten, if it was possible at all to forget all the hurt he had suffered.

When he straightened up, Shan Mei cupped his face between her hands and looked into his eyes full on, “you are the most wonderful husband. I love you so much, really!” He was so overjoyed. “And you’re the most wonderful wife. I cannot imagine my life without my beloved Shan Mei.”

He bit her luscious lips and slowly delved his tongue into her mouth, they soon tired themselves out nibbling here and there at each other. They fell asleep locked in each other’s arms, sweet smiles on their faces.

Xiang Zhe awoke. The bedside clock showed 5 in the morning. He looked at Shan Mei curled up beside him, and his heart overflowed with love for her. He tenderly smoothed her hair away from her forehead and looked deeply into her. Lying there she was so childlike and trusting.

Was she ready to be a mother? He had been nagged by this thought ever since Dr. Kim informed him Shan Mei was expecting. She had not suffered any of the normal symptoms associated with pregnancy except sporadic attacks of lethargy during her first six weeks. She was back to her old self now.

“Does she realise what motherhood really entails?”
“Will she be able to cope?”
What about him?
Was he ready to share his Shan Mei, even if it meant sharing her with their baby?
Would he be a responsible father?
No matter what, or whatever came, he must never let Shan Mei down, he promised.

He got out of bed. Seeing his jacket and tie on the floor, smiling wickedly he shook his head in disbelief, remembering how they got there in the first place. He turned his head slightly to look again at his sleeping wife, muttering softly to himself, “temptress!”

He picked the clothing items up from the floor, went to the wardrobe to hang up the jacket. Another of his suit and her suit were hanging up in there neat and fresh. He pulled open the dresser drawer, he saw his shirt and her blouse, another drawer revealed a fresh change of his and her underclothes. What a wife, thinking of everything. He thanked his lucky stars, this wife was his and no one else’s.

He went into the sitting room. He sent a SMS to Zian Da informing him to reschedule all meetings for the afternoon, starting from 2. He would be in office after lunch, and to inform his secretary accordingly. And meanwhile, remember DO NOT DISTURB, not even messaging. President’s orders!

He went back to bed, cuddled up to his precious, safe in her love. Soon he dozed off.

Xiang Zhe felt something ticklish on his chest. He woke up. It was his angel lying on top of him, making little circles on his chest with her finger. He brought his arms around her back catching her in a tight vise. “What’s up?” he laughed, asking.

“Giving you my autograph before sending you off.” Shan said as she directed a sensuous pout his way, letting him know it was past 9 a.m.
==

That afternoon, at Conference Room No. 2 in MBS Building.
The meeting was for next quarter’s planning programmes. Xiang Zhe shook his head several times and constantly rubbed at his eyes and his forehead to clear his mind, yet it kept wandering.

He was thinking of the bite on his back when Zian Da asked him what he thought. He didn’t even know where they were. Zian Da looked at him perplexed, then quietly prompted, “ Page 13 of the proposal in front of you.” Xiang Zhe looked embarrassed before turning to the proposal. “What was the question again?” He grinned sheepishly at Zian Da.

“Engineering wants to know whether any special pre-arrangements necessary in June since CTN’s first transmission going out on 1st July?”

“That? Oh, that. Yes. CTN will be sending in their specialist team to handle the technical aspects one week before 1st July. More details later.”

He needed to talk to his wife to get her off his mind. He also needed a cup of very strong coffee and may be a cigarette. He gave a 30 minutes break, and said the meeting to continue again at 4.

Zian Da wouldn’t let up and followed him to his office. He pressured Xiang Zhe for an explanation for his distracted mind, after he sat down.

“Last night, Shan Mei organised a ‘Meet The Fans’ overnight party.” Xiang Zhe admitted but gave no other details.

Zian Da asked “you still in party mood?”

Xiang Zhe nodded, guilt written all over his face.

“How many fans were there?”

Xiang Zhe looked at him from under his lashes, rolled a notepaper into a ball and smiling playfully threw it at Zian Da. “Don’t you have to contact your manufacturers for Bargain Corner merchandising?” Xiang Zhe took on that dreamy look again.

Zian Da left, shaking his head. “Unbelievable; these 2 kids act as if on perpetual honeymoon!”

Xiang Zhe was smiling inside himself, recalling Shan Mei’s astounded look this morning in bed when he wouldn’t release her, demanding a love bite next to her imaginary autograph. She felt shy when he insisted she bit him. Every one of her bites he rejected because they were too light, leaving no mark. She tried increasing the pressure each time, still no good. She became tired, she lay down to rest.

He started kissing her, squeezing her, caressing her, tugging at her, running his hot lips all over her body. As she moaned and writhed under his body, he continued with his onslaught of deep kisses and gentle caresses, until she cried out for his love. He unleashed the fire that had been simmering in his groins with frightening force. He left many love bites on her body in discreet places. He laughed roguishly when he caught her glaring at him, after their shower.

She finished dressing and was on her way out to the sitting room. He was putting on his shirt. Very quickly she dipped her head under his shirt, and gave his back a very hard bite. He cried out in tingling pain. By the time he regained his senses, he stepped out of the bedroom after her and when he caught up with her, she was sitting demurely at the dining table drinking her glass of milk, a bowl of cereals in front of her, looking innocently up at him, smilingly said “Baby needs his breakfast!”

“Breakfast? It’s almost noon now. Are you trying to deprive our baby of his food?” He wagged a finger at her!
==

He missed her sweet voice. He called her, “Hi, it’s me. Feeling okay?”

“Yes, what about you?” she sweetly enquired.

“I’m missing you so much. I can’t think of anything else but you. Can you take a taxi and come over to MBS Conference Room No. 2 and sit on my lap while I yawn through the rest of next quarter’s Planning meeting?” He spoke softly into the phone, his tone full of playfulness.

Shan Mei frowned at her husband’s teasing mood, although he, at the other side of the line, was unable to see her knitted brows and compressed lips. She thought to herself, [“Can this be the same man? Our DirectorYin ? Whose expression when sitting around MBS conference rooms is always frightening for its inscrutability, blankess and formality?”]

His wife reproached him mildly, “Xue Zhang, behave yourself; concentrate on your job, please! We’re in the office. I’ve got a lot of work to catch up with. We’ll follow up later tonight at home, okay?”

“You promise? Okay, Bye.”

He looked at his watch. It was 5 minutes to 4. He told his secretary to arrange to have a cup of strong coffee delivered to him at Conference Room No. 2. He left his office to continue the meeting with Dept of Planning, smiling to himself as he walked along, his head in the clouds.

He was certain he had shocked his wife with his foolery. He kept smiling; knowing full well he would get ‘it’ from her tonight, for sure. “It’s okay” he thought. She looked so pretty and adorable when she flashed her angry eyes about. He was looking forward to seeing that pretty, angry look!

And, it would be fun trying to find a way to wheedle round her soft heart after that, to get back into her loving books. So simple !

Chapter AW-16

It was the Sunday Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei were expected home for dinner with Father.

Shan Mei brought for Auntie a huge bunch of their special roses in assorted colours from their garden. Auntie was so pleased. No one had ever given her flowers.

For Father, she made her special crabmeat/lobster and avocado sushi rolls, using a recipe she had recently improved on.

For Xiang Jie, they gifted him with an electric guitar and a set of amps, and some tablatures on tunes by The Shadows. Father, on seeing these, commented the house would soon tumble down with the racket. Xiang Zhe suggested his brother used his apartment as his music room.

“Just remember, not to turn the amps on full. The apartment is not too near to the main house, Father won’t be disturbed.”

Xiang Jie ran up to his elder brother, hesitated for a second, then gave him a tight hug. Xiang Zhe was surprised, but quickly recovered to give his younger brother a ruffle of his hair. Shan Mei and Father exchanged glances and smiled knowingly.

Dinner was ready. Before sitting down, Shan Mei wrapped her arms around Father and whispered ‘thank you’ into his ear and gave him a kiss on his cheek. Father had seen how close Shan Mei and her Pa were, and had often wondered whether Shan Mei would one day treat him just as affectionately. He squeezed her hands with a grateful and understanding look.

Xiang Zhe looked at them, wondering why he couldn’t be so natural like her. He could, but only with her and in private. During dinner, their conversation centred around their ‘summer’ baby. Father simply couldn’t wait to be a grandparent, and was grinning throughout dinner. They didn’t want to know the gender of the baby. Xue Zhang wanted a girl, Shan Mei wanted a boy, but whatever, this baby would be the most loved. Father couldn’t agree more.

Xiang Zhe and Father decided to take coffee in his private study. He gave his father the latest update on PIR and the many sponsors wanting to come in. Shan Mei had put him in the Producer’s chair. He was excited over new developments with CTN. They had another project in mind. They wanted MBS to produce a chat show for Shan Mei, to fill in their afternoon slot when CTN had no viewing. This arrangement was only possible due to CTN being foreign-owned and had paid premium fees for local broadcasting rights that came with special privileges.

Because of Shan Mei’s current popularity, Michael hoped that MBS might get nominated for an award in this category. For this show, they would be bringing in their big sponsors from USA and UK. The sponsorship revenue would be split 55/45. CTN believed this show with its assured quality and fresh concept would be the most highly rated TV chat show once MBS pushed it out. Michael said it would surely be in a class by itself, and create more buzz than PIR. Father nodded in agreement. He was full of pride his son was handling the MBS business so well, and Shan Mei supporting him so ably. Father wondered what the shareholders would say now?

Outside in the sitting room, Shan Mei regaled Xiang Jie with juicy goss on the romantic date at Westin Chosun. Their game plan was executed so well, his elder brother had doubts whether it was really her or an imposter who had invited him. But it was truly so romantic. The date was only possible because of assistance from younger brother. In the future when it was his turn for such a romantic date, she would definitely return the favour.

Shan Mei reassured him about going to London. Her friends were expecting to welcome Xiang Zhe’s younger brother. Vicky & Co would ensure he would get lots of practice on his guitar. If they knew he could play the electric guitar and Shadows, they would simply love him to bits. Xiang Jie blushed, saying he was not ready for love! Shan Mei pinched his cheek.

Back in Yin Senior’s private study, when Xiang Zhe was getting up to leave the room at the end of the meeting, his father brought out an envelope from his desk drawer. In it were his 40 % share certificates of MBS. Fifty % were transferred to Xiang Zhe’s name, the remaining fifty % to Shan Mei. Xiang Zhe told his father Shan Mei could not hold shares in another television station according to her contract terms with CTN. Father then suggested she hold the shares in trust for the baby. He would arrange for the change.

That night in bed, Xiang Zhe related to Shan Mei what transpired in his father’s study. She was so very happy for him, pleading with him to let go of what was remaining of his bitterness. “Darling, look at the situation this way, as if your father is the custodian for your legacy of the Station. If your father did not do his part to keep the Station afloat, there might be no MBS today.”

Xiang Zhe pulled her into his arms, burying his head into her hair, crying into her “I’m trying, trying so very hard.” He was quiet for a long time, then in a faltering voice he murmured, “Darling, it still hurts.”

“I know” Shan Mei consoled him, her voice gentle and understanding, as she brushed her lips tenderly along the line of his cheek, one hand lovingly stroking her husband’s head.

“Xue Zhang, let’s drive out to visit your mother, tomorrow lunch time, and tell her the good news, okay? We can also bring her our special roses.”

Xiang Zhe held Shan Mei tighter to him. This time, his tears did finally flow. Her heart felt deeply for him. In her soft, sweet voice “Come. Come tell mummy where it still hurts. I’ll kiss it better.” Without moving, he pointed to his heart. Shan Mei placed her lips against his heart, as she felt a wave of fierce maternal protectiveness surged through her. She wanted to shelter and protect him from all harm and unhappiness forever. With his hand he cupped her head close against his heart, not letting her go, hoping she could really kiss away all the hurt and pain.

After a while, she felt a slight easing in his painfully knotted muscles. “I love you” Xiang Zhe said unevenly, as he kissed the top of Shan Mei’s head. His arms tightened around her again, “God, how I love you!” his thick voice sounded like something between a sigh and a cry, his bright eyes rimmed with tears.
==

The next morning Shan Mei woke up bright and early to prepare a packed lunch. When she took coffee up to their room for Xue Zhang, he was still in bed. Usually on Monday mornings he liked to be at his office early. She went to him, placed her hand against his forehead to check. There was no temperature but he did look tired.

She slipped her hand under the quilt and stroked his back gently, then gave him a gentle kiss on his face.

He opened his eyes when he felt her kiss. He didn’t want to go to work; he felt the workload at the station too much for him to bear alone. Since he got a taste of them both working together on PIR, everything so simply and efficiently run, he now felt tiresome spending every day just attending meetings, going over proposals, hearing petty squabbles from the various departments.

Shan Mei crept back into bed and cradled him to her, trying to tell him he had many helpers at the station to assist him, like Seniors Zian Da and Yong Xi. Xiang Zhe kept quiet. In his mind, this Zian Da wouldn’t dare take a step without a nod from him, how to expect him to make any decisions of his own initiative. He seldom saw Zian Da last November and December when they were preparing for PIR. That time, Xiang Zhe simply told Zian Da to talk to Shan Mei, and his load immediately lightened by half. Now that Shan Mei was back at CTN, all his worries seemed to return.

She started to give him a good head, neck and shoulder massage. He turned on his stomach wanting a back massage too. His tight muscles began to relax and he was in a better frame of mind.

“Something bothering you at the station?” she softly enquired casually.
After a while he opened his eyes and turned to lie on his back. “Zian Da has arranged to meet with some starlets this afternoon and want me to sit in at the meeting. And if I know Zian Da correctly, his meetings usually carry over to lunches, or dinners. I wonder why he can’t handle this on his own?”

So, this was it. Apart from News, Zian Da should be concentrating on Bargain Corner, shouldn’t he? She hoped he wasn’t going to let his good work at Bargain Corner go to waste.

“Xue Zhang, when your father was President of MBS, did he have to attend to such matters?”

“No, the controllers of the various departments handle their own matters and then send a report of their decisions to him. After reading their reports, if they were good, he would say so, if some needed changing, he would comment accordingly. My father was only interested in the bottom line”

“Xue Zhang, look at me. I mean really look at me, from the Shan Mei at MBS to the Shan Mei now at CTN. You see big difference, yes? To be honest with you, I’m still the cry baby, I’m still argumentative, I still like to have things my way. I haven’t changed but I’ve grown. I’m all those things only with you because I know you dote on me, but I now realize I can’t win all the time. But I can’t insist on winning all the time in the office. And can you imagine me crying in front of the sponsors every time I can’t have my way? I’ve to grow within my job to bring CTN forward. Michael helped me a lot in this.

I know you are such a perfectionist and have such high expectations, you have to be in total control of everything. Try delegating down the line, and you will see the burdens slip away. You can use your time more fruitfully by dropping once in a while on the various departments. This will keep them on their toes as well as give them a sense of pride that their president cares enough about them to drop by to visit them personally.

And I know you, for some reason or other, you find it difficult to come right out and say ‘no’ on some issues. From now onwards, whatever you want done, for whatever changes you feel are necessary, send out office memos.

Xue Zhang, when CTN channels through MBS, your station will be the talk of the town with the super chat show I am conceptualising for you. I mean it when I say conceptualising specially for you. We want MBS to take all the credit. With the current PIR and the chat show, your station will receive viewership rating % never before attained by MBS.

That’s when you show Senior Zian Da what the real job of the president and DoP of MBS is; making Miss Zhen Shan Mei happy [she winked at him when she said that and he laughed], making the shareholders happy, and attracting further investments for the station, not sitting down to meetings with some pretty girls. Tell him the nature of his job has changed. He should pass the starlets to Drama Department, and concentrate on Bargain Corner and News. I also suggest giving the team some bonuses so they realise it would be worth their while to concentrate on PIR.”

Xiang Zhe was sitting there in bed, listening attentively to his angel dispensing her wise, simple logic. She was right. Michael had thrown her into the deep end of the sea and left her swimming back to shore. She not only made it but was standing firmly and successfully on her own two feet. He kissed and thanked her for showing him the light at the end of the tunnel.

“And, darling, sometimes you need to take a day or two off, to recharge your batteries. You’ve given too much of yourself to the company since you started work at MBS, you must learn to relax. Give yourself some time off.”

Shan Mei had already called in to the office, telling Zian Da that Xiang Zhe was not feeling well and taking the day off; she also called her secretary she would not be in the office that day.

They drove out to visit Xiang Zhe’s mother grave. Shan Mei took the packed lunch along with hot coffee in Thermos flask. The scent from the roses seemed to pervade the surrounding air. Before they sat down for lunch, Xiang Zhe told his mother about the MBS shares Father had given back to him. Other good news was Shan Mei’s pregnancy hadn’t given her any problems and the new morning show PIR was getting rave reviews. Shan Mei promised Mother she would make Xiang Zhe her top priority. She would take good care of him and needed her guidance to do a proper job!

Afterwards, they browsed around a few flea markets nearby. Shan Mei bought two big, old flower pots she saw, to plant some small branches she had earlier plucked from the tree growing on his mother’s burial plot. She also bought a set of old photograph developing Leica trays with clippers for You Zhen Ge. He was a Leica collector.

They drove back to town to visit Pa and Ma at the noodle shop. Even though it was Monday, the shop was full with customers. When Shan Mei told Ma she wanted to drop off a small present for You Zhen Ge, Ma asked her to help tidy up the unit. She hadn’t been there a week because of PIR.

This was first time Xiang Zhe was in Ma’s house. Both of them cleaned up the place and put their present on the dining table. Xiang Zhe saw the happy family photograph taken on Shan Mei’s first day at university, as well as many other photos of You Zhen and Shan Mei taken together during their growing up years. There were even several cartoon drawings of the two of them. [ “What’s the matter with this You Zhen? He has Minnie, why are the photos of Shan Mei still up? Is he regretting he passed over Shan Mei?” Xiang Zhe muttered to himself silently.]

He remembered the crumbled up photo with just You Zhen and Shan Mei. That time, holding the photo in his hand while Shan Mei had gone off to get some beer, he felt so jealous seeing Shan Mei smiling so happily and sweetly beside You Zhen. Now, Shan Mei was his wife. He suddenly had the urge to hold her in his arms, his wife never looked more desirable; he began to kiss her passionately slipping one hand under her blouse to cup her breast. Shan Mei felt his arousal. She wriggled free and gave her husband a startled look, her eyes grown mindful, “Xue Zhang. Stop it! We are at You Zhen Ge’s house.”

“I know” he laughed cheekily, “I want to make sure you know you’re mine, all mine.” Softly murmuring as he nuzzled into the hollow at her throat. He wanted her reassurance. “Agree you’re mine?”

Shan Mei nodded her head.

“How much?” he asked as he searched her eyes for an honest answer.

She broke away from his stare and hoarsely murmured into his ear, “as much as you can handle.”

He became excited; he took the damp wiping cloth away from her, a soft wicked laugh gurgling at the back of his throat. “Oh, I can handle quite a lot today, Mrs. Yin.” He carried her off to the kitchen and sat her on the work counter, rinsed her hands, smoothed a stray lock of hair from her forehead to tuck it behind her ear and murmured softly, “we’re going home now” as he caught her lips in a swift kiss.

He carried her on his back, picked up her coat and handbag on the way out, put her in the car, and helped put on her seat belt, taking advantage of the moment to kiss her again. “Do you have any idea how much I want you now?” he breathed hoarsely, his eyes narrowing hotly upon her. Shan Mei simply stared at him, unable to say a word.

Xiang Zhe sped off home. He was smiling as he stole sideway glances at his wife. She looked flustered and shy, her cheeks turning a deep rosy hue.

Chapter AW-17

Mid February.
TV Viewers sitting next to their television sets were gripped by Award fever. A new computerised scoring system was installed at this year’s Annual Broadcasting Industry Award Ceremony to prove that voting was fair; 50% of the score from Internet and viewers, 50% from the Union.
Viewers could see the voting score directly on their TV screen as the votes came in from viewers and netizens.

Last year when Miss Zhen Shan Mei walked away with 7 awards, there were whispers of ‘fixing’. Since the last award ceremony, Shan Mei had become Mrs. Yin Xiang Zhe whose husband also happened to sit on the nomination committee of the Broadcasting Industry Union. Xiang Zhe voluntarily abstained from all nomination and voting. Shan Mei wasn’t really into all this. Knowing that she had done her best was good enough for her.

At the event, Michael invited Junior to join the CTN group, but Xiang Zhe preferred to stay with the MBS group since they had also been nominated for 5 awards, one of which was in direct competition with Shan Mei.

This evening, Shan Mei was in a vintage Mr. V very light gold lace floor length evening gown, reminiscent of old time Hollywood glamour. Madam Kim told Shan Mei most of the glamour queens at the event this evening opted for the hanbok because Shan Mei looked simply too divine in hers last year.

Shan Mei decided on the Mr. V gown from the photo selection Madam Kim had shown her in December. Madam Kim negotiated a deal with Mr. V on behalf of Shan Mei. The haute couture designer was prepared to gift her the gown if Shan Mei would agree to model his new Spring & Summer collection a week after the Award Ceremony in Seoul. Madam Kim highly recommended her to accept the offer. But Shan Mei was too nervous to agree; she had never before in her life modeled anything. She would be too shy and embarrassed.

Shan Mei looked simply sensational when she arrived with her CTN entourage. One look at her, Xiang Zhe went soft in his knees. Did the imp discover his little secret? He simply couldn’t resist her in lace? Michael was beaming from ear to ear. Never mind if Shan Mei didn’t take home any awards tonight, she was already the undisputed winner in the fashion stakes.
The whole night for CTN was a repeat of last year’s performance when they won in all their nominated categories.

Later on in the night Xiang Zhe joined Shan Mei at CTN’s celebratory party. He simply couldn’t take his eyes off his wife. She was looking more beautiful by the minute. Michael, at the other side of the room was thinking the same, every time he laid eyes on her. That Junior was a lucky dog he thought. Shan Mei was supposed to be 3 months pregnant, yet she still exuded that innocent childlike allure, which had become her trademark.

Senior and Junior were sitting down, sipping champagne and talking about the progress made so far with the channelling project and PIR, when Junior asked him, “Senior, why don’t you invite Shan Mei for a dance? Better hurry, because I’m thinking of giving her a last twirl around the ballroom before twirling her home for her beauty rest?”

Michael was surprised because he had heard how possessive Xiang Zhe was when it came to Shan Mei. He didn’t need a second prompting. He shot off to where Shan Mei was sitting now, deep in conversation with Mr. Sung of Bansung Group.

Xiang Zhe smirked to himself. That took care of Mr. Sung! If he thought by offering 200 Bansung laptops at heavily discounted prices to Bargain Corner would entitle him to full monopoly of Shan Mei’s time, he was grossly mistaken!

Xiang Zhe had heard from Zian Da, Bansung was ready to offer 200 units of laptops at the usual 70/50/30 discounts to PIR. Zian Da even heard Mr. Sung suggesting to Shan Mei, how about offering 3 Bansung cars at 70% discounts, to mark successful PIR 1st season, at the start of the 2nd season?

As soon as they arrived home and walked through their front door, Xiang Zhe pulled Shan Mei into his arms and gave her a long and tender kiss. He told her again how exquisite she looked. When he saw her as she walked into the auditorium, he wanted to grab her and make love to her right there and then. He said he was terrified, at that moment, because such feelings and thoughts were so alien to him.

Shan Mei giggled at him, reminding him the first time they met in the park when he returned from England, he had told her to behave because they were in a public place. All she did that time was talked loud as she wrapped her arms around his neck. She didn’t believe one word of what he was now telling her.

“Yes, you’re so right because I didn’t believe it too.” He cursed silently “Zhen Shan Mei, what have you done to me?”

He made her sit down on the sofa in the living room. He brought her a glass of warm milk. While she drank her milk, he put his ear to her stomach to see how baby was doing. Then he whispered into the stomach, as he feathered loving kisses on it, to tell baby that his mother was queen of the night.

After he put on a very old Nat King Cole record, they slowly danced around the room encircled tightly in each other’s arms, completely lost in the magic of the love songs. After a while, Shan Mei lifted her head to look up at Xiang Zhe in the eyes, “Xue Zhang, you’re the best” and gave him a heart-stopping smile. Xiang Zhe smiled back at her with such tender love “so are you.” They continued their slow dancing, Xiang Zhe softly singing into her ear, following the lyrics from the songs.
==

The next morning, Xiang Zhe was still in bed when Shan Mei walked into their bedroom.

Shan Mei had brought coffee to Xiang Zhe. She gave him a soft kiss and a brilliant ‘good morning’ smile. “May be Xue Zhang wants to lie in? There’s no reason to get up yet. Michael has left early this morning for Japan. He would be back this Friday to meet with you regarding the CTN progress work. Last night he asked me to apologise to you on his behalf.”

“Is my wife going to reward me if I promise to stay in bed and rest?”

“Of course. I’ll serve you breakfast in bed”

“Like what kind?” he looked up expectantly into her face

“French toast, bacon, special coffee?” she bribed in her sweetest tone

“That’s not the kind of breakfast I have in mind,” he mimicked her pout.

“Okay, then you go make your own breakfast” she walked off pretending to be angry.

He leapt out of bed, ran after her, scooped her into his arms and brought her back to bed, telling his wife he needed to cuddle up to her in order to sleep. Shan Mei lovingly obliged. Xue Zhang needed his rest. He had been working so hard lately. Sometimes she marveled at his energy and the capacity of his brain. He had effortlessly and seamlessly merged the president and DoP positions into one, leaving no loopholes or space where his step uncle could manoeuvre himself into. She would make him delicious ginseng chicken soup tonight with a special recipe given to her by a Korean family in the Aleutian Islands.

It was way past lunch time when they awoke. Xiang Zhe saw that Shan Mei had already dressed and was simply lying next to him the way he wanted. He embraced her, gave her a kiss on her cheek and murmured into her ear “now, I’m ready for the French toast, bacon and special coffee you promised” and gently gave her derriere a smack, while he went to wash up.

That afternoon they worked in their His and Her offices respectively [the top floor of their house where their private offices His on one side and Hers on the other side were. In the centre was the common sitting area]. There was a lot of paperwork to catch up. Just as he was stretching out in his chair after having worked non stop for 3 hours, and rubbing out his brows now knotted in a deep frown, Shan Mei appeared with his coffee. Though he was busy working, he had missed her.

“Want to sit in your most favourite seat?” he insinuated guilelessly.

She went round his table to where he was sitting, “thought you’d never ask”, then nestled herself down on his lap. She planted several kisses on his forehead, and trailed her lips along each worry line. He felt his worries melting away.

After a few sips of the heavenly coffee, he asked Shan Mei whether she was almost through with her office work, he wanted to take her out for dinner. He had just received a call from Xiang Jie, PIR Internet subscribers had, an hour ago, reached the 40,000 mark. Shan Mei was ecstatic. Now, they could pay their guests a reasonable token fee for their appearances. The team should also be getting quarterly bonuses for their hard work. They could even begin to import directly from overseas manufacturers. Yippee!

“Xue Zhang, for your good work, your wife is going to reward you with special ginseng soup tonight.”

“Does my wife also expect special performance from me tonight?” Xiang Zhe gave his wife a wicked grin.

Ignoring his innuendo, Shan Mei continued, “The special soup is for you so you can concentrate on your planning of my chat show, making sure it will become your second best production for CTN.”

“Second best? Which is my best, may I know, my dearest wife?” Xiang Zhe’s happy tone was full of curiosity. She took his hand and rubbed it against her stomach. Oh, his darling wife! She always managed to bring out the sunshine in him. He locked his arms around her. Their lips met. They kissed long and slow. His Shan Mei was really the most fantastic wife in the world. He was more in love than ever with her. He didn’t want to ever let her go!
==

A week after the Award Ceremony in Seoul.
When he dropped her off at work, before Shan Mei let herself out of the car, she kissed Xiang Zhe on the cheek, then handed him an envelope. With a “See you tonight, husband” she laughed sweetly and ran off towards the building entrance.

Holding the envelope, he smiled secretly to himself. “Another invitation to a surprise party?” He couldn’t wait, he was tingling with excitement. As soon as he was in the privacy of his office, he pulled the card out. [“ What ? An invitation to a fashion preview of Mr. V’s haute couture collection as well as his new Ready-To-Wear Spring & Summer Collection?”] A notation on the bottom left hand corner of the card read “VIP – CTN Table”

He immediately called Shan Mei.

“Darling, you know such scenes are not my thing. But, if you want to go, I’ll accompany you. Shall I collect you this evening?”

Shan Mei told him, “There’s no need to collect me because I’m going with Michael. He has a meeting with Mr. V. We’ll see you there. Xue Zhang, love you.” He was tingling.

The preview was an ‘Invitations Only’ event. Apart from the press, the whole place was jam-packed with society’s female population from Seoul’s crème de la crème. He recognised many faces, especially those mothers who were forever trying to match him up with their daughters. Their daughters were also present. They tried to catch his eye, must be wondering what Xiang Zhe was doing at the function, all alone. He felt uncomfortable sitting at the table on his own. Soon Michael joined him. The open interest from the ladies present was unmistakeable. Michael laughed under his breath. He whispered to Xiang Zhe, “Wow! The vultures are out in full force!”

Xiang Zhe smiled and looked around the room. Mr. Sung of Bansung was there too with his mother and 2 sisters. Xiang Zhe was getting a headache. Where was Shan Mei? He wanted his wife at his side, so those curious eyes could look elsewhere. The two handsome and impressive men sitting by themselves were really attracting too much attention.

Xiang Zhe was not interested in Mr. V’s haute couture collection as the models sashayed up and down the catwalk. Where was Shan Mei?

An announcement came through the microphone. Mr. V’s Ready-to-Wear Spring & Summer Collection was launched for the first time in Seoul. There was a change in background music and the stage setting. On the catwalk out walked a couple. Xiang Zhe choked on the champagne he was sipping, his eyes nearly popping out. He managed to hold in a mild expletive before it escaped his mouth.

There was Patrick Lee and Shan Mei sashaying down the catwalk. The couple on stage attracted a lot of attention with their carefree walk and dazzling smiles. They were in a playful mood, yet Shan Mei managed to show off the clothes to their best advantage. Most of the people present recognised Shan Mei, but who was the deliciously gorgeous man with her? Throughout, Shan Mei had about 20 changes of outfits. The place was suddenly very quiet. The grand finale was expected. All lights off, except for the spotlights above the catwalk. Shan Mei glided out in the breathtakingly beautiful lace creation she wore to last week’s award ceremony. Cameras flashed all over the place. After gliding around the catwalk two times, Mr. V joined Shan Mei. Both of them took a final bow, Mr. V gave Shan Mei a big kiss on her lips, took her hand in his, they went backstage. Thunderous applause erupted.

Xiang Zhe was shocked. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect something like this. Michael was standing up, laughing, shaking his head in disbelief and clapping his hands off. After tonight’s performance, no one would ever dare question Junior’s choice of bride. She was superb. He looked at Xiang Zhe, he kept repeating: “Super, Fantastic Show.”

Xiang Zhe, looking glum, didn’t think there was anything super about it. The only thing ‘super’ would be the scolding Shan Mei was going to get from him that night.

Chapter AW-18

This Sunday morning, Michael was meeting up with Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei. They were meeting in one of MBS’s smaller meeting rooms. The table had 6 chairs around it. Shan Mei hesitated at one of the chairs.

“Looking for your most favourite seat?” Xiang Zhe asked innocently, giving her a look full of innuendoes. Shan Mei glowered at him.

He pulled out a chair next to him for her. She ignored him and took a seat between 2 empty chairs. They were so engrossed in their little duelling match of exchanging looks, they were oblivious of Michael.

“Junior?”

Xiang Zhe embarrassed at being caught unawares, turned to Michael “Yes? Sorry, I didn’t get what you were saying?”

Michael gave him a sly grin, “I didn’t say anything”

Xiang Zhe suddenly appeared all flustered. He gave Michael his shy look, appealing to him to please stop his teasing.

Michael shook his head in silent mirth. He looked at Xiang Zhe, then at Shan Mei, back to Xiang Zhe, and laughed out loud “you two.”

“Being married to Shan Mei must be very tiring?” Michael asked, directing the question to Xiang Zhe.

“You bet,” Xiang Zhe’s hand was at his forehead, he was smiling sheepishly, his eyes on his wife.

“Xue Zhang!!!, what are you saying?” Shan Mei’s cheeks became pink, her eyes glaring at him.

“Isn’t it true? Last night you decided to be a model, but later at home, you refused to model for me. Don’t forget, in December you were this great dancer? January, you were this great party hostess. Who knows what you want to be, next month? I don’t want to end up with heart attack,” he gave her a broad grin and a mischievous wink.

The two men laughed hard in unison, so hard Xiang Zhe had to rub away the tears that were threatening to flow from his eyes.

Shan Mei gave each of them a furious stare, for making her the object of their banter. She was busy working out a plan of attack.

She began to flip through her note papers; the men took the hint and looked at theirs. When she spoke, she looked up at them with her most dazzling smile, and, in her most dulcet tone, asked them, “Any ideas for the new chat show?”

“Let’s hear your opinion first, since you did so well for PIR.” Michael suggested.

“I want Patrick Lee to co-host. He has that kind of easy charm that most people fall for; he has those good looks that really impressed me the first time I saw him, and his personality matches very well with mine.”

Michael immediately agreed. He sat back against his chair, one arm resting over the backrest, his mind already with visions of the two of them together. “I had felt the same when I saw you two together on stage at last night’s fashion show.”

Xiang Zhe was silent. This was the first time Shan Mei had ever openly admitted she was impressed with a man’s good looks. The only time she had alluded to his good looks was that time in London when he mentioned it was easy to hide one’s unhappiness behind the drab English weather. She had casually remarked that with his good looks and good command of English how could he be unhappy? That was just a general comment, not like the praises she was now heaping on Patrick. He clasped his hands over his mouth, lost in thought, a deep frown appearing on his forehead.

Shan Mei secretly smiled with satisfaction. “Got you!”

Michael, unaware of the undercurrent, became excited, agreeing with Shan Mei they must make this the best locally produced chat show, in quality and contents. Due to the big sponsors being signed up, they anticipated large audience participation. They wanted MBS to provide a ‘live’ audience studio that could sit at least 200 instead of their current 50 seat max capacity.

Shan Mei was making notes furiously. She knew her husband wasn’t digesting what was being discussed. His mind was somewhere else, most probably dissecting every part of Patrick Lee. Michael immediately called CTN-UK, asking his technical director to fly out to MBS next week with his best technical team. He wanted them to design a top class set for chat show.

Shan Mei suggested to Michael, “Why don’t you continue the meeting with Xue Zhang after lunch? Lunch’s on me.”

She hooked her arm around Michael’s, leading the way to Cream House. Xiang Zhe followed sullenly behind. Suddenly he realised he had been played out by his wife. “That imp,” he muttered under his breath. He felt relieved. He ran up to catch up with them. He hooked his arm on her other arm. When Shan Mei looked up to him adoringly with her sweetest smile, he smiled back at her just as sweetly, but his eyes were promising her a night of reckoning, TONIGHT !

Michael was happy with the progress when Xiang Zhe showed him around the new extension. The two floors were almost ready, after which furniture and equipment to be installed. Many of the facilities that they would be sharing had been upgraded. Xiang Zhe also took Michael to inspect their canteen. A dining area exclusively for CTN had been demarcated. After running all over the place for almost 2 hours, they had had enough and decided to return to Xiang Zhe’s office for some coffee.

“What did you think of the show last night” Michael asked out of the blue.

Xiang Zhe didn’t have any opinion, because he had never been to one. But he thought models needed training. How could Shan Mei just walk up there and decided to do her thing, and Mr. V the big man himself letting her?

Michael laughingly said, “After one look at them, Mr. V had insisted to the choreographer, ‘no rehearsal for them’. Patrick and Shan Mei were told to be natural, and being natural is what Shan Mei does best. I’ve had my fair share of attending these boring affairs. That’s why it’s so refreshing to see Shan Mei walking around so naturally. Didn’t you notice? The two of them were carrying on like they were in the office having some kind of office repartee, especially that part when Shan Mei took her clip board and hit Patrick on his head, before walking off, her mouth in a pout?”

Xiang Zhe smiled crookedly at the recollection, but not at the ‘carrying on’. Michael had talked Mr. V into repeating the same strategy in Tokyo, using Akiko Kobayashi, CTN’s top anchor in Tokyo, to model Mr. V’s collection this coming Saturday in Tokyo.

“Come on, Junior, take that frown as well as that jealous look off your face. They just happen to enjoy a certain kind of chemistry. Very rare, you know.
Those two are going to bring to us accolades and big moneyed sponsors.”
Michael tried to console Xiang Zhe when he noticed his unease.

“Senior, you don’t understand. She’s my life! I almost lost her thrice. She has given me such happiness and fulfilment I never knew existed. I can’t lose her,” he looked at Michael with pain and forebearance at the memory.

Michael patted the poor man on his back, nodding his head in understanding.
Changing the subject “How’s the baby coming along?”

Xiang Zhe shook his head in exasperation, “You saw what happened last night? I tried to get her to slow down, but she isn’t listening. Until a little baby bump appears, I don’t think the fact that she is going to be a mother will sink in. When I asked her what about the nursery, she told me to handle that saying I was good with this sort of thing, citing this offic as example. The old office was renovated beyond recognition. Now, she loves coming here in the evening for her coffee, before Musical Postcard.”

“Yes, what about Musical Postcard? I hear that it is the highest rated local radio show even though aired once a week. Shouldn’t she have been nominated for Radio DJ award?”

“The nomination committee argued that it was not a sponsored show, so not eligible. Anyway, Shan Mei isn’t concerned with all this award fracas. She always maintains, what matters most is knowing she has done her job well.”

“If that’s the case, start accepting sponsors beginning July. I will give MBS clearance officially in writing. No point in letting a good show go to waste. CTN won’t accept a cent from advertising deals. Just take a 10% cut and give that to Shan Mei.”

Xiang Zhe thought he was the one who always doted on Shan Mei. Michael was worse. What kind of a husband would Michael make if Shan Mei had chosen to marry him? Michael was always so carefree and easy-going and came with no emotional baggage. He had also so easily embraced all types of cultures. No doubt Shan Mei would be so loved by him. Xiang Zhe assured himself he was loving her more.

Michael was so pleased to know PIR was doing so well, and wanted to know who was running the show. “Me, officially. But Shan Mei still sits in on meetings” laughed Junior. The actual work was supervised by the producer from 7 o’clock News and a recently promoted production assistant specially vetted by Shan Mei, knowing how paranoid she is about step uncle’s spies. The previous producer for MOE resigned, after the press gave him such a roasting.” Michael looked pleased, commenting the chap should have long been gone. PIR had its own Internet subscribers. Xiang Zhe reported to Michael MBS was making quite a bit in subscription fees. Michael laughed and told Junior CTN-KE’s income from Internet subscription fees alone would reach the 500 Million Won mark per month once transmission was 8 hours daily from July.

Contents of programmes must be attractive enough to entice subscribers. Realising Bargain Corner was the real moving force behind PIR’s popularity, Michael would ask David’s wife to source for quality products from CTN-Europe’s advertisers. She was the Sales Director of CTN-Europe.

Shan Mei phoned to let them know You Zhen Ge was about to drop her off at MBS building. If they were finished with their meeting, he would like to buy them dinner at this new place serving the most heavenly dumplings. Xiang Zhe was always okay with food. Michael didn’t mind too. Better for him, he could sleep on the plane tonight, and not worry about food.

The place really did serve the most delicious dumplings and special side dishes. Only drawback was it was located in some off beaten track not easy to find. You Zhen informed Michael this small eatery place was featured in their new “5-minute Korea” series for Korean Tourism Board. During their filming around the country and enjoying such fantastic food all over, they decided to dedicate about 100-120 episodes to food. Michael agreed totally.

Xiang Zhe was enjoying his meal thoroughly. His wife was serving him the dumplings pre-dipped with the sauces that he liked, and picking up little bite sizes of his favourite side dishes and feeding them to him, at intermittent intervals. Shan Mei wanted to be so attentive because she regretted the bed of thorns she had made him sit on during the morning meeting, and wanted to show real penitence. Her husband felt so pampered.

No wonder KTB was such a big supporter of Shan Mei, CTN-KE doing hundreds of 5 minute shots, these shots to be shown on CTN worldwide networks, bringing awareness of Korea to international tourists and travelers, Xiang Zhe thought to himself as he looked at Shan Mei, unaware his eyes hadn’t strayed from her face since they sat down for dinner. KTB even sponsored a van for PIR use.

After dinner, Xiang Zhe concentrated on driving carefully home; all thoughts of CTN, KTB, Patrick Lee were banished from his mind. He smiled as he stole a sideway glance at his wife. Last night was still very much in his mind. What about hers?
==
( last night )

“Did you enjoy Mr. V’s fashion preview?” Shan Mei asked sweetly testing rough waters as they were walking towards the hotel carpark

“Only the parts with you modelling.” Xiang Zhe grunted.

Shan Mei then held out to him Madam Kim’s boutique shopping bag with a big box inside. Madam Kim was extremely happy with this evening’s show. All the clothes shown had already been reserved. She gave Shan Mei the gift suggesting she could give her husband a private preview. Madam Kim had noticed Xiang Zhe sitting out in the audience; his unsmiling face was all dark. Looked like a storm was slowly, silently, and dangerously brewing.

After their shower, Xiang Zhe felt much better. So much better, that he got out a bottle of champagne, 2 flutes, sat down on their love seat and told his wife he was waiting for the show to begin. Shan Mei was in her dressing room. Suddenly she let out a loud piercing scream. Xiang Zhe immediately ran into her dressing room. She was holding up in one hand a skimpy chiffon see-through baby doll nightie, trimmed with faux fur. In her other hand, she looked in horror at the barest bit of chiffon known as G-string, the crotch of which was lined with the same faux fur. His eyes sparkled. He rubbed his hands together with devilish glee.

Xiang Zhe was tickled with excitement. He insisted she had to do the private preview. He was waiting. After a while, he grew impatient. He told her she had a choice. Either she wore it or nothing. Finally Shan Mei said she was ready to come out, but he had to switch off all the lights. He complained the room was too dark. “Draw the curtains to let the moonlight in.” He realised it was not so easy, like old MBS days, to fool his little wife.

He was at the window drawing the curtains. He heard some quick running steps and then a giggle.

She had sneaked into bed, completely covered by the quilt. He was not letting her off. He went under the quilt and started feeling around. When he tried to tickle her, she complained he was hurting her. When he tried to kiss her, she complained that made her ticklish. That imp! He was so overwrought with excitement, he turned her around, and bit her on one side of her derriere. She got so mad, she jumped out from under the quilt.

“Hey, that’s not fair. I want to bite you back. Turn around and lie down here” pointing to a space on the bed very near to her. He let her, to appease her, when he noticed her angry look. Then he carried his baby doll to their love seat, where they enjoyed the rest of the night finishing up their bottle of champagne, and he was still trying to cajole his wife to sashay a few rounds in front of him in her baby doll nightie!

Chapter AW-19

Shan Mei was up very early this morning, busy in the kitchen preparing a lot of delicious food.

During breakfast, Shan Mei appeared a bit anxious. Xiang Zhe was enjoying his breakfast because Shan Mei had made special seaweed soup, abalone congee and several kimchi dishes. She had put aside a small plate of thinly sliced abalone, and told her husband to eat up all the slices, because abalone was nutritious food for body build-up.

Shan Mei seldom made so many dishes at one go for breakfast unless she was expecting guests. Maybe, Shan Mei needed something substantial because she would not have time for lunch or something later in the day? Xiang Zhe thought as he ate away.

“Darling, take another bowl of this congee. It’s so delicious.” He placed the bowl of congee on the table in front of Shan Mei. Xiang Zhe noticed there was quite a bit of congee left in the crockpot cooker. He scooped what was left into a food container, telling his wife he would ask Canteen to heat it up for his lunch at the office.

Later this morning, at MBS studio, there would be a closed door mock run of Two Sides To A Coin, the chat show that Shan Mei had conceptualised and this would kick off when CTN transmit through MBS in July. This would be a crossover show, control of concept and content to be held by CTN, produced by Yin Xiang Zhe using MBS facilities.

With this show and PIR, Shan Mei hoped to propel the profile of MBS beyond its present limit, bringing with it increased viewership % for MBS. Hopefully, more sponsorship deals would ensue. Most of Xue Zhang’s headaches with ratings would be taken care of. No more pressures from shareholders once they realised CTN/MBS would become a formidable team.

Today’s guests and audience would be college students selected for participation from the top four universities in Seoul; and the theme for discussion would be “Open Book Exams or Traditional Testing Methods”. The kids were excited because each of them had to sign a confidentiality clause before they could participate in the show. It made them seem like conspirators together with Zhen Shan Mei. This mock run was organized to give the station some idea whether this kind of concept would work. If not, there would be ample time to change the format.

The producer in the control room and the production crew in the studio were using this mock run as a rehearsal to position their cameras and lighting, control the flow of the show, and actually work from the props that the technical team from CTN UK had designed for this show.

Because today’s show consisted of students, and with a topic very close to their hearts, the pace was very fast, and the banter virtually non stop. Even the audiences couldn’t control their excitement. The atmosphere in the studio was electric. Xiang Zhe too was carried away by the flow when various favourable comments were made about Open Book Exams. He had felt very strongly about this subject when he was himself a collegiate.

The invited guests were divided into 2 groups, first hour For Open Book, and 2nd hour for Traditional. As the show progressed, there was a lot of support for both groups from the audience. Shan Mei and Patrick Lee moderated very well in that there was no ill feeling at all.

After the show, Shan Mei thanked all the participants and invited them to MBS canteen for refreshments. They were also asked to fill out questionaires to give the producer of the show some ideas which areas could be improved and what topics would be interesting for the community in general.

One area of the canteen was partitioned off for this batch of special guests.
Today’s topic and debates were very fresh and there were a lot of opinions. In the end, the students would like Shan Mei to come up with more chat shows dedicated to education, especially in the areas of employment. The kids wanted to get first hand opinions of potential employers, whether the degrees obtained from local universities were taken in the same light as overseas-obtained degrees? Shan Mei thought this was a very interesting topic and promised to plan something along such lines. She asked her assistant to liaise directly with the student leader who suggested this theme for more information so they could plan an ideal time to introduce this interesting debate.

Shan Mei, Patrick and their assistants returned to their office at SGS for CTN internal meeting, while production meeting with MBS was confirmed for the next day.

Xiang Zhe, back in his office, was going over this morning’s mock run in his mind. Shan Mei and Patrick moderated the pace very well, otherwise there would have been complete mayhem, with the guests and studio audience all wanting to say their piece. No wonder the actual show had to be separated into 2 days, otherwise there would surely be fist fights.

The concept was fresh and simple, the execution smooth and the masses were totally involved. The allocated 2 hours passed by very quickly, the speakers wanted to say more but, alas, time was up. It was stressed by the moderators there was no right or wrong answers. It was a gathering of opinions. Why couldn’t his planning and programming teams come up with something so simple?

He had seen Shan Mei’s proposal when she was drafting it for Michael’s review. That was simple too. She simply gave numbers: the population segments this show would target, through MBS, through CTN; number of viewers expected; suitable for what kind of sponsors. Based on the anticipated viewership %, she gave an indication of sponsorship money she was looking at. The broader the base, the more valuable the programme.

Xiang Zhe smiled secretly to himself. His wife had worked this out very nicely for herself. All her shows were targeted to the masses that could easily relate to the themes, that was why sponsors were willing to pay top dollars because they would be getting maximum exposure. Didn’t she tell him once not to waste money on unnecessary packaging? Simply give an honest show that audiences want – did one need analytical mind to work that out?

Later on, Xiang Zhe realised it was selection of topics, the type of guests invited and the timing of the topics that would made 2STAC so successful.

It was easy for CTN because to them everything had a value, e.g. Shan Mei had a value, Patrick had a value, so it was a multiplication of known factors. MBS didn’t have that kind of known factor because they didn’t have any presenter who could harnass a substantial base of loyal fans. Their profitable staples were dramas, sports, children’s programmes and the newly launched PIR. But these would be nothing compared to 2STAC. With negligible outlay and minimum manpower efforts by MBS, the chat show would bring in more profits than their staples grouped together.

His phone rang. It was his angel telling him she was ready to go home and that she would wait for him at the front of SGS building. On the drive home, she didn’t say anything, and he didn’t want to remind her it was his birthday. Before he met Shan Mei, Xiang Zhe never bothered about birthdays. Since the special treat she gave him on his last birthday, he had been eagerly looking forward to this day.

He wanted to help prepare dinner but Shan Mei told him everything was prepared. He went to TV room. Later she called him on his mobile. She was on the top floor. “Darling, sorry to interrupt your TV viewing; can you come up for a minute? I need you to help me with something. Thanks.”

As soon as he reached the top of the stairs, he heard music and his senses were assailed by the fragrance of roses, and mouth watering aroma of roast meat. On the large coffee table in the centre of the room was a sumptuous spread of food, champagne in ice bucket. He was grinning broadly “that imp”! "Shan Mei? ” he called out happily, “where are you? ”

The door to her office opened. She stood there. She had on the exquisite blue chiffon lacey nightgown. She looked so ethereal and sexy, that lethal combination which brought his memories back to Brighton. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. In one hand, she was carrying a tape record player. He walked slowly up to her, pulled her into his arms and gave her a lingering kiss. “What’s up, Mrs. Yin?”

“Just an angel in blue come bearing birthday goodies for the world’s most adorable birthday boy.”

He choked down tears. He thought she had forgotten. He pulled her into his arms, murmuring, “you’re so beautiful, it’s not even funny” and started to bite into her creamy white shoulders.

“If you’re that famished, please finish first the food on the table”. Shan Mei was in giggles as she pulled Xue Zhang towards the table, being aware his eyes were still on her.

As they sat down to begin their meal, Shan Mei pressed the Play button of the tape recorder. Her voice came on: “Happy birthday, my dearest husband. Thank you for making me the happiest woman in the world. I don’t want to be with anybody except you in this life, the next and eternity. I love you, and I dedicate this composition to you…(Shan Mei playing her flamenco guitar.. smooth romantic music).” Continuous play.

Xiang Zhe was so overwhelmed. He felt so blessed, his heart was bursting. Shan Mei told him to bring up another bottle of champagne that she’d left chilled in the fridge. He was gettting really drunk on happiness and champagne. “What’s for dessert?” he gave her a wicked wink, and tried to feel under her gown. Shan Mei smacked his hand away.

They were so full with food, they didn’t want to move away from the sofa, but remained there cuddled in each other’s arms, serenaded by Shan Mei’s music. After what seemed like a long, long time, Shan Mei asked Xiang Zhe to go make some coffee. She’d stay to clear the dishes into the container for the housekeeper to wash when she came in tomorrow.

With high expectation of a romantic ending to such an unforgettable evening, he immediately went off.

When he came back, Shan Mei had a little birthday cake waiting for him.
After he blew out the candle, the first one he had ever had the chance to blow out, so far in his life, because during his young days, it was not tradition for his parents to give him birthday cake, he was almost in tears. “Dearest wife, I got to celebrate my birthday in such a beautiful way only because of you. Thank you”, he then pulled Shan Mei onto his lap, and began kissing her, his eyes silently seeking for a present of another kind.

The next day, he arranged for a mini hifi system to be installed in his office, and a special version of Shan Mei’s music pressed onto CD. He had this playing softly and continuously in his office. He smiled blissfully to himself; Peter Rabbit and Shan Mei’s music were all he needed to combat his daily battles!

Chapter AW-20

CTN-UK’s technical team had worked in the MBS studio for one week the first time they arrived Seoul. Then they flew off to Tokyo to take care of some technical matters in CTN’s Tokyo studio. This 2nd trip to Seoul they would stay another week after CTN’s mock run a few days back. Today, Shan Mei and Patrick Lee were asked to be present at the studio for dress rehearsal, to finalise colour coordination for the set. Armani won out in their bid to dress the hosts.

Xiang Zhe cancelled all appointments for the day. He wanted to be at their rehearsal. They had 6 colour changes in clothes, plus several more changes in background colouring before the team finally decided on a coordinated colour scheme. MBS crew in charge of backdrop design was also present for briefing. They must remember never to deviate from the colour scheme. Every little bit mattered. A master plan was drawn up and given to MBS. If they wanted to make change, no matter how slight, they must get okay from CTN.

By the time Shan Mei and Patrick finished their part, it was almost 3 in the afternoon. Han Jae Hoon called Patrick on mobile, and they decided to meet up at Cream House for afternoon tea. Xiang Zhe had no choice but to go along although he would prefer to have Shan Mei to himself. And Shan Mei did look in need of refreshment. Xiang Zhe was quiet most of the time, when the three chatted away like there was no tomorrow. Even when they tried to include him, he was happy just sitting there looking at his wife and listening to her talk.

Looking at him, Shan Mei guessed he must have gotten another ‘insecurity’ attack again. She told Patrick and Mr. Han to enjoy their tea, she had to take her husband shopping. They said they would be leaving soon to meet up with You Zhen. Xiang Zhe looked surprised about the shopping. He asked the waitress to debit the bill to his account; he was so relieved to leave.

As they walked out hand in hand, he asked his wife what she wanted to buy. Shan Mei wanted to buy new underwear. She felt her present undergarments were getting a bit tight, and she wanted him to make the selection. He felt so happy, his wife was entrusting such an important task to him.

“Darling, how about trying out this new place on Fashion Row? I saw their advertisement in the papers announcing their opening. It is supposed to carry one of the most famous French lingerie brand names, Perla or Perlie something?”

In the shop Shan Mei felt shy, her husband going through such intimate ladies items. But he was different. He felt like a little boy let loose in a toyshop. He whispered to Shan Mei, he thought he saw something similar to that furry thing Madam Kim had given her in another colour. May be she would allow him to buy it for her? She blushed deeply and gave him a dark look as well as a little discouraging tweak of his pinkie.

Apart from underwear, he bought many fine lace lingerie items suitable for mothers-to-be. He was looking forward to seeing her in them. After they finished shopping for mother-to-be necessities, Xiang Zhe was back in good mood. They went back to his office. That night, Shan Mei had to record her radio show.

“Why didn’t you allow me to get you the matching panties?” he wanted to know.

“Because they would be too tight for me in the coming months. I don’t like them clinging to my stomach which will start to show soon. The nurse at Dr. Kim’s clinic advised me to start applying the olive oil to keep away stretch marks.”

“My dearest wife, don’t forget to let me apply the oil on you. Do you want to lie down and rest a bit?” He brought her a glass of warm milk and made sure she was comfortable on the sofa.

Just then, Zian Da burst into the office without warning. He apologised for interrupting Shan Mei’s rest. Shan Mei sat up at once.

Zian Da was highly excited as he passed the information to Ziang Zhe. “The military has just found the hideout for those illegals sneaking into the country. It’s one huge underground maze. They also caught the mastermind behind the human smuggling racket. They are now clearing out the area, and it will be closed off in 2 hours time. There is no MBS news roving team near that area to make it there in time within the 2 hours. We will miss out on this scoop. Anyway, maybe you can arrange with the military unit in charge, to give MBS special clearance tomorrow to enter the cordoned off area?”

Xiang Zhe was rubbing his forehead, not knowing how to go about this, reluctant to take advantage of some obscure family connection. He never understood how the connection with the military and his grandfather came about. His mother had been vague. It seemed his grandfather had received some kind of official exemption from the Military that his descendents did not have to serve Military Service ever. Yes, they did build a lot of housing for army veterans, and the Wen Rong Hospital gave special care to military personnel, but that didn’t mean they should be accorded special privileges. Several other big construction firms were building a lot for the military.

When Shan Mei heard this, she immediately called You Zhen Ge asking him to go immediately to the location Senior Zian Da had just mentioned. She remembered Patrick telling her they would be somewhere near there to check up on some locations, right? She gave him a gist of what happened. He had Patrick with him, right?

“Patrick is to do the interview and the reporting. He has to do one version in English, one version in Korean, then hurry back to MBS for editing. CTN will share with MBS this scoop, the thread coming from them. The area would be closed off in 2 hours time.”

Shan Mei looked at Zian Da, with her sweet smile. “Senior, don’t worry. You will have your scoop for your 9 p.m. news tonight.” Zian Da looked at Xiang Zhe. Xiang Zhe arched an eyebrow at him with a subtle shrug of his shoulders, like, any more problems?

Before Zian Da left, he heard Patrick calling Shan Mei back. “Get ready internet connection as soon as possible. We found the place and You Zhen is already down in the underground network of maze. I’ll email something back within 20 minutes. MBS can start editing and preparing the footage.”

When Xiang Zhe heard this, he was getting excited too. Orders were given that the operators handling the computer network must stay back and not leave. Shan Mei alerted CTN’s news team to assist MBS about the scoop, she then left her mobile with her husband, gave him a kiss, and went to the recording studio.

That night after the 9 pm news both CTN and MBS were deluged with requests from the press for main story and photos. The Military could not provide any information or photos. For security reasons, the Military had to cordon off the area, and no one was allowed in for the time being.

By the time the Yins got home that night, it was almost midnight. They had met up with You Zhen and Patrick for supper. Zian Da was very impressed with Patrick and when he was told Patrick would be Shan Mei’s partner in her new chat show, he sneaked a glance at Xiang Zhe. His face was blank. For him to allow someone as smart and handsome as Patrick to be this near to his wife was definitely not his idea, Zian Da could tell. Zian Da quickly left saying he had to make last minute preparations for tomorrow’s Bargain Corner.

After their shower, Shan Mei went through the items Xiang Zhe had bought. He wouldn’t show her his purchases when they were at the boutique saying ‘secret’ to almost every item. The lingerie nightgowns were beautiful, so were the bras which came with front clasps. She decided to try on one in the faintest shade of pink French lace. Xiang Zhe immediately snatched it away from her hands. “Not allowed”, unless he was the one to put it on for her. She nodded shyly. The bra cupped her breasts perfectly, the thin lacy effect added to the delicacy of her glowing complexion. And that was all she was allowed to wear because she had refused to take the matching panties.

“Darling, please be a little bit more understanding. I had ‘comfort’ in mind when I decided not the take the panties. I would have to get maternity briefs from a specialty store. For home, I was going to borrow your pyjama shorts when I become big.”

He laughed when he heard that. He went into his dressing room, and came back with one. He helped her into it. The waistband was slipping past her hips. One look and he couldn’t help laughing. She looked so adorable. He scooped her up and carried her off to bed, giving her soft kisses along the way.

After he got into bed beside her, he turned her to face him, and in a velvety voice, reminded her, “Michael can be your boss, Patrick can be your co-host, Han Jae Hoon can be your dance partner, but only I can be your husband, understand?” She nodded her head in agreement, giving him a delicious smile.

Xiang Zhe continued, “And only a husband can do this” [he kissed her on forehead], “and this” [he kissed the tip of her nose]. “and this” [he kissed her on her lips], “and this” [his hand kneading her breasts], “and this” [he began teasing her nipples].”

By now she was softly sighing. “Do you want your husband to do more?” he murmured hoarsely, his voice tinged with raw emotions, seeing the desire and passion in her eyes. She nodded her head slowly as she circled her arms around his neck, her hands gently massaging the back of his head and his neck as her fingers curled into his hair. He bent to kiss her deeply as his hands began caressing tenderly all over her soft, warm body.
==

The next morning, in his office, Xiang Zhe was sipping his cup of coffee, preparing to read the morning newspapers.

When Xiang Zhe saw the headlines in the morning’s papers, he was aghast. “Most Powerful Husband + Wife Team in Local Broadcasting” and underneath the headlines was an irresponsibly written article on how CTN and MBS shared news reporting and were very covetous with their information. They were not prepared to give any information to the press when they were approached, especially their supposedly ‘scoop’ on the hideout of illegals in their 9 pm news last night both on CTN and MBS channels. May be that was why CTN was rumoured to be raking in huge profits. CTN did not need to maintain a roving reporting team. Miss Zhen Shan Mei would use her influence as wife of Mr. Yin Xiang Zhe to pressure MBS to provide the news reporting service. If this was the case, weren’t MBS shareholders losing out, MBS having to bear extra costs?

Again, Zhen Shan Mei used the influence of her husband and the finances of her lover, Sir Michael Dutton, to bankroll behind the scene vote buying to win her awards. She was a money and power hungry schemer. There was nothing special about her as a broadcaster to garner such accolades.

Xiang Zhe called his father. Yin Senior confirmed that he was shocked over the news reporting when he read it earlier in the morning. All the other newspapers carried news and photos of the illegal hideout. He had spoken to a few editors earlier that morning and they had confirmed to him they received the information from MBS and CTN. They too condemned the news reporting from one of Seoul’s leading news publishers as very irresponsible. Xiang Zhe said he would most probably sue the newspapers. Father must not mention this to step uncle or step mother. He hadn’t spoken to Shan Mei yet. He would wait to speak to Michael first and see what he would do.

He cradled his head between his hands, deep frowns appearing on his forehead, a massive headache thumping away in his head.

Just this morning, their world seemed so perfect. Shan Mei had walked into their kitchen, went up behind him while he was at the table buttering his toast. She threw her arms around his neck and whispered softly into his ears “Good morning, my dearest husband. Thank you for a most unforgettable night” and gave him such a meaningful look and playful nips at both his ear lobes. The word ‘Husband’ never sounded more sweet or important. He laughed joyfully, one arm going around behind his chair to give her a loving smack on her bottom, “Is that my dearest wife talking?” She nodded, they looked into each other’s eyes, their lips met, and locked in a tender, lingering kiss. If Shan Mei didn’t have to be at her office for an important morning meeting, he would surely have carried her upstairs back to their bedroom.

Over at CTN-KE, as soon as Patrick saw the news, he immediately translated the article, ready to have it faxed to Michael. He thought this was character assassination at its most despicable. He had known the Yin couple now a few months, and he could safely vouch he had never met a more loving, charming, friendly honourable couple. This was what happened when people become jealous of someone else’s success or happiness.

Xiang Zhe sent email to Michael, giving him a web address to go to.
After visiting, please call Junior back. His mobile rang. Shan Mei’s secretary called, informing him his wife had fainted in the office. You Zhen and Patrick were just taking her to Wen Rong hospital. Xiang Zhe asked his secretary to order company car for him immediately. He called Zian Da to let him know what had happened to Shan Mei. Most probably she had read the newspaper report.

At the hospital, Xiang Zhe was pacing the floor, he was fraught with anxiety. If anything should happen to Shan Mei and their baby, someone would have to pay, and pay dearly. Dr. Kim came looking for him. Shan Mei and the baby were okay. But she had to stay overnight in hospital for observation. She appeared very distressed. Xiang Zhe arranged with the hospital to cordon off one section of one floor to ensure total privacy for his wife. Extra security measures were taken to keep out paparazzi. Only vetted and approved hospital personnel could move around the area. Dr. Kim understood. This morning’s headlines had him scratching his head too. The young couple wasn’t anything like what the news report made them out to be. They were such wonderful people.

Patrick was surprised. This was the first he knew Shan Mei was pregnant, and she was going onto 4 months. No wonder Xiang Zhe looked like he was ready to blow the world apart.

Chapter AW-21

Xiang Zhe was raging furiously because his wife could not protect herself against the outrageous slander that was being hurled at her. If there was one person who didn’t know how to grab money, it was her.

When they were students at Cambridge, she would bring extra portions of sushi rolls to share with him during lunch break. And when he took her out to celebrate her last night in London, she told him he shouldn’t have spent all that money eating out at a fancy restaurant; a burger and Coke would have been just as fine. When he returned to Seoul, she thought he still hadn’t found employment; she would sometimes pay her share for drinks. When she found out later that he was her boss and the son of MBS chairman, she wanted to have nothing more to do with him.

After they married, he gave her two credit cards that she never used, according to the statements that came in monthly from the bank. He was sure the monthly allowance he gave her was just sitting in her bank account.

“Don’t you need money to pay for the beautiful clothes you have been wearing?” he asked. Apparently, she received a clothing allowance from CTN-KE, and Madam Kim gave her great bargainss because she brought in so much business for her boutique, her allowance was always more than adequate.

“And shouldn’t we be paying some money to your parents for always making us food?” He thought of all the boxes of delicious food Ma had been preparing for them.

“That’s okay. Business at the noodle shop is bringing in more profits than we can ever spend. In fact Pa has also given me a credit card, and he also banks into my account my share of the profits from the shop, even though I tell him to keep the money for himself. Why don’t you have a talk with Pa and tell him to save the money for himself ?”

Shan Mei told her husband to stop buying her fancy jewellery. She never looked good with fancy, chunky jewelry on her. Pearls and peridots were okay. He had to agree with her. His angel looked more beautiful without rather than with big, showy jewelry. Her anklet, the engagement ring and wedding band were all she needed and treasured.

One time he asked her for her income statement to complete their joint income tax assessment, she told him to ask Michael. “He is the one who arranges for my income and share dividents to be paid to some off shore account in the Bahamas making it tax free. I never bother myself with such matters.”

She then gave him her banking statements of the account she still maintained in London. “See what you can make of these? Maybe they can help you. In future, you better handle all the banking statements for me.” How could a shy, innocent baby like her be a money grabbing schemer?

She had come to him in total innocence. Totally pure and innocent in their marriage bed, and totally innocent of her husband’s worth. They could attack him but not someone as innocent as she.

Michael came on the phone wanting to know what the whole thing was about. He saw Shan Mei’s, Junior’s and his pictures in the newspapers. Xiang Zhe told him, “Shan Mei is now in hospital. She has fainted. The baby is okay. Patrick has prepared a translation. We want to fax to you. Where are you now, Michael? In the Sydney office? Read the report then call me back immediately.” Michael was worried when talking to Junior; he sounded terse and his words had come in a monotonous drone.

Patrick called the office secretary, instructing her to fax the English translation he had done on that stupid news article to Michael immediately. Michael was waiting for it in the Sydney office.

The whole afternoon, Xiang Zhe and Michael were on the phone almost non stop with each other and with their legal teams. Michael told Xiang Zhe to forget Shan Mei for the time being, the two of them should sue the publishers for defamation. Michael’s team was now preparing a defamation claim + costs lawsuit. He advised Junior to prepare something similar. Shan Mei’s suit to follow, all for hefty amounts. His brother David was a barrister, who would hold the watching brief. They would arrive Seoul tomorrow to see his legal associates. Michael told Junior not to accept apology from the newspaper. This kind of mischief reporting would never end. They had to be taught a lesson. This exercise would surely smoke out who was behind all this mischief.

Mr. Jin Jun Hao from Wen Rong Heavy Industries invited Chairman Yin for afternoon tea. He was of the opinion some one was out to make mischief. He had his suspicions. He suggested Chairman Yin transfer all his shares in Wen Rong to Shan Mei, then bide his time.

With his Wen Rong shares in Shan Mei’s hands, his MBS shares in Xiang Zhe’s hands, a showdown of power brokers would emerge. The biggest mistake was dragging that English man into the plot. That English man surely would not let such irresponsible reporting go unpunished. These foreigners normally like to sue people left, right and centre. From what he once read about this man in a trade magazine, he had big guns behind him.

Mr. Jin Jun Hao was faintly amused at the belligerent drama, he was sure, would soon unfurl before them. The Morning Star’s publisher, Chosoon Publishing, didn’t realise the hornet’s nest they had stirred. Most probably Mr. Cho of Chosoon believed the stories he was being fed!

Before they went their separate ways, Mr. Jin looked worriedly at Chairman Yin. Would he be able to bear the strain of the outcome of this power struggle? They had been bosom friends from way back since their army days. He wouldn’t want to see anybody get hurt, especially not Shan Mei, the most innocent and helpless from the whole lot.
==

“Darling, you can’t go home yet. May be tomorrow, okay? Dr. Kim’s orders. Think of our baby.”

“But, Xue Zhang, today is already the fifth day. How much longer do I have to stay here?” She was sobbing into her husband’s shirt. His heart ached.

Xiang Zhe soothed Shan Mei with soft, reassuring words and tender kisses. “Darling, I’m here every night, keeping you company. Isn’t this enough?”

Shan Mei shook her head, holding on to her husband’s hand, looking utterly miserable. “Xue Zhang, I want to be with you at home. I want to sleep in our own bed. I’m not sleeping well, and I know you’re not sleeping well too. I want to go home” she cried into him.

“Alright, alright.” He promised as he soothed her back. “I’ll talk to Dr. Kim later and see what he says, okay? Now, be a good girl and go to sleep.”

Xiang Zhe was having a hard time convincing his wife to remain in the hospital. Just watching these two embroiled in such an ugly mess not of their own doing was heart wrenching for Michael standing near by, just because they were too good, too successful, too beautiful, too capable, too lovable for someone’s jealous ego to stomach.

Xiang Zhe answered his phone when it rang.

“Xiang Zhe, it’s Jin Jun Hao here.”

“Yes, Uncle Jin?”

Shan Mei heard snippets of the conversation. She heard Step uncle Jin Enqi’s name mentioned a few times. Xiang Zhe wrote down a name and phone number.

He was leaving the room with Michael, when Shan Mei called him back. Catching hold of Xiang Zhe’s hands, she pleaded with him “Xue Zhang, whatever you do, promise you won’t hurt your father or Xiang Jie”.

Xiang Zhe looked at his wife, nodded his head, “I promise” in a serious tone. His mind was disturbed. He never uttered a word after his conversation with Jin Jun Hao, how could Shan Mei make him promise something like that? Did Shan Mei know of something that he did not ?

The man Xiang Zhe met up with was the young son of one of their retired company chauffeurs. He drove for both Wen Rong and MBS on part time basis. He had driven for Mr. Jin Enqi on several occasions. He always drove him to an address downtown; every time Mr. Jin would elicit his promise of total secrecy, and the boy had felt uneasy. Xiang Zhe thanked him for his time and the information. The young man said it was his duty because Madam Yin, Xiang Zhe’s mother, when she was alive, had been very benevolent to their family.

Michael passed the information on hand to their lawyers, asking them to immediately investigate on Jin Enqi using the lead.

Shan Mei was back at home, at last. Xiang Zhe set up a work station for her on the ground floor of their house. Patrick and the chat show team were there every Monday for meeting with Shan Mei, to prepare for the show. One evening a week, the PIR team would meet up with her to give her an update. Shan Mei enjoyed the PIR evening meetings, because they could share dinner together.

Before Michael left for Japan, he told Shan Mei to only concentrate on the chat show. Jose had been recalled to Seoul office to help out. You Zhen not only handled the camera crew, but with his experience, he tried to help in all other CTN backroom departments as best as he could. Shan Mei was in much better spirits. With such an elite task force, no wonder CTN could continue their operations without a hitch.

Patrick was indispensable. After the wonderful reporting he did on the illegal’s hideout, Shan Mei had put him on as news anchor too. Patrick was so happy to be accepted into the CTN family. During his previous time in Seoul doing his post graduate studies, Han Jae Hoon was the only friend he made. Now, it was different, You Zhen and Shen Mei’s family accepted him like a son, Xiang Zhe treated him like a brother, Jose as a confidante.

After the second court hearing, Chosoon Publishing, sent their lawyers to negotiate an out-of-court settlement. When all 3 parties rejected, they were asked to produce evidence to substantiate their claims for such astronomical sums.

This was anticipated; Michael’s and Xiang Zhe’s financial papers showed they were asking damages only a fraction of what they were worth. And for Shan Mei, a fraction of her worth and potential earning capacity. The 12 months she came to Korea aboard CTN-KE, she managed to sign up more than a few multi billion Won sponsorship deals, not to mention the 7 awards she won out of the the many handed out each year by the Broadcasting Union in recognition of excellence in work two years running. Not to mention her share of income from Internet revenue. She was also the major shareholder of Wen Rong Group. All three defendants had immense international standing.

Mr. Cho of Chosoon called a number. “Jin, it’s me. What was all that nonsense you have been telling me about? I now have in my hands their financial statements, all notarised by their auditors. The boy holds 40% share in MBS, the girl 45% share in Wen Rong. I thought you said the shares are as good as in your hands when the old man transfers them to your nephew, or that he’ll surrender his share to our demands, when we threaten to expose his beloved daughter-in-law’s indiscretion. The old man holds no shares in the companies.”

“Brother Cho, you can still do that. My mole has concrete evidence that Shan Mei spent a night at the Westin Chosun Hotel with a man, on the night of 16 January. She was blatant enough to take the Honeymoon suite. Can you imagine? That stupid boy must have thought she went on a business trip or something. Don’t let their fancy lawyers bully you into submission. I thought we would work together for control of Wen Rong and MBS?”

“This is the final round I am going to follow your bull talk. Sales of Morning Star had plummeted. We have received notice from the Government if our claims were all unfounded, our publishing licence would be revoked. I would have no choice but to out your name. My company cannot afford to pay out billions in compensation. I have the minutes of our meetings regarding your take-over plan of Wen Rong and MBS. If your sister wasn’t married to that old man, I wouldn’t have bet on you.”

“Brother Cho, don’t worry. I have planned this for 20 years. Success is finally within my grasp. Just you see, when that immature kid hears his wife has been spending nights with some other man, he will go berserk and in no condition to run the station. I’ll take over then.” He-he, someone sniggered with such evil intent, after he put his phone down.
==

“Sister, come quick. Dad and Mum are having big argument” Xiang Jie was sobbing down the phone line.

Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei immediately rushed over. Xiang Jie looked frightened. He had been waiting for Shan Mei near the front door of their house. Shan Mei took him to Xiang Zhe’s private apartment. He was crying that Mum was screaming and hurling abuses at Dad about shares, property deeds, all of which he didn’t understand. And Dad was cursing about Uncle.

Xiang Zhe could see his father was dazed and in deep shock. He was afraid his father would suffer another heart attack. He sat him down then told his stepmother, “Shut up. Can’t you see Father is under tremendous shock?”

He poured a cup of tea and brought it to his father. Father and son looked at each other, silently acknowledging this was the first time Xiang Zhe had poured tea for him. For Xiang Zhe, it felt as if a knot had been undone. Seeing his father in this state was heart wrenching for him. Tears rolled down his father’s face. Xiang Zhe wiped them off with his hankie, and left the hankie in his father’s hand.

He went to look for Shan Mei in the private apartment and told her they would spend the night at Father’s place.

“Elder Brother, I want to stay with you in your apartment. I’m afraid maybe they’ll start screaming at each other again.”

“Xiang Jie, don’t worry. I’m here; I won’t let anything happen. You take Father into your own room, let him spend the night there with you, and to give him all the comfort and love that he needs.”

After Xiang Jie left their apartment, Xiang Zhe could see his wife was confused and worried too.

“Dearest wife, I want to stay here with Father until Xiang Jie leaves for London. His mother goes with him. What do you think?” Shan Mei looked at her husband, her eyes dark with compassionate understanding and unshed tears. She nodded her head, before falling into his arms, embracing him tightly and giving him all the emotional support that he would need.

Even though Yin Snr was carrying some kind of cold war with his wife, they maintained some semblance of conversation in front of the kids. While Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei were staying with Father, Xiang Zhe didn’t want to take food prepared by his Stepmother.

For mornings, he asked Shan Mei to help the maid prepare the daily breakfast; congee which could be cooked overnight in the slow cooker. Shan Mei taught the maid to make scrambled eggs just the way her husband liked, so they could occasionally have Western style breakfast of toast, eggs, sausages and bacon. Every evening, they would order take out, unless on those evenings when Pa and Ma came to visit. They brought with them plenty of good, delicious food and tubs of kimchi.

Shan Mei recruited Patrick to help out. Patrick became a regular visitor to the Yin’s family home. Uncle Yin liked playing chess with him. They also liked antiques. Patrick taught him how to gain more knowledge on the subject of antiques and collectibles through the Net. That kept him busy.

Chapter AW-22

The date for the huge court battle was fast approaching. Xiang Zhe wanted to get Xiang Jie out of the country before then. He bought a house similar to Gugu’s near Cambridge for Xiang Jie, and with Michael’s help, the University sent them a letter stating that Xiang Jie had to attend a course at the end of May to prepare him for entrance into university in September.

Xiang Jie of course was very reluctant to leave; he would miss Sister’s 1st wedding anniversary in July and the baby’s birth in August. They told him they wouldn’t be celebrating their wedding anniversary anyway; they would be too busy with CTN’s inaugural channelling with MBS. They would email him all the photos. Michael had already installed in his new house the most complete and up-to-date stereo, television and computer system, so that he could view anything. If he liked he could invite Vicky and the gang over to his place for company.

Michael was also going to arrange for him to take driving lessons. Elder Brother would buy him a car, but he had to promise never to drive fast.

“Of course I wouldn’t. I don’t want to run over my own special ‘angel’ when she appears from heaven!” He let out a shy laugh.

Meanwhile, Michael’s lawyer’s investigators found out that Jin Enqi through various nominee companies owned 10% share in Wen Rong and 20% in MBS. They also managed to get hold of copies of minutes of meetings linking Mr. Jin to Chosoon Publishing, outlining their plans to take over Wen Rong and MBS, and how the spoils of their takeover were to be divided between the two parties.

When Xiang Zhe showed his father the copies of their findings, Yin Snr was very sad and disappointed, finally acknowledging his brother-in-law had betrayed him. Xiang Zhe assured his father, the evidence collected would not be made public unless it was absolutely necessary. He had to consider the adverse publicity this disclosure would bring to Wen Rong, MBS and the Yin family.

Of course their allegation that Shan Mei was a woman of loose morals backfired when it was proved the man with her on the 16th January at Westin Chosun was her husband. Besides the General Manager of Westin who was called to the witness box; Chairman Yin, his personal chauffer and Xiang Zhe were also called in as witnesses.

Xiang Zhe was so furious that his wife’s morals were sullied, knowing full well who was behind this dirty allegation. He advised his father he had lost his patience with Jin Enqi. He wasn’t going to close his eyes anymore and be tolerant, he would advise his legal team to start making arrangements to repossess the property that was his mother’s and which Jin Enqi had been staying in since his mother’s death. “Father, how could you let him stay in my mother’s house, in the first place? And rent-free too! I grew up in it. To me, that place is sacred.” He didn’t mince his words when he threw them at his father, although he had struggled in vain to keep his temper down.

Yin Snr simply gave his son a hapless look, said nothing, and lamely sank back into his chair; suddenly, he looked very old.
==

Michael would only negotiate with Chosoon, if he was given the 10% Wen Rong shares and 20% MBS shares. Of course Michael got what he wanted, these shares to be held in trust for him by Shan Mei.

The other terms were settled out of court. No compensation sum was disclosed. Chosoon’s publishing licence was revoked by the government for 3 years. Morning Star went into receivership. Mr. Jin Enqi was dismissed from Wen Rong and MBS, his cronies went with him. It was rumoured Mr. Cho of Chosoon Publishing had put out a contract on him.
==

Finally, Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei were back in their own house.

“Darling, did you know something about Jin and Stepmother? Please tell me.” Xiang Zhe tried to cajole his wife into telling him. Shan Mei knew if she didn’t tell him, he wouldn’t let her sleep until he got what he wanted. Sometimes, he was worse than her when it came to wanting to have things his way.

“If you really want to know, you must promise me a few things. You must learn to forgive from your heart. Keep this from Father, and let bygones be bygones.”

“Okay. I promise.”

“Your Stepmother and your Step uncle are not really blood siblings. It was her mother’s second marriage to his father. Remember the first project I was given by MBS to do interview for a morning show segment? I interviewed this kind lady doing charity work distributing bags of rice to those less fortunate than her? That morning when I tried to convince this angel without wings to appear on television to tell her story, I waited at her doorstep the whole morning. A lady went into the cottage next to hers. I noticed her because of her beautiful complexion and she was very well dressed. Later on, a man came by and entered that cottage too. He walked past me. I didn’t know whether he saw me. I recognised him as Mr. Jin Enqi of MBS. I didn’t know the lady was your stepmother until the first time I saw her when we visited your father after our dinner with Michael.

Upon my enquiry, the kind lady in the village told me about their dubious relationship, that they acted more like husband and wife, rather than brother and sister. About 20 years ago when he was drunk one night, he walked around the neighbourhood, screaming he was going to be one of the most powerful men in Korea because his woman had managed to wheedle her way into this millionaire’s bed and she was going to wrest control of his companies from him. Observing her from afar, I found it hard to believe she was this kind of woman. She was always so unassuming.

Darling Husband, from now onwards, we are not going to mention this any more. I know my husband’s heart is big and generous enough to let bygones be bygones. He will love and honour his father like a filial son, and love and protect Xiang Jie as his true brother.” She then smiled in the way she knew her husband could never refuse her anything.

He shot out his hand and ruffled her hair, admonishing her tenderly as “you imp”, then pulled her into his arms and kissed her long and hard. “My life has truly been touched by an angel.”

“Let’s go visit Mother tomorrow, okay? I want to show her my tummy, and also bring her our special roses. Then we go to your Father’s place and make him and Patrick special sushi. Haven’t you noticed how happy and relaxed Father now is, with Patrick staying there to keep him company? Don’t forget, Patrick is your other angel. Since Patrick taught him how to send and retrieve email and ICQ, he has been stuck to the computer just chatting with and emailing to Xiang Jie.”

Xiang Zhe’s eyes lit up. Taking his wife’s hand, he pulled her up the stairs.

“Let’s do our chatting too over the Net.” There was much laughter coming from their offices, each making more outrageous remarks or demands than the last, until some time later Xiang Zhe walked into his wife’s office. Leaning against the frame of her office door, he wanted to claim on the promise his wife had just sent him.

They didn’t bother to turn off the machines, but walked off to their bedroom engrossed in their own private chatter that only lovers deeply in tune with one another could understand.
===

One evening in July after a very relaxing dinner, at the Yin’s residence.
Husband and Wife sat down, in their living room, finally getting some private time to themselves. Xiang Zhe apologised to his wife, they weren’t able to celebrate her birthday, they were so preoccupied with the court case against Chosoon Publishing. Even their 1st wedding anniversary had to take back seat to CTN-KE anniversary party and 1st channelling through MBS.
==

CTN’s 2 Sides To A Coin with hosts Shan Mei and Patrick Lee was the talk of the town with its first show. The media gave unprecedented coverage. The co-hosts looked perfect together. The first theme introduced at 2STAC: Sex before Marriage, or After Marriage was almost a taboo subject not discussed openly in Korea’s conservative Confucian society. Suddenly, this controversial subject was openly discussed in the markets, in coffee shops, in the press, making it one of the hottest topics open to debate. The hosts themselves became the focal points for the media.

Patrick being brought up in such a free society like USA; Shan Mei lived alone for almost a year in London. Her husband lived alone for more than 10 years in London. When Patrick and Shan Mei were being interviewed by the press, Xiang Zhe made it his business to be present. Firstly, he wanted to hear what his wife had to reveal about her life that time she was in London. Secondly, his wife was in advanced stage of pregnancy.

Sex before marriage? Patrick confessed he was not really active on the Dating front and he never favoured casual sex. When he was not home, he was usually at the state library doing research. He was a history buff. Girls found him a complete bore. “I’m not condoning anything; this sort of thing is really a very personal issue.”

What about the dating scene in Seoul? The girls were very beautiful, but he was simply too preoccupied with his work and his books, to have time for anything else.

Miss Zhen? Shan Mei admitted she was not only old fashioned in thinking, but was very shy. Sex was something she never had time to think about. Her days in London were preoccupied with work, work and more work, from 5 a.m. to midnight every day. Frequently, she worked 3, 4 days without sleep, especially for a new programme about Higher Education in U.K. that CTN-KE would begin screening from October. This show was shot back-to-back with Korean Kinship, when she was in London.

What about the good looking men around London? She never noticed them. She had promised her Xue Zhang she wouldn’t look at another man.

What about the good looking men around Seoul? “A promise is a promise.”
Xiang Zhe hid a secret smile when he heard this.

What about the girls in London? They were all beautiful and very friendly.

Did she think her husband could resist such beautiful, friendly girls during his 11 or 12-year stay in London? She never concerned herself with what her husband did before he declared his love for her. It was his life and it was all in his past. All along, her husband behaved like the perfect gentleman with her, during their courting days.

What was the one thing she found most constant about her husband during their courting days? His roses. In Seoul, after he joined MBS, he would deliver a rose to her house on the nights when they didn’t meet. He would always be the first one to make peace with his rose, whenever they had arguments. On looking back, she sometimes wondered how he could tolerate such unreasonable behaviour from her.

When she was in London, he would send her a rose every morning via email. When she was back in Seoul with CTN-KE, he arranged for a rose to be delivered to their special meeting place every morning. This delivery only stopped after last Christmas when they planted special imported rose bushes in their garden. He would cut a whole bunch of roses every morning and place them all over the house. Smiling shyly, Shan Mei admitted her husband was truly a very remarkable man.

The reporter suddenly turned to Mr. Yin Xiang Zhe who was sitting near by, engrossed in Shan Mei’s interview.

“Only one rose? Isn’t Mr. Yin too stingy?”

Shan Mei laughed softly, noticing that Xue Zhang was caught unawares. But he happily replied, “Yes, I’m so stingy. So stingy with my love. To me, one long stemmed rose means One and Only Love. I am prepared to give that only to Zhen Shan Mei, no one else.”

“Mr. Yin, many experts claim that husbands or boyfriends who have done something wrong usually buy their wives or girlfriends presents, to assuage their guilt. Have you done something wrong when you gave your wife the first rose?”

Xiang Zhe slowly uncrossed his legs and planted his feet firmly on the ground as he mulled over his words carefully, his hands dangling between his knees. He leaned forward, his voice sounded quite serious.

“Firstly, I want to clarify, experts can sometimes be wrong. My wife is an innocent and very gullible. I don’t want her to ever think that I’ve done something wrong every time I want to give her a present. An unexpected present from me means I want to indulge my wife, and if I can have my way, I want to indulge her every minute of the day.

That first rose was really a declaration of love and a confession. That time Shan Mei had not really accepted me, and I wanted to convince her inspite of my inexperience in the dating scene, I’m ready for her. I’ve read from somewhere on the Internet, and learnt from movies that giving a girl a red long stemmed rose was considered a subtle declaration of love.”

“Confession? So, you did do something wrong.”

“Shan Mei didn’t know I was the DoP of MBS. In her mind, I was this newly-returned-to Seoul-university graduate, still unemployed. I wanted to confess. When I started out that night with the rose, I was so full of confidence. I waited outside her house while she was inside doing her assignments. Later that night, I wanted to phone her to let her know I was waiting outside her house, but could not muster enough courage. The longer I waited, the less confident I became. Afraid to see her reaction to my confession, I left, leaving the rose at her front gate.”

“And did Miss Zhen accept you after she learned the truth?”

“You’re kidding? She became angry and rejected me outright. I was both mad and rued, but I couldn’t leave it at that, every time I recalled her angry face. It took all my sincerity, patience and coaxing to get her to agree to go back to being friends with me.”

And he gave his wife such a look of undisguised love, Shan Mei became flustered and shy. The photographers happily clicked away.
==

Things were simply too hectic, foregoing even a simple wedding anniversary celebration. Now baby’s due date was barely three weeks away. How was Shan Mei bearing up?

Shan Mei kept reminding her husband celebrating these events was not that important. What was really important was that they were still together, still loved each other and still be there for each other. They didn’t need a special date to remind them how very special they were to one another.

Xiang Zhe smiled softly. His angel dispensing her wise, simple logic. In the past, the days held no meaning for him. Now, like his angel said, everyday should be a special day for them. He loved her for her simplicity. He bent to kiss her stomach tenderly, and ran his fingers lightly over it. “Uncomfortable?”

“How can it be uncomfortable when I am carrying such an important load?” she bravely answered in her dulcet voice, not wanting to worry him.

Just then the baby kicked. Xiang Zhe immediately put his lips to gently caress the spot, his face marveled at the miracle of new life through their loving. He couldn’t wait for baby’s arrival, yet dreading the pain he knew his dearest wife would have to endure during childbirth. Shan Mei ran her fingers through his hair, sensing his misgivings. “Husband, everything will be alright” and gave him her most reassuring smile.

“Are you sure you want to continue with the show until one week before due date? Why don’t you let Patrick take over on his own ? I know Patrick had said he didn’t want anybody else substituting you, so just let him do it! I feel so helpless, not being able to do much.”

“Dearest Husband, you are doing wonderfully fine. Just make sure PIR keeps it momentum and 2STAC maintains its high standard. Korean television has never experienced anything quite like this, a show with simultaneous translation in English. You see, even the expat community wants to join in the fun. With the headphones provided, Michael and the sponsors understood everything.”

“All thanks to the brilliant idea of my dearest wife.”

Xiang Zhe shook his head and laughed under his breath, as he gave his wife a fleeting glance. Shan Mei wanted to know what was so funny.

“When I first started out with MBS, I was told it was difficult to get guests to appear on our chat shows. Zian Da always arranged for me to meet up with starlets for dinner dates to get them to make guest appearance on MBS shows. I hated that kind of socialising so much. “Two Sides to a Coin” has only completed its 3rd week, yet guests are phoning us, clamouring for appearance invitations from MBS. When we told them we only had guest spots available on our other chat shows, not 2STAC, they readily agreed to appear on those. People!”

The guests didn’t realise it was not up to MBS to decide who could be invited for 2STAC. The theme and show content were controlled by CTN. Shan Mei wanted the show to touch on controversial topics, but discussion within government broadcasting guidelines the TV Regulators could not fault. Following this concept, the shows had generated huge public interest. Applications from audiences wanting to participate came from as far south as Cheju Island, as far east as P’ohong, as far west as Kunsan, and as far north as Kumhwa. CTN wanted real people, guests from a broad spectrum of society, not only the super glam crust of society. CTN gave a set of criteria for guests, MBS to do follow up with invitations. CTN-KE Internet subscribers would get first priority.
==

Xiang Zhe took his wife into the nursery to see whether there was anything she felt was needed. “Everything is simply perfect, like the baby’s father.” One such praise from his beloved wife was worth more than the gold in Fort Knox. He grinned from ear to ear. Shan Mei seemed to be in very good mood tonight, may be he could get her to wear that very sheer French lace nightgown he bought her. She had refused when he first showed it to her, maintaining it made her stomach looked big and clumsy. How could he make her believe, to him, she has never looked lovelier?

After their bath, Xiang Zhe tried to persuade Shan Mei to put on the new nightgown, saying if she did, he would send his brother an email. This got her. They went upstairs to His office. She sat on his lap. He dictated and she typed. Many things, Shan Mei said, were mere exaggeration on his part, and wanted to type in her version. The whole night they bantered playfully about, until Xiang Zhe decided it was bedtime. She’d better hurry or else Xiang Jie wouldn’t get his fun for the day. Since her 7th month, Xiang Zhe hadn’t carried his wife around, afraid he might drop her. But he had his arm protectively around her shoulders as they walked down the stairs.

While in bed, they were thankful for their happiness, and prayed for blessings for all those near and dear to them. They specially prayed harder for Father. Xiang Zhe switched off the bedside lights, they snuggled up to each other and very soon they fell fast asleep, he dreaming of his little baby princess exactly like her mother, with her radiant smile; she dreaming of her little baby prince. If he was as handsome as his father, she would have a hard time keeping an eye on him.

===

Shan Mei, Patrick and their team had just finished their luncheon meeting in the office, when Shan Mei felt her first pain. Patrick immediately phoned Brother Xiang Zhe. The expectant father ran to take the lift, from 7th to 9th floor. On the way he called Dr. Kim. Seven hours later, he heard his baby’s first cry. Dr. Kim congratulated them on their big, healthy and handsome baby boy!

Xiang Zhe had been too overwrought by feelings of utter helplessness as he stood by and watched his wife in labour. It was both a unique and unnerving experience. He had almost fainted. The sight of his beautiful, delicate wife enduring such agonies caused him the most penitent feelings of guilt.

Shan Mei was just emerging from her anaesthetic grogginess. Xiang Zhe wanted to scoop his wife into his arms, hoping to soothe away the pain and tiredness.

Back in her room, he held on tightly to his wife, begging her not to scare him again.

“What about the next baby? Don’t you want your baby princess?” she asked in a coaxing tone.

No, not if his beloved wife had to go through all that pain. “You’re more important to me than all the babies in the world !”

Michael was at his London club with his brother and some friends just sitting down to an early luncheon meeting when Junior’s call came through. He was ecstatic –- his first godson and CTN’s first baby. He handed out cigars and accepted congratulations as if he was the actual father. Throughout lunch, he kept laughing to himself, giving his brother several slaps on his back, reminding David to make him an uncle before his second godchild came along.

That night, the grandparents came to visit. Yin Snr was gushing as happy tears came to his eyes. He never thought he would see the day when Xiang Zhe would present him with a grandchild. The baby looked exactly like Xiang Zhe when he was just born,Yin Snr kept repeating, elated beyond description. Ma brought special confinement soup and food.

The next day when Shan Mei was resting, Xiang Zhe was out busy shopping. Xiang Zhe had wanted to go with pink, while Shan Mei wanted blue, so they decided to wait until baby was born before buying any clothes. When he brought the shopping home, he told the nanny Madam would be home with baby in five days’ time.

Shan Mei was still in awe of the baby. She was now a mother, while the wonderful man sitting next to her on the bed was now a father. She looked at her husband shyly, “Hello Daddy”. Those words sounded like ambrosia to Xiang Zhe’s ears. He was so full of pride yet still in awe. He hadn’t stopped kissing his wife since she came out of the delivery room. They checked baby’s tiny hands, baby’s tiny feet and baby’s everywhere several times. Still in a state of disbelief, he had asked his wife several times, “Darling, did we really make this?” Shan Mei let him kissed the baby all over a few times, so he could reassure himself.

By the third day, Daddy was getting jealous of all the attention Baby was getting from Shan Mei and whispered into his wife’s ear. “Husband!!” Shan Mei sounded shocked. He pouted. “Alright” she waved him over, then caressed his cheek “when we are home.”

“Promise?” and he smiled again, taking renewed interest in his son. He must watch them carefully, anything his son got, he wanted too. Since his son’s birth, he dreaded the ancient Confucian teaching: the 3 most important men in a woman’s life would be, Father, Husband and Son. He was afraid his son would soon replace him as the most important man in Shan Mei’s world, as he himself had displaced Pa as Shan Mei’s No. 1 man after their marriage.

After discharge from the hospital, Shan Mei adjusted and organised her new responsibilties very quickly. She worked from home, and was only in the studio when taping the Chat Show and Musical Postcard. Xiang Zhe wanted to spend more time at home with his wife. It was at times like these that he wished he had taken Shan Mei’s advice to groom his younger brother to take on some responsibilities at MBS. “Let’s wait and see.”

Xiang Zhe had to admit Xiang Jie was way sharper than Zian Da. He would be back for the Christmas and New Year holidays. If he didn’t let Xiang Jie try something at MBS, Shan Mei would definitely take him on at CTN. Shan Mei was always aware of new talent. If Shan Mei signed on Xiang Jie, where would she put him? She always found the perfect niche for her talents. He would ask her. She doted on Xiang Jie so much because he was like the younger brother she never had.

Very soon the baby was 8 weeks old and looking more like his father with each passing day. Michael passed through town to see his godson. Xiang Zhe threw an informal family gathering at their house. Michael couldn’t get enough of the baby. “Handsome devil,” he laughed and asked You Zhen to take a CTN family shot, of course with him holding the baby. This photo would be circulated to CTN Asia/Pacific offices as “Best Production of The Year”.

In London, CTN had shown samples of “Two Sides To a Coin” to potential sponsors. Now a big sponsor with diversified business interests wanted a show along similar lines. Could Shan Mei and Junior come up with something interesting? Their products weren’t available locally in Korea yet; they wanted to create brand awareness then come in later. This account would bring in big bucks because CTN-KE would be some kind of one-stop for them, handling the advertising and photo shoot, everything. They also wanted to sponsor something else from CTN’s library, like the current mini series movies CTN-KE was showing and very popular with viewers.

Chapter AW-23

Michael had flown into Seoul yesterday and was now enjoying a cup of coffee in Junior’s office. A knock on the office door interrupted their talk.

“Come in” Xiang Zhe called out, in answer to the knock. It was Mr. Woo, MBS manager from the Engineering department. He had with him Miss Camilla Fox, the representative from BBS whom he had just collected from the airport. Miss Fox was sent by BBS to help them install BBS Toyland Fair ground to be ready one month prior to the Christmas holidays, to promote the BBS children’s programmes MBS was currently showing.

“Hello Camilla” a greeting came from Michael who was sitting in one corner of Xiang Zhe’s office. Camilla’s eyes shot to him then to Xiang Zhe. Camilla thought to herself, “Ooh, Father Christmas has come calling early for me.” Hot, sensual vibrations were oozing from her every pore. Two rich and gorgeous men in one room, how lucky can a girl get?

“Hello Michael. Fancy meeting you here. Hi Xiang Zhe, remember me? One year after you at Cambridge.”

Xiang Zhe stood up and nodded in acknowledgement. “Camilla, Mr. Woo will introduce you to the crew you will be working with. After that, we’ll meet for lunch.”

Xiang Zhe gave some instructions to Mr. Woo, after that Camilla left Xiang Zhe’s office with him. Once outside the office, Camilla was fuming. She had expected Xiang Zhe to show her around the studio, not dumping her on Mr. Woo whom she found boring and beneath her.

Michael gave Xiang Zhe a long, hard stare, and decided to dispense some brotherly advice: “Junior, you better watch that woman. She is known as a man eater in our circle back in London. That was what happened to David last year. She clung on to him like a leech, Cassie got so angry she ran off to the States and stayed there 3 months, even though David hadn’t done anything wrong. This Camilla was out to make mischief. David practically had to go down on his knees to get Cassie to come home. I think this was ‘the’ reason she is in no hurry to start a family with him.”

“What about you? Did she try to eat you too?” Xiang Zhe laughed back.

“Years ago she tried her hardest but got nowhere. Now, she goes for married men. She knows she wouldn’t even get past 1st base with me. If I was that easy, I would have been married many times over, by now. I’m not that stupid. You make sure you are never alone with her, no matter how innocent your intentions are. She’s crazed. I’m giving you this advice because I don’t want to see Shan Mei hurt again.”

Xiang Zhe looked at the letter opener that he was twirling around with his fingers. “She tried to make a move on me a few times while at Cambridge. Each time I told her I wasn’t interested.”

“Yes, but that was years ago. Now you’re married and president of one of the four largest broadcasing stations in Korea, the stakes have gone much, much higher. And you’re bloody good looking. She would have done her homework. And she is one of those who wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer. I’m sure she was the one who passed word around that I fancy men.” Michael was shaking his head in amusement.

“I don’t understand why BBS sent her.” Xiang Zhe was asking himself aloud.

“Most probably wangled the job through John’s couch” Michael guessed.

Xiang Zhe looked at Michael, after which he picked up his mobile to call his wife. Upon hearing Shan Mei’s sweet voice, he felt as though the world was not such a scary place after all.

“Hi, it’s me. Free for lunch today?” Shan Mei actually had a luncheon appointment with Mr. Sung of Bansung, but there was something in Xue Zhang’s voice that she couldn’t quite pin point; a little bit apprehensive? She’d better go and see what was bothering him.

“With my dearest husband, of course, anytime. Is Michael with you? Meet you in CTN executive dining in half an hour, alright?”

Michael raised a brow at Xiang Zhe? He nodded. “She said to meet in half an hour.” Michael was relieved. At least with Shan Mei next to Junior, that Camilla would see she was not Junior’s cup of tea at all.

When Mr. Woo called Xiang Zhe on the office extension, he was told to go to the CTN dining hall with Miss Camilla Fox. They would be having lunch together. Xiang Zhe and Michael met up with them.

Michael could see Miss Fox was pulling out all the stops to try to make an impression on Junior. She had on an outfit that screamed ‘look at me’ and so inappropriate for working environment. Her affected air and mannerisms made Shan Mei’s naturalness a welcomed breath of fresh air. One look at Shan Mei, Camilla couldn’t understand what was wrong with all these gorgeous men.

That Cassandra Dutton, wife of David, looked cool and collected like a cucumber. How did she manage to snare someone like David? And this Zhen Shan Mei looked like a little mousy child although she had on a gorgeous outfit. Yet throughout lunch, it was obvious Yin Xiang Zhe had eyes only for his wife. That Michael who was supposed to be immune to a woman’s charms was fawning over her too.

After lunch, Xiang Zhe asked Mr. Woo to send Camilla back to her hotel, and to collect her tomorrow morning at 9 for work. Back at the hotel, Camilla spent all afternoon not thinking of the installation project, but how to snare Yin Xiang Zhe. She stood in front of the full length mirror admiring her own voluptuous figure. How could that mousy child compete with her? Once she got him into her bed and worked her charms on him, Yin Xiang Zhe was as good as hers.

Camilla was getting very frustrated and began losing her temper with the MBS installation crew. She was supposed to stay 2 weeks to supervise the installation. A week had already gone by and there was no way she could get to see Xiang Zhe privately. The crew handling the installation was a bunch of idiots and not cooperating well with her. She wanted to use this as an excuse to see Xiang Zhe to lodge a complaint. May be use another crew?

In fact, Mr. Woo from Engineering had already complained to Xiang Zhe. This Miss Fox was not familiar at all with the installation of the playground equipment. From the plans she had on hand, they could find many faults with her supervision. Mr. Woo was worried if the crew had to follow her instructions, many mechanical faults would result, making the equipment unsafe to use. Besides that, she always came to work dressed in those tight fitting clothes. Mr. Woo gave her a worker’s overall and a safety helmet to wear, both of which she had refused to put on, flaunting company dress code and safety regulations. She was distracting the workers.

Xiang Zhe called Edward Cartin of BBS. Edward was surprised London had sent Camilla. She was nowhere qualified to handle supervision for such an important installation. Xiang Zhe asked for a fax from Edward so he could show her that BBS London wanted her to return to London to handle another more important project. She was to leave by the next available flight.

Xiang Zhe felt agitated and waited in the office until the fax came in. As soon as his secretary handed him the fax, he went to the hotel where Camilla was staying. He phoned up to her room to inform her he wanted to meet her for a drink in the hotel lobby. He tried to use as much tact as possible to break the news to her. Camilla had other ideas. She never let him finish any of his sentences.

After two drinks, she said she felt ill, most probably because of the lunch she was not used to. And wanted to go back to her room. Her medication was there. She looked really ill. Xiang Zhe helped her to the lift.

Just then a group of people came out of one of the hotel’s function rooms. Michael, Shan Mei and Patrick were in that group. Michael saw Junior and wondered what the hell was going on. He didn’t know whether Shan Mei saw Junior. That kind of comprising situation never looked good. Michael steered the group to the front door, excused himself, then went after Junior. Xiang Zhe had seen them, and was waiting near the lift lobby for Michael to come to his rescue.

Michael suspected that Camilla was up to no good. They took her up to her room, after which she miraculously felt better. Xiang Zhe showed her the fax from Edward Cartin and said his secretary had made flight reservation for her on tomorrow’s mid-morning flight to London. Camilla was furious and started spitting venom about Mr. Woo and his team of imbeciles. Xiang Zhe and Michael stood there quietly, listening to her ranting. After which Xiang Zhe told her someone from MBS would collect her tomorrow from hotel to send her to the airport. In the presence of Michael, Xiang Zhe thanked for her kind support with a firm handshake.

The two men went back downstairs to share a drink. Junior’s frown had appeared. He was worried. If Shan Mei had seen him, what would she think? Michael patted him on his back and told him not to worry. The worst Shan Mei could do was divorced him, Michael would then marry her and whisk her off to London. This way Junior didn’t have to worry about her welfare. He would ensure she lived the life of a true princess. Xiang Zhe glowered at him, concealing his anger.

“Relax, Junior. Just joking,” Michael teased him.

“This kind of matter too serious to joke about” Xiang Zhe chided.

Michael advised him to go home, and just tell her the truth. She wouldn’t be home now, they were taking some potential sponsors out to dinner.

Xiang Zhe took his time in the bath. After that he dressed in the pyjama set, that his angel once commented didn’t look bad at all. He then chilled a few bottles of champagne. If he was lucky tonight, he might get her drunk hoping he could get away without an inquisition. He filled the bedroom with roses from the greenhouse. He put on sweet, soothing music through out the house.

The phone rang. He ran to it. It was Patrick looking for Shan Mei.

“Wasn’t she with you having dinner with some sponsors?”

“She left me at the restaurant to entertain the sponsors. She had another important appointment to go to.”

Xiang Zhe tried calling Shan Mei a few times on her mobile. Each time he got the same reply. Out of range. He called Pa, no one answered. He began to panic. After that time, when almost overnight, she ran off to London without a word to anyone, he was afraid she would pull the same stunt again. He couldn’t bear the thought of losing her again.

“Is she meeting up with Han Jae Hoon to cry on his shoulders? That man always makes himself useful whenever she needs help.” Xiang Zhe was always wary of him. His voice captivated his wife before she even knew what he really looked like. And he had held her in his arms, dancing. That image was indelibly embedded in his mind. Oh, that hurt! Where was she?

He was downstairs in the living room, his head between his hands. He was sobbing “Shan Mei, it wasn’t like what you think? Please believe me. I was doing my best to send this Camilla away. Please, don’t run out on me again. I need you!” He kept repeating this like it was some kind of mantra.
Soon he fell into a disturbed sleep.

Shan Mei walked through the front door quietly. She knew Xue Zhang was home, she saw his car outside. He must have been very tired. He didn’t even bother to park the car in the garage.

She heard music coming from the TV room. She saw Xue Zhang asleep on the sofa. She tiptoed up to him. His face looked so drawn out. Wet eye lashes? He had been crying? Not possible. She made her way quietly upstairs. She was enjoying her hot shower, when Xiang Zhe burst into the cubicle. He clung onto her and sobbed he was sorry over and over again. She turned off the shower faucet, and turned his face to her. He looked so distressed. She didn’t ask him what was bothering him, but held on tight to him, her hand stroking him murmuring everything was alright. She got him to change out of his wet clothes; she dried his hair for him while he chided her for going off and not telling him.

Later on, he told her about Camilla. Shan Mei laughed softly.

“What is so funny?” He wanted to know.

“Cassie had emailed me when she found out Camilla managed to wangle her way to MBS, the target naturally is Yin Xiang Zhe. I replied back to Cassie telling her not to worry, nothing will happen because I’ve met this Camilla the first day she arrived. Although she tried her best to attract you, I let Cassie know she just wasn’t your type. Darling, I’m not sure what type you like, but brazen ones, definitely not, right?” her smiling eyes challenging her husband to disagree.

Xiang Zhe thanked his wife for believing in him. “Oh, no. I believe in myself. I believe I made the best choice for a husband. If my husband has such poor taste in women, then he deserves Camilla ! I’m not going to stay to fight with her for him. I’ll only stay for a worthy opponent. Hopefully, this situation will never arise, didn’t my husband promise me everlasting love and happiness, not only this lifetime, but the next, and the next, and eternity? In’t this the reason I’ve never taken off the anklet after he has so lovingly put it on for me, ensuring we’ll meet in every lifetime, if there is really such a thing? I believe my husband is a man of his words!”

“You bet, I am” Xiang Zhe answered emphatically, and gave her a hard kiss on her lips, as if to re-emphasize the fact.

“Darling, where were you? I was so worried when I couldn’t get you on your mobile?” asked Xiang Zhe as he led her to their love seat.

“We attended Minnie’s confirmation at church. You’ve been so busy lately with so many meetings, You Zhen Ge asked me not to bother you. As soon as it’s possible, You Zhen Ge and Minnie will apply for their marriage banns. I’m so happy for them. Finally, You Zhen Ge has found his soulmate. Oh, they wanted to keep Bao Bao with them tonight.”

Shan Mei kissed her husband lightly on his cheek. He didn’t look as if he was fully convinced she did something as simple as going to church.

“Xue Zhang, you have dinner already?”

He shook his head, looking so rueful. Shan Mei pulled him along to the kitchen. She was hungry too. They went about preparing dinner, very soon they were laughing and giving each other swift kisses in between. The noodles were incredible! The kimchi heavenly!

Xiang Zhe remembered the champagne he had put in the fridge. With glasses raised, Mr. & Mrs. Yin toasted to the future happiness of You Zhen and Minnie, meaning Ma could finally put to rest the unhappiness of the past, and to their own everlasting love.

Their own lips met in a deep kiss. Xiang Zhe whispered to his wife, “may be if we work hard tonight, I’ll get my baby princess?”

His wife wrinkled her nose at him, “finish cleaning up, then we’ll negotiate.”

She stuck her tongue out at him and ran off to their room. He left the dishes in the sink and went after her. Joyous laughter was soon coming from the master bedroom.

Chapter AW-24

Xiang Zhe just walked into his office, after a morning of tiresome meetings.
As soon as his secretary told him Mrs. Yin had left word that she was at the canteen having lunch, Xiang Zhe decided to join her.

As he approached the CTN dining area, he heard Shan Mei in conversation with someone who sounded unmistakably like Han Jae Hoon. He was telling her the best place to watch stars with the clearest sky was atop Mt. Seorak. He camped there once for two weeks instead of the two nights he had originally planned.

Xiang Zhe gave Han a nod of acknowledgement, and slid into the chair next to his wife, placing his hand over hers which was lying on her lap. With his own fingers, he began playing with her fingers, lovingly caressing each finger in turn, trying to impart on her by telepathy how much he had missed her.

“Xue Zhang” Shan Mei greeeted him sweetly, giving him an indulgent smile, her thumb under the table rubbing lovingly against the wrist of his hand that was holding hers, “I thought you were still at the directors’ meeting.”

[“So you thought you could have lunch with your handsome academe”] he accused silently in his heart.

“The meeting was adjourned to 3 this afternoon. What’s happening?” he asked his wife softly, ignoring Han Jae Hoon deliberately.

“I specially asked Kitchen to prepare your favourite spaghetti dish and was so disappointed when your secretary told me you were still at the directors’ meeting. I had to call in reinforcements to help finish off the food.”

Han Jae Hoon noticed Xiang Zhe looking over his plate to see what he ate. “Don’t look at me. I wouldn’t dare touch our President’s food.”

At that juncture, Patrick and Xiang Jie were walking back towards the table, each with a plateful of spaghetti.

“Xiang Jie, be a good boy and let your brother have your spaghetti, okay?”

“Sure, I’ll go get another plate.”

“Hmm, this tastes great.” He gave his wife such an appreciative look as he dug into his spaghetti.

“I was thinking of having coffee with you in your office, before rushing back to office. Would you like that?”

He nodded his head immediately, his mouth full with food. Suddenly, a frown appeared. His wife seldom dropped by his office during office hours. She had something to complain?

Han Jae Hoon smiled silently inside himself. So, this was how the adorable Zhen Shan Mei defused her husband’s jealous moods?

When Shan Mei brought her husband his cup of coffee in his office, he waited for her verbal bombardment. None came. He arched a brow at her and waited.

She gave him an enchanting smile, and went to sit on his lap, “I’ve missed you so much. You’ve been working so hard and coming home so late” and she gave him a swift kiss on his lips.

“Trying to buy your way out now that your husband caught you with your handsome historian?” he accused lightly as his arms wrapped around her waist. Secretly, he was tingling with sublime happiness; his wife had been missing him.

“What’s in that busy head of yours, always thinking nonsense?” she pouted.

“Weren’t you going to run off with him to Mt. Seorak?” he teased.

“I thought I’d surprise you with a camping trip to Mt. Seorak. Since you now know about it, so no more surprise. Trip cancelled.”

“Darling, I’d love to go camping with you. I’ve never been on a camping trip. But we’re right in the middle of winter. I’d rather be loved to death by
my wife rather than be frozen to death somewhere high up a mountain” and he laughed uncontrollably at the thought.

“Never been on a camping trip? Not even a camping field trip with school? My darling, mind telling me where you hid yourself during your teens?”

With a mournful look, and a soft soulful voice, he confessed, “Closeted at home. I’ve always wanted a close, loving family, but it never happened. When Father left home, Mother could in no way be left on her own in the house, so I never participated in any school outing. Anyway, except for Zian Da, I never mixed with my other school- and classmates. I was so afraid they would know my father had abandoned my mother and me for another woman. I was too ashamed. That was one of the reasons I ran off to London at 17 when Zian Da went off to university and left me coping by myself with my school work. I didn’t want my classmates looking down on me; I was under such tremendous pressure to excel at my school work to cover up my low self esteem; life was hell. I didn’t want Yong Xi around too because she knew. I wanted to rid myself of the piano teacher too.”

His eyes had a sad, distant look in them. After a while, he decided to reel off more. “Haven’t you noticed? You were the only one I dared or wanted to look straight in the eye? I wanted to show you the suffering I have hidden in my heart, hoping that you’d one day be able to erase the hurt completely and replace it with your tender loving care, the perfect love I’ve been seeking so desperately. I’ve always loved your soft and generous heart, your dazzling smile and your naturalness. Darling, I don’t ever want to go back to the way it was before. I was so lonely.”

Shan Mei wrapped her arms around his neck, as she felt the tears stinging her eyes. This rare admission from Xue Zhang must be very difficult for him, after having kept these dark secrets hidden for almost 20 years.

Shan Mei’s heart ached and twisted. The man was starved for love. She unbuttoned the top 3 buttons of his shirt, slipped her hand under his shirt and fanned it across his chest, as if giving him a soothing chest rub to assuage the pain she suspected was now pinching at his heart. At least she felt somewhat relieved. Her husband was slowly but surely becoming more open in releasing one secret torment after another to her.

But Xue Zhang wasn’t a child in need of nurturing; he was a man in need of reassuring. Most of all, he was a man in need of loving. The 100% loving she could give, for her heart was irretrievably wrapped up with his, his needs, his wants. Loving him truly, this she would do – for the rest of her life. His happiness was very important to her. She gently squeezed his hand, and brought it up to her lips so she could cover his palm with tender nibbles.

“While you’re at the directors’ meeting, I’ll go home and prepare a fine supper for you to show you how much I love and want you.”

“Why don’t you sit in at the meeting too?” Xiang Zhe asked as he held on to Shan Mei’s hand, rubbing at her palm with his thumb, trying to get her to agree. He had discovered quite by accident, while he was massaging her hands during one of their baths together, that the palm was one of her sensitive spots. She would grow soft when he stroked her palm, and very rarely refused him anything as a result.

Shan Mei gave him another kiss. “You go alone. It’s enough for the most powerful member of the family to be present at the meeting. We don’t want to scare off the other directors, do we? Hurry home after the meeting. I promise you good things.”

“Sure your promise any good?”

“Honest,” and dazzled him with a sweet smile, then slid off his lap, giving him time to prepare for the 3 o’clock directors’ meeting, after she buttoned back his shirt and straightened his tie.
==

He really wanted so much to spend some romantic time alone with his wife, knowing how hard they had both been working. The grandparents were so understanding, promising to take the baby for two weeks. They couldn’t go off far and for long, with that brat always crying out for his mother’s milk. Shan Mei only had to deliver two bottles of mother’s milk every morning, rest of the time the baby would be fed on formula.
==

“Patrick” Xiang Zhe’s voice came through the phone, “what’s this thing about watching stars from Mt. Seorak with Shan Mei?”

“You know your wife. Once she’s got an idea, no one can talk her out of it. She’s planning something, but I can’t tell you what. All I can say is you are the luckiest man on this planet. To Shan Mei one star represents one blessing, and since meeting you, her stars have been countless. She wants to share the brightest stars with you. Man, the only advice I can give you is to go learn your celestial charts in the galaxy!”

The week before Christmas, Patrick’s mother arrived from America. Instead of staying in their apartment, Yin Snr invited her to stay with them in his house so Patrick didn’t have to move back to his apartment. Gugu had flown in earlier with Xiang Jie and she was invited to stay at the Yin’s residence, too.

Xiang Jie’s mother had decided to stay back in London, and volunteered to look after the restaurant while Gugu took a break. She had been helping out at the restaurant every lunch time since her arrival in London and was happy she had something to do while Xiang Jie was at school. Yin Snr didn’t say anything about his wife; no one dared ask a thing. Even Xiang Zhe felt it wiser to let his father decide his own course of action. Most probably he didn’t ask her to return for Christmas, so she didn’t.

Shan Mei’s parents were there too. Baby Bao Bao had many doting grand parents and grand aunties and uncles to spoil him rotten. That house had never had so many people living in it at one time. Spirit of Christmas and New Year was all around. Xiang Zhe gave them a Christmas tree, loaded with lots of presents.

Zian Da and his assistant were put in charge of planning for company Christmas party. This year the party would be very informal. The food would be provided by three wonderful chefs: Shan Mei’s Ma, Shan Mei’s Gugu and Patrick’s mum. Entertainment to be provided by staff members. Each department must be responsible for at least 3 acts, no maximum limit. Zian Da was to ensure the night’s dancing only to begin after Shan Mei left the party, giving Han Jae Hoon no chance.

The food was laid out buffet style. The BBQ area was very busy. Every one was saying how delicious the food was. This year, the major prize was a car donated by Bansung. KTB donated fully paid 6-day trips to 5 different destinations. Their big sponsors from U.K. donated gift packs. Xiang Zhe, to celebrate the birth of his first son Yin Bao Bao gave each MBS and CTN employee a cash token in appreciation of the many well wishes Shan Mei and he had received.

The talent quest was very entertaining. Most were singing; the drama department put on a few short skits, which every one enjoyed. From the president’s family, they sent 3 representatives. The President put in a song, Xiang Jie performed on his guitar and Shan Mei on her flamenco guitar. The directors made up the panel of judges. They really had a hard time deciding. Drama Department carried off three KTB prizes, Engineering and News departments one each KTB prize. Shan Mei was surprised she was declared winner for the car.

She decided to donate the car out, the winner decided by a raffle draw. Uncle Jose was to draw the lucky winner, not now, but after she had left the party. Everyone included Uncle Jose had their names thrown into a big box. Very soon Shan Mei and Xiang Zhe sneaked away quietly. Excitement was mounting on the floor. The name was to be drawn at midnight. Meanwhile, eating, merry making and dancing continued.

Once outside the MBS hall, the sky was very clear. The air was very crisp and cold. Xiang Zhe wrapped his wife tightly in her coat. “I wish you all the stars in heaven” he murmured, his lips against hers, the puffs of his breath mingling with hers in the cold atmosphere.

“Thank you and I wish to share them with my husband.” This time they locked lips. Xiang Zhe raised his head and looked adoringly into his wife. “Let’s go home.” He said hoarsely.

As soon as they arrived home, Xiang Zhe rushed up the stairs. His wife pulled him back. “We are going camping.”

“What do you mean? I’m not prepared to travel all the way to Mt. Seorak in this awful weather.” He had been dreading this.

“Camping means doing without home comforts. Since this will be your first time, we will make it easy for you. We have the downstairs shower room for washing. We have home toilet. We only use basic kitchen cooking implements. But no bedroom comfort.”

Shan Mei took him to the store room next to their larder. Their casual camping clothes and shoes were all in there. They could move around the ground floor and garden only, and they were not allowed to answer house phone. Shan Mei took her husband to their love-lounge, now under a large marquee. This marquee was special type with clear plastic roofing, and zipped up flaps. Their lounge bed was now covered with bedding and underneath all, an electric blanket. One look and Xiang Zhe was grinning broadly. He didn’t mind camping like this.

He carried his wife into the house. They undressed each other and went under the hot shower. Shan Mei had prepared two Thermo flasks of hot coffee. With their thick overcoats thrown loosely over their shoulders, they crept onto their lounge bed. All above them they could see the stars. Xiang Zhe didn’t like the cold, but it felt so warm inside that marquee, warmth from the blanket, warmth from the quilt, and heat from their love.

Shan Mei’s head was resting in the crook of Xiang Zhe’s arm. They were assailed with heavily perfumed roses. They were thinking of moonlight, tender caresses and gentle murmurings of love. They looked up and started counting stars, playing the ‘I love you’, ‘I love you not’ game. Xiang Zhe with his control stretched to the limit, quickly pointed to the largest star he could find and with a ‘I love you forever’, he turned to Shan Mei, his lips blazing a trial of hot, fiery kisses on her fragrant hair, her smooth forehead, her soft rosy cheeks, her graceful neck, finally settling on her luscious lips. He caressed her lips, tugged at them, bit tenderly into them, until she was softly moaning. His hand roamed under her T-shirt. He began to undress her slowly, sensuously, tenderly.

Holding Shan Mei’s soft, warm pliant body in his hands, he wondered how he could have ever considered a celibate existence. If Shan Mei had rejected him, could he have settled for some one else? Before he took Shan Mei to scale the heights of passion, he knew he couldn’t and wouldn’t. There had been no one before her, and there wouldn’t be anyone ever after her!

Peter Rabbit, sitting on his office desk, would ensure there would be no other, reminding him ‘it’s the thought that counts’ and every minute of the day when he was in the office, his mind was imbibed with thoughts of Shan Mei.

When they woke up very early in the morning, the stars had not yet disappeared. Shan Mei reached up and put an arm round her husband’s neck. He smiled with contentment and dipped his mouth to give her a sweet kiss. He had often heard of people wanting to sleep in the open air under the stars. Now that he has experienced it, he was hooked. He had never felt so free and abandoned. He propped himself up on his elbow and looked down at his wife. “My dearest wife, thank you for sharing your blessings with me. I really feel so blessed and so loved. You are my special Christmas angel” and gave her another deep and tender kiss.

They snuggled against each other and went back to sleep. By the time they awoke, the sun was up. Xiang Zhe thought it was so hilarious. With all their fancy kitchenware, his wife said they must prepare their food and eat from basic camping utensils out in the patio, using their electric grill. Nevertheless, he enjoyed every bit of it. Plain fried eggs, grilled sausages and baked beans never tasted so delicious. They were full of excitement planning their programme for the day. They couldn’t wait for the day to pass quickly so that the night would be upon them once again.

IMPORTANT NOTE: I am getting fed-up with some nasty people, hiding themselves behind alphabets abfghijkm, and trying to sandwich my ASIB between their unsavoury postings. I never visit their postings, knowing by their titles the kind of trash to expect.
Starting with this ASIB posting, I will ‘sandwich’ my ASIB, too. When I post and the preceding posting is from Alphabets, I’ll post a BUFFER, which means there’s nothing appearing in this posting, except the word BUFFER.
If there’s no Alphabets posting when I post, I’ll post ASIB after which I’ll include some BUFFER zones. Please don’t waste time and visit these BUFFER zones; there’s nothing in them. I’ll try out this method and see whether we can manage to discourage those Alphabets from squatting at the site at regular weekly intervals.

To break their rhythm, I cannot now stick regularly to Tuesdays. ASIB may be posted on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. It seems a group (of don’t what elements) is trying to discourage me from posting further episodes. Remember one time I did mention that I would discontinue to post when I encountered virus problems. I now realize Trojans have been planted all over the site. Before, there were other viruses, but not Trojans.
The Administrator of Chaerim’s Paradise had been very good already, cleaning the site of these nasty postings as they appeared, albeit after some delay. Cannot the Administrator delegate someone to erase these postings as soon as they appear?

GENUINE CHAERIM FANS: Don’t visit these dubious postings. I’ve been advised that their main purpose is to try to zap our personal data, like credit card numbers, banking details, etc., for their database.

Chapter AW-25

The country was again gripped by this year’s annual Broadcasting award ceremony.

Since last summer’s slander by Morning Star, the public was 100% behind Zhen Shan Mei and her husband Yin Xiang Zhe. Everything they did, the public fully supported.

Even though Shan Mei was not competing in Best Director and Best Scripting categories, she made up with others like Best Radio Deejay and Best Chat Show Host. Others in the TV industry were so caught up in the frenzy that they came up with more awards like: The Sponsor’s Choice Award. This prize included not just a trophy designed by the prestigious French crystal house of Lalique, but a substantial cash reward. Another two new awards were added:- Viewers’ Choice, and Critic’s Choice.

Madam Kim again arranged for a gown from Mr. V for Shan Mei. Shan Mei had returned last year’s gown after some socialite wanted to buy it at special high price after seeing Shan Mei in it at Mr. V’s fashion preview. Mr. V didn’t mind designing another gown for her. She looked good enough to eat in his designs. Once his designs got flashed around the globe via CTN last year, his fashion house was inundated with orders.

This year the seating was arranged that both CTN and MBS were in one section. Xiang Zhe was so proud of Shan Mei walking down the red carpet with her beside him. He was in an Armani black dinner suit, with a snow-white starched shirt-front and black bow tie, looking so handsome and debonair; and she was in a stunning Mr. V gown, which made her look like an angel. Seeing them together so happy and in such winning form, Michael hoped those vindictive tongues from last summer would be put to rest once and for all.

He had no doubt CTN and MBS’ joint production Two Sides To A Coin would walk it, this year. Patrick Lee, beside him, was scoring thunderous applause from the side lines. He was sure to walk away with Best Newcomer of The Year Award. According to the Internet & Viewers’ score no other celebrity newcomer was even remotely close. Michael was pleased. CTN’s trinity of Shan Mei, Patrick and You Zhen was such a winning formula. He knew CTN would do well tonight. He wanted MBS to do well too, now that he had a 20% stake in the station.

Because MBS walked off with 5 awards for Two Sides To A Coin, and MBS’ other production, PIR, being bridesmaid to 2STAC, Xiang Zhe was getting a lot of attention. Shan Mei and Patrick together with Michael were elsewhere talking to the press at the after-ceremony cocktail party. Shan Mei won the Sponsors’ Choice Award, apart from 6 other major awards. She was in tears.

So many established movie stars and starlets went up to Xiang Zhe, wanting to visit MBS and see what projects they could cooperate in. Xiang Zhe tried to palm these people off to Zian Da and Yong Xi, but they wanted to befriend the handsome and charming President of MBS, insinuating themselves into his midst waiting for photographers to catch them in a pose.

Xiang Zhe saw his wife so overwhelmed with tears at one stage of an interview, he felt both protective and possessive of her. He was making his way towards her, when she saw him approaching. She ran into his outstretched arms and sobbed into his chest. He stroked her hair letting her run dry her emotional outpouring. He lifted up her face and dried her teary face with his hankie, after which he kissed her very tenderly on her forehead. These few private moments caught by a photographer on camera were splashed across front pages of local newspapers the next day. They caught the couple looking at one another with such love and devotion. The public couldn’t adore them more. Michael shook his head in disbelief. He couldn’t have engineered a more endearing publicity ploy.

Before the evening ended, Shan Mei’s favourite reporter from SK Daily, managed to get the couple to sit down for a brief interview. When asked, President Yin Xiang Zhe of MBS admitted the concept for 2STAC came from Shan Mei. On being questioned, Shan Mei said her husband was the inspiration behind the concept. Xiang Zhe was surprised. His wife had never told him anything about it. The reporter wanted more details.

“Well, my husband is always asking me for the right answers. Eventually, I realised there is no right and no wrong answer in any given situation. By hearing two sides of the story, one would learn to understand and tolerate the other’s behaviour, no matter how unreasonable it might seem, and how far one is prepared to go to reach some kind of compromise.”

How would Miss Zhen handle everyday life situations? “I try to be reasonable most of the time” answered Shan Mei with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, sticking the tip of her little tongue out at her husband’s unbelievable look and silent question, “try to be reasonable?”

“And Mr. Yin?” Hooking her arm around her husband’s, a big radiant smile on her face, Shan Mei shyly told the reporter, “Mr. Yin is the most indulgent and loving husband in the world. He is also the most important person in my life.” With his other hand, he caught on to his wife’s hand, laughing happily at her answer. The reporter thanked them profusely for the ‘scoop’, and walked off, leaving the loving couple alone.

And the newspaper made a special report on Zhen Shan Mei’s Review on Higher Education in U.K. This was a year-long 52 episode series that gave in-depth reporting on the top and best educational institutions in U.K., touching on the financial, beneficial, living and environmental aspects of the various insitutions to interest the Korean students in making U.K. their destination of choice for higher education. This series was entirely sponsored by U.K. Education Foundation and was so informative and popular, CTN-KE had promised its viewers more series would be coming for other countries.

The newspapers lamented due to the fact the series made late entry for the year, it was not eligible for nominations. Hopefully, the series and Zhen Shan Mei would reap awards from next year’s voting. Shan Mei was not that concerned with awards; this series had already gained them a database of 120,000 dedicated internet subscribers, most probably due to its comprehensive information. The subscribers registered were not only from Korea, but came from China, Taiwan, Japan, Australia and other different parts of the world.

Sponsors were buzzing all week long, wanting MBS to produce something similar to 2STAC for them. It was difficult to make them understand the concept and theme belonged to CTN, and only worked so well with Zhen Shan Mei and Patrick Lee as hosts. Xiang Zhe had meeting with Controller of Programming and his team, requesting them to come up with other creative concepts. He wanted to see their proposals on his desk in a week’s time.

That night at dinner Xiang Zhe told Shan Mei he had planned a camping trip to celebrate his birthday. He now loved the idea of camping where they could slum around, requiring only basic necessities. All she had to do was arrange for the nanny and baby to be at Father’s place, and enough mother’s milk to last the weekend. Pa and Ma would be at Father’s place on Sunday. Shan Mei loved the idea and couldn’t wait for weekend to come.

Saturday morning, as Xiang Zhe drove along after dropping baby off at Father’s house, Shan Mei was getting confused because Xue Zhang was taking the homeward route. She had learnt to curb her nagging and questioning. She was getting excited. Xiang Zhe was laughing too, seeing his wife sitting on edge in the passenger seat, trying so hard to hold her tongue. He appreciated her patience.

They bypassed their house; just a little while later, Xue Zhang turned into a side lane which Shan Mei hadn’t noticed before. He stopped in front of a compound, which looked like it was newly built. He came around the car to open the car door, got hold of her hand, and they entered through a small side gate. Once through the gate, they came to a small garden.

Almost separating the garden in half was a slate-tiled curved path that led to a sizeable cabin built, raised from the ground, out of very good timber. A short flight of thick wooden steps led them up to the cabin, its door opened to a big room (Korean ondol style), with minimal furniture. Running one hand along the chests, Xiang Zhe told his wife, “These came from Mother’s house.”

Husband took wife through the room. An open side door along one wall of the room, led them down some steps which took them, along a short covered walkway. to an adjacent building housing very basic toilet, shower unit and kitchen. Another door opposite the main entrance to the cabin, down another flight of steps led them to a courtyard. An open Jacuzzi was installed sunken in the ground. Only furniture in the courtyard was a round wooden table with 2 deck chairs varnished in special weather-proof veneer. Their design and craftsmanship seemed to be very rare; must again be antique pieces from her mother-in-law’s house.

Back inside the cabin again, Xiang Zhe went to a wall-mounted panel. He pushed one button, the wooden roof rolled away, showing skylight. Pushed another button, wooden shutters protecting the wall glass window on the wall with full panoramic view, slid to one side. Switched on a special control, the skylight panelling folded away, leaving open space. Complaining it was hot, he pushed the button for wooden roof to slide back into place, to block out the sun.

Shan Mei looked at her husband in utter amazement, then jumped up to wrap her arms and legs around him tight and planted kisses all over him. She was so lost for words. She could only cling on to him. Xiang Zhe was laughing and held on tight to her. He whispered softly into her ear, “like your present?” He was giving her this present to celebrate his brithday. She was nodding her head, and crying at the same time.

She got so excited she unbuttoned the first few buttons of his shirt, then bit hard into his chest. He let off a loud painful cry, and retaliated by smacking her hard on her derriere. She liked that; if she could feel the pain it meant she wasn’t dreaming. He carried her out to the courtyard and gave her a tender kiss before placing her on one of the deck chairs.

He went out to the car to get the groceries that they had bought in the morning at the supermarket, into the kitchen. Shan Mei followed him. The kitchen was compact and came with a 2 burner gas stove, a fridge, a toaster, a microwave oven and basic cooking and eating utensils. Xiang Zhe rolled out the awning in the courtyard that gave shade to the table and chairs. He rolled away the cover for the Jacuzzi, and filled it with water, setting the water at the right temperature his wife liked. “Simply perfect”, Shan Mei oohed and aahed delightfully at every new discovery.

He took out from one of the low-standing antique chests some old long-sleeved Ts and pants to change into. Some of Shan Mei’s old clothes were in there too. They had their first shower together in the tiny shower cubicle, just roomy enough for two. It felt so fantastic. He showed her the little vegetable and herb patch in the front garden he was working on and a rose bush he’d try to nurture. She hadn’t stopped smiling since she walked through the front gate this morning.

They sat down and enjoyed coffee. From their little ‘shangri-la’, they had a panoramic view of the valley below, yet were assured of their privacy, by strategic positioning of shade-giving trees. “Husband, you have done such a marvellous job here. I give it to you. You are not the Director of Planning for nothing.”

Xiang Zhe smiled back at her. “Now, we can go camping whenever we feel like it. No need to involve the boys in helping you set up the marquee. Patrick and that Han Jae Hoon must love the outdoor life. I couldn’t believe they each own such a marquee.”

“You Zhen Ge also camped a lot outdoors when he was in New Zealand. One time, he and Minnie spent an entire month travelling around the South Island, sleeping out in the open in their bags under the stars. They had such glorious weather down there. But you are not to tell anybody about this place, okay? I am willing to share many of my things, but not my Xue Zhang and this place.”

Xiang Zhe was delirious with happiness. His angel just admitted she was not prepared to share him with anybody. He looked into her eyes, his dark and smouldering, murmured “this haven is our little secret, right?” She nodded.

They prepared light lunch of bread, cheese and fruits. They spent some time reading. Shan Mei took a little note book from her hand bag and started making notes, declaring this place gave her a lot of inspiration.

Sometime in the afternoon, they went into the Jacuzzi. “Oh, Xue Zhang, this is simply incredible, having an outdoor jacuzzi.” Shan Mei sat in the water in the embrace of Xue Zhang. They felt so free. They ended up splashing water at one another, frolicking and laughing about, like two kids.

For afternoon nap, Xiang Zhe spread out a new quilted mat that was folded up in one corner of the cabin and spread it out on the floor. Surprisingly it was cool in the cabin. They fell asleep easily, in each other’s arms.

By the time they awoke, night was upon them. Shan Mei quickly reached the control buttons before Xue Zhang did. First button, the wooden roof rolled away. Another control, the skylight panelling folded away. And there, in all its wondrous and majestic splendour was the clear night sky, like a blanket of myriad stars twinkling above. While still staring at the stars above, Shan Mei slowly made her way into Xue Zhang’s arms. Her eyes wet with unshed tears. She looked at him, her eloquent had eyes said it all. After a while, she cried silently into his chest “My dearest husband, you have made me the happiest woman in the world. My blessings are too many to enumerate. I pass them onto you, so your life is just as blessed.”

They stood there, arms wrapped around each other, and kissed deeply. “Want to help prepare dinner?” Xiang Zhe asked his wife. She nodded her head; they went to the kitchen together. They had a satisfying dinner of pan fried steaks, kimchi, washed down by a light red wine. Shan Mei said she had never experienced truly the term ‘romantic’. The only near-experience of ‘romantic’ was their celebration of her 26th birthday at the open air restaurant at the pier. Now, she not only understood it exactly, but she felt it so deep inside of her, she could hardly breathe.

Truly so romantic, sharing her dinner with her husband under such a beautiful sky. Xiang Zhe smiled and nodded in total agreement. Sitting there, enjoying each other’s company in silence. Suddenly Shan Mei asked her husband “Are you feeling bored?” seeing he was sitting quietly in his chair, slowly sipping the remaining drops of his wine. He shook his head, caught her hand to his lips, he looked into her eyes, “I feel so loved and blessed. You have enriched my life in so many ways.”

Shan Mei gave him one of her smirks “this Xue Zhang exaggerating again,” but inside, she was giddy with happiness. At long last, they lay down on their new bedding, snuggled up in each other’s arms, looking at the stars above. Shan Mei couldn’t get over their little ‘secret’, saying this seemed like their honeymoon in heaven.

“Say that again” Xiang Zhe murmured huskily, drawing his wife close to him, against his chest, where she could hear the steady hammering of his heart. “And tell me that you love me, over and over”

She turned on her side, and ran her hands along his body, finger resting then circling the little mark she had earlier left on his chest. He became aroused. He found it difficult to restrain his emotions, raging since the afternoon. His hands moved over her, over every inch of her body. When he bent to caress her breasts with his mouth the sensation was so powerfully erotic she felt she might explode. She moaned, gasping, as his tongue played with the throbbing peaks. He then kissed her mouth deeply, his tongue working magic around hers, heat slowly rising. Their movements were now becoming hungrier, more urgent. She held on to his back, her fingers digging into him, pulling him closer, as she arched her body instinctively to meet his. He moved against her and together they built up a steadily increasing rhythm until neither could hold on any longer. The release was long, shuddering, overwhelming. It seemed to last forever.

When he finally lay next to her, she tilted her face to his and moaned softly as his lips covered hers, a deep, warm, gloriously fulfilling kiss that carried the promise of eternity. His arms drawing her so tight and close to him, there seemed no chance of escape for her.

Chapter AW-26

Xiang Zhe awoke because the sun was shining into his eyes. He got up to slide the wooden roof back into place, then went back to sleep beside his sweet angel. She must be tired and sore all over with all the loving they shared last night. As he very tenderly smoothed her hair back so as not to disturb her, he looked at her with such love. He had always wondered if she ever dreamt of him the way he was constantly dreaming of her. He got his answer last night and it just blew his mind away.

Shan Mei had fallen asleep. He was still too emotionally overwrought to sleep. He had rolled over and cuddled up to Shan Mei. Just as he was dozing off, he heard a slight giggle coming from her. He propped himself up to look at her. She was asleep. Must be some dream she was having. She was smiling. Her tongue appeared, licking slowly around her lips. He very quickly caught the tip of her tongue. He sucked on it slowly. Slowly, he stuck his tongue into her mouth and began kissing her very gently. He couldn’t help himself. What was she dreaming of? Something delicious?

He gently touched her breasts that had become tender, her peaks now taut. She kissed him back. Very slowly and gently his tongue continued to feel around the inside of her mouth, tasting her sweetness. He became so aroused, he wanted her. “Xue Zhang” she moaned still in her sleep. He was hanging on the edge knowing his wife was dreaming of him, and he so desperately wanted to be part of her dream. “Shan Mei, Shan Mei, it’s me” he murmured very softly against her ear, her face, his hands caressing her body very gently. Finally, Shan Mei opened her sleepy eyes, dark pools of passion swimming within, to look sleepily at him. She moaned huskily, “Xue Zhang, I love you” as she stretched out her arms to encircle his neck.
===

He had already watered the vegetable plot and the rose bush. A pot of coffee was sitting on the table. The Jacuzzi was filled with water heated to the temperature that his wife liked.

Just then, Shan Mei awoke, called out to him, and was surprised to know it was way past lunch. She looked flustered, when she realised Xiang Zhe hadn’t eaten at all, and hurriedly tried to get up. He laughed and carried her off to the jacuzzi.

He had prepared a cheese platter with the cheese they had left over from yesterday. While soaking in the tub, they fed each other cheese and fruits. “Still feeling sore?” her husband asked softly, full of concern. She shook her head. “Feeling rested?” she nodded, wondering what her husband was getting up to.

He was giving her a good back rub. When his hands went to soap the front, Shan Mei told him to be gentle with the breasts, now sore most probably full with the milk. He turned her around, and sucked gently at the nipples. Tiny drops of milk appeared. He became so excited he started sucking harder. His wife was horrified and told him to stop it. He looked sheepishly at her and, with a roguish smile, commented the milk tasted good! After a while, Xiang Zhe whispered into her ears “rested enough for another marathon?”

“Husband, rested enough to clean up and pack up. We have to be at Father’s place for the dinner to celebrate your recent win. Don’t forget we also have a baby to collect.”

“Didn’t you say this place was heaven? When we are in heaven, we think of heavenly pleasures. Only when we are back on earth, do we think of earthly chores.”

“It’s about time we get back to earth, right? But I would like to come back any time we feel like it, since it is so near to our house. I want you to promise you’d take me here the first time it rains. Lying here in my husband’s arms and being lulled to sleep by the sound of rain would be so idyllic.” Xiang Zhe noticed her mind was already there, somewhere with the rain. He’d better remember to ask the ID company to build a covered garage, covered walkway from garage to cabin, and pave the path with thicker stone slates otherwise they would be sloshing in mud when they came. Knowing his angel, they would definitely be here. Thinking about it, he was getting excited too. What would the feeling be like, sleeping this close to nature?

They sat down in the courtyard, their chairs side by side, enjoying their coffee and the scenery. Xiang Zhe was holding on to his wife’s hand. Life was so blissful.

Soon, Shan Mei went off to tidy up the cabin, Xiang Zhe was left with his cup of coffee at the table to ruminate on his own.

He recalled that morning when Shan Mei and he were going to visit his mother’s burial plot to show her the MBS shares Father had given to him. Seeing how tired he was, Shan Mei asked whether everything was going smooth with Senior Zian Da. He had looked at her, smiled and said nothing.

She got it; Xian Da was still reliant, not self-sufficient enough. “I think Senior Li Qing Xi has good planning sense. If she is promoted to be co-manager along side Senior Zian Da she can help him a lot? I feel she has a lot of good ideas and how some things ought to be done but because she is not in that kind of position where she has the authority to make decision, she keeps quiet most of the time. ”

“Wasn’t she the one you were championing when MBS wanted to retrench its staff, in order to hire well known broadcasters?” Xiang Zhe asked. Of course he remembered her. She was the one who saw the potential in Shan Mei. He really had been a fool relying on Zian Da. His angel, back in those days, could already tell who the well performing staff members were, but like she just said, when in a position of no authority, no one would listen.

Didn’t he give her an earful when she questioned his decision to use big bucks to hire a superstar broadcaster instead of using the money to train in house talent? He rebuked her, telling her not to be so childish and to broaden her outlook. Because of that, they went on cold war path. If it weren’t for the mobile phone fiasco in the Newsroom, he didn’t know when Shan Mei would speak to him again. Yes, she had broadened her outlook so much MBS was able to pick up 5 awards for 2STAC only because of her! She had picked the producer from 7 o’clock News to assist him for PIR and 2STAC. They worked very well together, and the producer was 100% reliable. He only needed to talk to this producer on a one-to-one when they discussed PIR.

The funny part of the whole situation was Michael Dutton when he was in Seoul to head hunt, he was not impressed at all by any of those so-called big-named star broadcasters. Instead, he was impressed by relatively unknown Zhen Shan Mei, who was well-known in MBS News Department offices for always making mistakes. How ironic, the whole situation!

Last month, Michael had told him he was not worried in the least of competition coming from the other stations. It would be difficult for them to find someone like Shan Mei. He was not concerned about media reports that Shan Mei was not the most experienced or knowledgeable in the TV industry. Michael laughed. Shan Mei had the best brains, from UK and America, behind her; he and his brother David being two of these brains. These brains would steer her through any problems or crisises. What she had that none of the others could duplicate were her benign honesty, captivating megawatt smiles and naturalness. “Junior, weren’t we caught by these very qualities, too?” Michael asked Xiang Zhe, looking at him with a knowing smile.

Xiang Zhe thought of Zian Da. He was totally loyal to him, and his mother’s legacy. Now that Shan Mei had put him in charge of PIR’s Bargain Corner, he was in his element. P.R. Dept was also under control of Zian Da. Shan Mei insisted of having a relaxed atmosphere at Bargain Corner to relieve the excitement of Shocking Prices. Sometimes Zian Da invited the suppliers on to his show to explain about the special offers going for the day. With quarterly bonuses being given out to everyone on the team, the quality and productivity of work seemed to have miraculously improved. Self-governance was the order for the day. Xiang Zhe or Shan Mei was only consulted in cases of extreme emergencies.

Apart from PIR, Li Qing Xi was appointed manager of Daily Planning to assist Xiang Zhe; Shen Qi Tong to work in D. Planning to assist Li Qing Xi. He was also responsible for sports programmes with Chen Sui.

When Yong Xi was offered the position of Co-manager of Planning to assist Li Qing Xi, the other manager of Planning, she refused saying apart from presenting the 9 o’clock news and PIR, she preferred helping out at Bargain Centre. Since hosting the Banking Segment, she was in the position to meet many people who could supply interesting items for Bargain Corner based on PIR’s special terms and conditions.

Now, things appeared to take care of themselves, Li Qingxi, Shen Qi Tong, Chen Sui and the others chipping in to help one another, to ensure smooth coordination.

That time, when he first joined MBS, if he had not relied so much on Zian Da, instead had chosen Li Qing Xi to assist him in Planning, would Shan Mei have remained in MBS? Anyway, everything had turned out wonderfully for his wife. He looked over his shoulder to glance at her as she was scrubbing out the Jacuzzi, a contented smile on his face. Was his wife really born under a lucky star, bringing luck and happiness to those nearest and dearest to her too?
==

Shan Mei took great pains to clean up the cabin and the other utensils, packing together the dirty laundry. She made notes of what she could bring the next time they come. Oh yes, Peter Rabbit coffee mugs and towels.

They went back home, to drop off the stuff for cleaning. After they showered and changed, they went to the garden to cut some roses. They also watered Mother’s plants which were growing so well from tiny stems Shan Mei had broken off from the main bush at mother’s burial plot. They had placed the potted plants, one on each side of the main entrance, like sentinels guarding their house.

When they arrived at Father’s place, Xiang Zhe immediately placed the champagne they brought into the wine cooler. Baby Bao Bao (BB) heard his parents’ voices and started crying for them. They had missed him so much.

“Hello, Bao Bao? Did you miss Daddy and Mummy? Come, give Daddy a kiss.” Daddy burrowed his face into BB’s little tummy, rubbing his face back and forth, nibbling him gently all over. After a while, baby started crying, most probably for mummy.

When Shan Mei carried him in her arms, his little mouth immediately went for her breast. She went to Xiang Zhe’s apartment to give him his milk. Daddy went along as well, so he could be near the two beings he loved best in the whole world. When he saw baby’s mouth suckling hungrily at his mother’s breast, a flash of guilt zipped through him; wasn’t he trying to steal some of baby’s food this afternoon?

The dinner prepared by Ma and Auntie Lee (Patrick’s mother) was simply delicious. Yin Snr was so happy with CTN and MBS’ successful cooperation. It was just like a family affair, with Shan Mei and Patrick walking away with so many awards. With her glass of juice, Shan Mei stood up and toasted with sincere thanks to all of them. Without their 100% support, she wouldn’t be enjoying such success. She was sorry You Zhen Ge and Minnie were not there to share in the celebration, yet happy because they were on their honeymoon. After all, he did win awards for CTN in Best Photography and Best Editing – Local Documentary category.

During dinner, Shan Mei asked,

“Father, will you be visiting Xiang Jie in London during Easter?”

Father thought it over, “I’ll rather be in Seoul. If I go anywhere, I’m going to miss my little grandson, right BB?” Little grandson gurgled when he heard his grandpa mentioning his name.

“If that’s the case, I’d like to have Xiang Jie home for Easter. I’ll find out his Easter plans as soon as possible.” Shan Mei looked at her baby in his high chair, and lovingly told him “your uncle who dotes on you like crazy will be home for Easter holidays. Wouldn’t you like that?” and when baby gurgled as if he understood, everyone around the dinner table broke into laughter.

From the bed, Xiang Zhe was watching his wife as she was preparing for bed. She came by his side of the bed, gave him a kiss, and told him to go to sleep. She wanted to finish up something while she was in the mood. Before he could react, she was already out of the room.

Out of the bedroom and looking down from the landing, downstairs was in darkness. She must be upstairs in her Office, he surmised. He went upstairs. She was typing away something, at her computer. After she printed her notes out, she was going to send an email off to Xiang Jie.

Xiang Zhe went to her desk and took the printed paper. “So late and so secret; writing love letter to your secret admirer?” he teased.

“Love letter to lover,” his wife corrected him.

“What’s this?”, he asked, smiling after reading it.

“This is a letter I just received from one of my listeners. She wanted to thank her loving husband for giving her such a unique present and an unsurpassable weekend experience. And she had specially dedicated the song “I give My All” to her husband. “Acoustic or Flamenco?” she asked.

Xiang Zhe looked at his wife. “Both” he replied. She always did things in the nicest of ways. Shan Mei was jumping with excitement. She was sure all the airwaves would be jammed if the listeners knew the president of MBS would be playing his guitar, live. He smiled. Anything to indulge her. “It has been a tiring weekend for my wife. She needs her beauty rest now.” With that, he began switching off all the machines and lights.

They went into the nursery to steal a look at baby. In his sleeping pose, he looked so much like his father. Shan Mei commented on this. “Of course, I’m his father, no?” He arched a brow. His wife started hitting him in a playful way, and accused him teasingly, “trying to disown us now that you’re a famous television producer?” She laughed, then ran off to their bedroom. He shook his head in amusement, “you imp!” then hurried after her.

Chapter AW-27

Xiang Zhe had just finished a 3-hour long meeting with a Japanese television producer who was in Seoul to discuss ways of cooperation between MBS and NOTV. This Japanese television producer had been negotiating with SGS and KGTV for the past 2 days. MBS was the last call of the day on his Appointment Card. After this morning’s meeting with Xiang Zhe, he would return to Tokyo.

The secretary was on the intercom with Xiang Zhe. “Mr. Yin, the chauffeur said he had been booked by Mrs. Yin this morning. In fact he is supposed to collect Mrs.Yin at the main lobby in 10 minutes’ time,” Miss Lee, his secretary informed him when he had asked her to get company car to send his guest, Mr. Nakamura to the airport.

“Okay, tell him to send Mr. Nakamura to the airport. I’ll drive Mrs. Yin personally.” Xiang Zhe wondered where his wife was going; she didn’t mention anything this morning when he kissed her goodbye at CTN’s main entrance?

When he drove up towards the MBS main lobby, he saw Shan Mei and Xiang Jie waiting on the curb outside the main entrance. What was Xiang Jie doing here? Xiang Zhe thought? He just returned from London last night for the Easter holidays and was supposed to start work at MBS tomorrow morning assisting Li Qing Xi in the Daily Planning Department during the holidays.

She looked flustered and guilty when she saw him. He gave her a kiss then opened car door for her. After he started up the car, he raiseded his eyebrow at her, she told him to go home first. Xiang Jie was getting nervous too, and kept very quiet in the back seat.

When they arrived home, Xiang Jie shot out of the car, and went off towards the garden. Shan Mei led the way into the house, still remaining silent. Only when she picked baby up did she start to coo baby talk. Baby was all dressed up ready to go somewhere. The nanny brought out a packed basket from the kitchen. Shan Mei asked Xiang Zhe to put that in the car. As she was walking out, she told nanny they would be back later in the afternoon.

When they got into the car, in answer to his questioning big eyes, his wife told him they were visiting Mother. He relaxed a bit; he thought they had intended going off somewhere romantic without him, especially when he saw his brother holding a bunch of freshly cut roses from their greenhouse. Inside his heart, he was still feeling a little bit peeved with Shan Mei for keeping this outing a secret from him.

After they arrived at the burial plot, Xiang Jie went about putting the roses in the flower vase, and began trimming patches of overgrown grass. Shan Mei told Mother baby was growing very well, and the young man with them was Xiang Zhe’s half brother Xiang Jie who wanted to come and pay his respects hoping that Mother would accept him as her other son. Of course, his love for her could not compare with Elder brother, but he would learn to love her no less.

After this, he took out from his pocket a little ‘I love you’ crystal heart that he had bought in London, and buried it deep in one corner of the plot. He also asked for forgiveness for his own mother.

Shan Mei was so moved by the whole scene, she stood there sobbing, with baby in her arms. Xiang Zhe was affected too. He took the baby from Shan Mei’s arms, and drew her into his arms, embracing her tightly, soothing her, kissing her hair, whispering into her ear, telling her everything was going to be alright, the first words he had spoken since he met them outside the MBS main lobby.

He released his wife, then went up to Xiang Jie, giving him a gentle pat on his shoulder, telling him everything was okay. Xiang Jie looked at his brother ruefully, and very simply said “I’m sorry.” Elder Brother gave him a smile then ruffled his hair. Softly and solemnly he told him, “It’s not your fault.”

Xiang Jie took Bao Bao from Elder Brother’s arm, tossing baby up and down, swinging here and there. Baby gurgled away happily and noisily.

Shan Mei spread out the food from the basket. Both husband and wife sat down and watched baby play. Xiang Jie found baby’s sunhat in the car and put it on baby, before bringing him back to mummy. Hot coffee was in Thermos flask, a few cans of Coke were in ice-packed bag. Baby tried to grab on to uncle’s can of Coke when Xiang Jie drank from it, or his sushi when he was eating it. Xiang Zhe shook his head while laughing at baby’s antics. Shan Mei felt so blessed watching them. Her husband’s earlier silent anger seemed to have dissipated. She silently said a prayer of thanks to her mother-in-law.

Xiang Jie asked permission to take baby home. Auntie Lee would love that. She was just saying this morning that it was time for Bao Bao to start on solids. Next time when Bao Bao was there she would make him the softest porridge. Seeing that Xiang Jie would start work tomorrow, Shan Mei looked at her husband and when she detected no angry vibes from him, she agreed.

As they were driving back to town, she asked her husband to drop her at home, before sending nanny and baby to Father’s house; Xiang Jie to go back to CTN. “Xiang Jie, you watch those technicians at work to make sure they are doing the right thing. Our new show ‘Higher Education’ is getting too many visitors. It needs a dedicated line. It’s now being downloaded almost non-stop, it’s jamming up the station’s main line.”

Xiang Zhe was stunned when his wife told him CTN was getting about 600 million Won a month in dedicated internet subscribers’ fees alone for this programme. They had to speed up down load time. Apart from 4 system managers for the whole system, CTN had 8 data entry clerks to specially follow up and update information for the various institutions on UK Higher Education. Professor Higgins was in charge of Questions & Answers for this programme. His contacts in the UK were exceptionally helpful, giving him answers to his questions in record time.

“I didn’t realise so many people are interested in higher education in U.K.?” Xiang Zhe asked his wife.

“Xue Zhang, the subscribers come from all over the Asian-Pacific regions. Because the programmes offer such comprehensive information, the people going to the site not only get to know about education, they also get a pretty good idea about tourist travel, job opportunities and approximate costs for going around the country for back-packers. Many of the young subscribers have asked us to help them get more information on certain aspects of travel around UK, because they were planning to spend 1 or 2 years to roam around UK. Due to this kind of response, later on, after H.E. in U.K. is completed, CTN will have similar series for H.E. in Australia, U.S.A., Japan, Europe, China and other countries. We’ll then employ more data entry clerks.”

Apart from the top few key positions in CTN-KE, Shan Mei always tried to recruit all other CTN positions locally, MBS connections would be given first priority. Circulars sent to the various MBS departments informing the staff of available vacancies in CTN, hoping their children or relatives would be interested in applying. Of course only qualified applicants would be considered. Because of this kind of recruitment drive, many 2nd generation members of present MBS staff would write to Shan Mei directly, seeking her advice in job selection, etc., etc. These job vacancies were also advertised on CTN website, available only to their service subscribers.

Most times, when Shan Mei showed her husband such letters and asked for his advice, he wondered why his own employees did not seek him out. They would rather go to Shan Mei. Was he so unapproachable? Was his staff still wary of the way he used to handle matters, like, making decisions based on recommendations from Zian Da, many of these recommendations came via Yong Xi? He heaved a sigh. What could he do?
==

When Xiang Zhe got back to his office, he called Patrick to find out what Shan Mei had planned for the afternoon and was told she had taken the afternoon off. What was she up to? He checked his appointment book, then told his secretary to inform the production department to carry on their meeting without him. He wanted their reports on his table tomorrow morning. He took the rest of the day off, and went off home to see what his beautiful wife was up to.

Shan Mei was nowhere around the house. He called her on her mobile “Hi, it’s me. Where are you?” he sounded a little bit impatient.

“Yes, darling? Missing me already? I’m home.” She was sweet as usual.

“What do you mean you’re home. I’m home right now and can’t find you.” Xiang Zhe sounded very upset with his wife, assuming she was lying to him.

Laughing in a slightly offended way, “I’m at our ‘secret’ home, Mr. Short Temper!”

He apologised and immediately went into their room and changed out of his suit into something comfortable, then zoomed off to their secret retreat.

He found her hanging up framed photos of him, her, and baby. He was upset she carried the heavy load on her own when she told him she had walked over. A CGI photo of the 3 of them with Mother’s image in the background was also framed and hung up very nicely.

“Why didn’t you invite me to your afternoon photo-hanging ceremony? You don’t want to involve me?”

She laughed sweetly at him, saying, “Doesn’t the President of MBS have more important things to do?”

Xiang Zhe only smiled and didn’t say anything. He packed away the tool kit. He came back from the kitchen with two glasses of juice.

After placing her on his lap, he gave her a long, deep kiss. He looked deep into her eyes and asked simply, “Why wasn’t I told of this morning’s outing with Xiang Jie?”

She looked away from his eyes. Instead she was looking and playing with the pendant he always wore, the chain necklace he never took off.

“Since Xiang Jie is going to start work at MBS, even for a short while, I thought it would be right for him to know some facts. Better I let him hear from me, than for him to hear hurtful and malicious office gossip. I was afraid to let you know because I don’t know how you’re going to accept it. Are you angry with me?” She sounded apologetically sedate.

“How can I? Isn’t this so like Zhen Shan Mei ? My wife helping every one! In the future, whatever it is you have done or want to do, you must always let me know, understand?” She gave him an understanding smile, as she nodded her head obediently like a little girl being chided after having been caught with her hand in the cookie jar.

Xiang Zhe smiled and ruffled her hair, then asked, “Now, how about helping your husband?” His eyes had become soft.

Her face broke into a dazzling smile, she asked sweetly “like?”

“Like a back massage? The morning’s meeting with a Japanese visitor for almost 3 hours and all that driving around afterwards really gave me a backache.” He lay out the quilted mat on the floor, pulled off his T-shirt and lay down on the mat on his stomach, and waited.

She had been working hard, kneading her husband’s tired muscles for the past 1-1/2 hours. She took a peep. He was already asleep. She covered his back with a large bath towel. She sat there contentedly, looking at her husband in slumber. The frown was gone, the lines around his mouth had softened. He looked so relaxed. She knew his job, being president and DoP, was not an easy one. She only hoped Xiang Jie would finish his studies soon, so he could help his elder brother in running the station. After this afternoon, she could see Xue Zhang was ready to accept Xiang Jie into the MBS fold.

She went to cut some overgrown scallions and celery from the vegetable plot. The cabbages that Xue Zhang grew were coming along very well. Also the chilli plants. She couldn’t resist plucking some big ripe chillies.

Grey clouds were forming in the sky. It was almost 7 and Xue Zhang was still sleeping. Shan Mei put a call through to Xiang Jie telling him they would let baby sleep over, and only collect him when they drop by Father’s place for dinner tomorrow night. Xiang Jie was ecstatic.

Light drizzle was falling. Since there was nothing else to do, Shan Mei decided to give her husband some more massage. This time, she worked on the shoulders, the two arms; then the back again, the lower back, behind the knees, the calves. By now, the drizzle had turned to rain. Shan Mei sat against the glass window watching the rain drops in fascination. She was so engrossed she didn’t hear her husband waking up. He crept quietly behind her. As his arms encircled her waist in a tight embrace he kissed her nape, then the hollow behind her ear tenderly. She turned around and placed her head on Xue Zhang’s chest, her arms went around his waist.

Xiang Zhe didn’t even realise it was raining. He was having such a restful sleep, that when he awoke and saw his angel by the window, all he wanted to do was cuddle up to her. “What are you doing sitting in the dark, with only lighting coming from the walkway?” he sounded worried.

“I didn’t want to disturb you since you were sleeping so soundly. Xue Zhang, can you hear the unique music made by the falling rain?” she asked excitedly. She shut her eyes, concentrating on the rhythm.

Xiang Zhe kept staring at her, her childlike allure captivated him completely. Suddenly he remembered their baby “What about Bao Bao?” Eyes still closed, she told him they would collect him tomorrow night when they were home at Father’s for dinner.

Talking of dinner, her eyes flew open. “Husband, are you hungry?”

“Depends on what you mean” he teased. Shan Mei noticed the naughty glints in his eyes.

“I mean, hungry in the stomach, of course. We have got fresh vegetables.”

“Oh yeah? Show me.” They ran off to the kitchen, where Shan Mei showed him the scallions, celery and chillies that he had successfully grown. The only pre-packed food they had were packets of ramen. Xiang Zhe was in charge of cooking the noodles, while Shan Mei was responsible for cutting up the vegetables. She placed them very nicely on a steel plate. They pulled the table close to the steps. They couldn’t use the chairs because they were slightly wet, so they decided to sit on the steps. They picked at their vegetables bit by bit savouring the taste. This was the first time Xiang Zhe had ever grown anything in his life. Nothing was more satisfying than to have food grown by one’s own toil.

After cleaning up, they enjoyed a long, hot shower together. Shan Mei wanted to spend the night there. Xiang Zhe was wide awake, not ready to sleep. His wife told him, “Darling, close your eyes, let your mind and heart follow the rhythm of the falling rain, and you would fall into the most beautiful sleep. When I was young and my father was away working, that was how I put myself to sleep.”

Her husband was being uncooperative. His mind and heart were following the rhythm of something else, he told his wife. Shan Mei gave him a sweet kiss, and wished him a good night!

Shan Mei lay there with the quilt over them up to their necks, their hands clasped together under the quilt. She closed her eyes. Xiang Zhe gave up. He was never to get anywhere with her tonight. She had that oblivious look, oblivious to anything or anyone around her.

Just like that time on Musical Postcard when posing as a listener, she wrote in to thank her husband for special present and weekend, she dedicated ‘I Give My All’ to her husband. Very soon the staff on night duty heard that Shan Mei was going to play her flamenco at the end of the programme, they thronged outside the recording studio. Other employees who lived near by also came. They got really excited when they saw their president had a guitar strapped to him too. She was shy but once she was into her music, she wasn’t aware of anyone. They were totally mesmerized. Even Xiang Zhe himself was completely drowned in the way Shan Mei was playing.

That night, their employees wouldn’t let them leave, all of them came toasting with cups of coffee, or Coke or whatever was handy, and with the President, the sound engineers offered him beer. Not enough space in the recording studio, they eventually moved to the canteen. The President and First Lady gained another legion of fans. Xiang Zhe didn’t truly realise what a trump card he had in his hands until that night.

Soon they fell into a deep sleep, snuggled in each other’s arms, lulled by the rhythm and coolness of the rain!

Chapter AW-28

3.30 a.m. Shan Mei’s mobile rang. Aileen Chung, the morning anchor had just been admitted to hospital with appendicitis. Xiang Zhe immediately woke up too. He grabbed the robes lying around on the floor. He draped hers on her shoulders; then he slipped into his. The air was feeling quite nippy so early in the morning.

Newsroom also informed Shan Mei CTN Australia had been transmitting footages of a fire now raging through sugar cane plantations in the northern part of Queensland. Professor Higgins who was normally in the studio early in the morning to assist the morning anchor, had a brief discussion with Shan Mei who told him she would want to interview Australia directly, and asked Professor to please prepare some suitable questions.

Looking at Shan Mei’s taut face and knitted brows, and having caught bits here and there of her conversation with Professor, Xiang Zhe knew it was an emergency. They didn’t bother to stop by home to change from their sleepwear of Ts and loose pants, but shot straight off to MBS, 4th floor where the CTN news centre was located, next to MBS’s. There was no time to waste.

The morning anchor, who normally reported to work at 3 a.m., would go over the news clips from the latest international and local updates coming in, and organize her sequence accordingly. She handled local English News & Infofile 6 – 8 a.m., for the CTN-KE English Channel, then right away did the Korean language morning news and show 8 a.m. to 12 noon.

Shan Mei, Xiang Zhe, and Professor Higgins looked through the footages coming through from CTN Australia. While doing make up and hair, she conferred with the translator re Korean translation. She also alerted Australia that she would want direct telephone interview, because many of the plantations affected were Korean owned.

Shan Mei put on a jacket, then sat behind the news desk, ready to broadcast, Xiang Zhe watched her through the camera, a feeling of dejavu of those times when Shan Mei first started off at MBS.

Soon, she was connected to Lina Barrett, CTN Australia’s roving reporter giving latest update at the scene of disaster in Queensland. The area was too large making it impossible at this time to give an account of cost of damages and lives lost. This segment was quickly translated and put on hold for Shan Mei when she did the 8 a.m. Korean news, then this Korean news segment to be passed on to MBS for the morning’s News Roundup before Bargain Corner began. Xiang Zhe saw how well this arrangement worked.

Xiang Zhe went to his office on the 7th floor for some coffee. He saw many reports on his table. He switched on the TV screens for MBS and CTN. While sipping his coffee he watched his wife on the CTN screen. She looked so fresh and somehow different. Was it because of getting up close and personal with nature? When the weather was permissible, they liked leaving the doors of the cabin open whenever they were there. They didn’t need aircon or heating. For him it was marathon sleep yesterday. He must have slept five hours in the afternoon, after Shan Mei’s wonderful massage. Taking Shan Mei’s advice, he was fast asleep again before midnight.

He went through the reports on his table. He made several comments, after which he placed the reports on his secretary’s desk. When his secretary came in at 9, he told her for this week, arrange appointments for mornings only. He would be in office during the afternoons until 4 only. Anyone who wanted anything, must put all requests on paper. By mid morning, he was through with all the reports from yesterday.

He buzzed for Xiang Jie to see him at his office. When Xiang Jie arrived at his office, Xiang Zhe could see the boy was nervous in front of him. He himself was feeling a little uneasy without Shan Mei there. He told his younger brother Li Qing Xi was very well experienced in this industry and his sister’s favourite senior, so he must try to learn as best from her as possible. This was just a tester to see whether he liked working in the broadcasting industry. If he did, his sister would arrange for him to work at CTN during the weekends when he was back in London. Because they would definitely want him back at MBS during the summer holidays.

Xiang Zhe then asked his brother to get him and Shan Mei some food from the canteen. He couldn’t leave his office dressed the way he was. Xiang Zhe explained to him what happened this morning. CTN’s two other anchors were on leave, and Patrick was away with You Zhen, that was why Shan Mei had to handle the morning’s duties. And Master Chef from CTN Kitchen was to prepare take-out dinner for them when they leave at 4 on normal days, and 5 on Thursday and Friday. Shan Mei would be too tired to cook at home. He also asked his younger brother to keep BB at father’s place until Sunday.
==

The MBS office floor was quiet this Sunday morning whereas the CTN main lobby on the 9th floor of MBS Building was a different story. It had been crowded with many visitors since Tuesday, when news of the fire in Queensland broke out through CTN. Mr. Sung of Bansung immediately arranged for 8 units of their Bansung computers to be set up in the lobby. For anybody wanting to read the latest news or view the detailed footages, they simply had to drop by CTN to access the computers on the main lobby floor. The images, on a large video screen put up at one corner of the lobby, were updated when new footages or news were received from CTN Australia.

Mr. Sung arranged for a few of their promoters to be on site to offer assistance and to hand out flyers on their range of computers. Shan Mei was grateful for his assistance when CTN couldn’t cope with the incoming calls jamming their switchboard. A representative from NSK Bank was also on duty to offer loans at 0% for purchase of computers, to viewers interested in subscribing to CTN-KE internet services.

Shan Mei had to come in early this Sunday morning until Aileen Chung, their morning anchor, came back to work tomorrow morning.

Xiang Zhe was thinking; was he being too protective? Last night Shan Mei had asked him whether she could take driving lessons. This way, she could drive herself; she needn’t disturb his schedule should another emergency arise at CTN. He vetoed the idea immediately and told her in no uncertain terms never to raise the issue again.

“Xue Zhang,” Shan Mei pleaded, giving him that special sorrowful look.

“No way,” he emphasized again. “It will be too dangerous!”

“You don’t trust me to take care?”

“Darling, not you. I don’t trust those crazy drivers around town! Haven’t you noticed how they court death by weaving in and out of traffic and at reckless speed?”

She gave him a beguiling look accompanied by a sweet smile. He stood firm, reminding himself not to lose his senses to her. “No, no, NO!” There was finality to his refusal. She conceded, for the time being.

How to make her understand he loved being disturbed by her, especially in bed. He would have no peace of mind, if Shan Mei was driving around Seoul on her own. She simply had no idea how chaotic the traffic jams in the city were. He scratched his head worriedly, knowing his wife would rake up the matter soon. He couldn’t decide whether to take the offensive or the defensive stand in this argument?

This morning Shan Mei had to stay only up to 9. Their other broadcaster would be coming in later in the morning to continue the Sunday show from 9 to 12 noon. He went to the 4th floor to collect his wife. She was very happy to see him and gave him a kiss and held on to his hand,

“Hi, darling, thank you for forsaking your sleep, to drive me to the studio. I’m going to treat you to your favourite breakfast at Westin.” She then whispered tenderly into his ear, “I love you.”

Xiang Zhe grinned broadly at the treat his dearest wife was going to give him, and silently mused to himself, “the imp, already formulating her own plan of action, huh? I will enjoy all this attention while it lasts.” He smiled secretly inside himself.

After breakfast he wanted to stay home to watch a DVD that Zian Da had passed on to him, saying it was very good. While he was watching it, Shan Mei brought him a cup of coffee. She curled up to him, after noticing a very cute baby girl in the movie.

As the movie progressed, the story was about a mother and her baby going to supermarket. On the way, they were hit by a truck on a rampage and were taken off the main road by the heavily drunkard truck driver who killed the baby and raped the mother. Their car was shoved over a cliff, the driver jumped after them. How gruesome. By then, Xiang Zhe had fallen asleep.
Shan Mei switched off the machine, put the disc back into its sleeve, and went off quietly to her office to catch up with some paper work. Xiang Zhe hid a sly smile on his face, cocked one eye slightly open after his wife had exited the TV room, then eased back comfortably on the sofa to continue his morning nap.

A little while later, he went looking for his wife. “Darling, want to join me in the bath, before we go to Father’s place for dinner?” In the bath, his wife gave him a delicious back scrub with a new type of natural sea sponge Michael had given her on his last trip. They spent half their bath time kissing each other silly. Xiang Zhe controlled his urge. He wanted to save for dessert in bed tonight.

When they saw Bao Bao, they realised how much they had missed him. Shan Mei couldn’t kiss him enough. It didn’t appear he had missed his parents much. All night he kept wanting to be carried by his uncle. During dinner, Shan Mei asked little brother whether he had started his driving lessons in London. He did and it was pleasant driving around the house, but he didn’t think he would want to drive in Seoul, even if he had his licence. The traffic appeared chaotic and the drivers crazy, after placid Cambridge. Shan Mei darted a furtive glance towards her husband who pretended he was oblivious to everything in the room, except his dinner.

The nanny then asked whether she could go home in the country side for a few days since Bao Bao was so happy staying with his grandfather, and there was 2nd Master Xiang Jie and Auntie Lee to look after him. She agreed to be back by Sunday. Of course, nanny! When arrangements were made for Bao Bao, Shan Mei gave Nanny some extra money, in case she wanted to buy gifts home.

When they arrived home that night, Xiang Zhe went into the greenhouse to cut some roses and placed them in their bedroom. As an afterthought, he went up to Shan Mei and suggested, “Since you don’t have to be at your office early tomorrow morning, do you want to spend the night at our ‘secret’ home?”

“What about you? Don’t you want to be at the office early, tomorrow being Monday?”

Her husband gave her his crooked grin and raiseded his brow at her.

She lifted her lips to give him a soft kiss on his jawline. “Of course”, then went to kitchen to pack up some breakfast items, all other thoughts out of her mind.

Xiang Zhe opened the bottle of champagne that he had earlier left chilled in the fridge at home. Xiang Zhe lay out the quilted mat on the floor. They went outside in the yard and pulled the table and chairs closer to the cabin.
They sat there side by side enjoying the air, the starry sky and the silence, while sipping their champagne slowly. The fragrance from the one rose bloom that Xiang Zhe brought over from the house completely pervaded the space of the cabin. When they were half way through the bottle, Shan Mei suddenly corked up the bottle, and said “enough alcohol for tonight.”

“But, darling, it won’t taste good without the bubbles at later date.”

“It will. I’ll use it on the grilled chicken I’m going to give you for dinner tomorrow night. Ever tried Champagne gravy with grilled chicken?” she laughed softly at him.

After shower they went under the quilt, looking at the beautiful stars up in the sky. Shan Mei was lying in the crook of her husband’s arms. She could feel his strength, so protective; his love, so deep and warm. When she stole a peep at him, his eyes were not shut but his face was an inscrutable mask.

After a while, she inched closer to him and shyly murmured she wanted to disturb him. “Ehmm? You want me to drive you to MBS now?” he asked, wondering what she was going to do at CTN office this late.

Very softly she whispered “No, I want you to drive me crazy with love.” And laughed quietly under her breath, at her sudden forwardness.

He immediately propped himself up, looked deep into her eyes now dark pools of passion. His were the same. He laughed triumphantly and began raining frenzied kisses all over her.

“My dearest wife, your wish is my command,” and began disrobing her.

Chapter AW-29

As soon as they waved Xiang Jie through the departure gate at the airport, they were missing him already. Baby Bao Bao kept looking back towards the gate where his uncle had just passed through, his chubby little fingers were wriggling about with one index finger pointing crookedly towards that direction, as if he wanted to go too. He was crying. Shan Mei tried her best to pacify him.

Even Daddy was finding it taxing consoling him, until he copied one of Xiang Jie’s tricks, swinging Bao Bao from side to side, then up and down. The crying abated, baby looked at him curiously, and very soon he was gurgling happily and noisily. Xiang Zhe laughed along with him and asked, “Is that why you’re giving love and loyalty to your Uncle? Come, Daddy wants a hug and kiss too!” Baby was soon hugging and kissing daddy all over, and daddy was laughing and kissing him back.

===

At MBS, Planning Dept was busy helping PR Dept churn out P.R. and organise Founding Day anniversary celebration. Several important new guests were invited, namely Sir Michael Dutton of CTN-UK and CTN-Asia/Pacific, not because he recently came into 20% share of MBS, but as the owner of dubbed material, the Natural World Phenomenon, allowing MBS to screen this series without screening fees. This programme received very high viewer % rating and was sponsored entirely by IT Mountain Bike Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sunyang Motor Corporation. Both cooperations with CTN-KE were highly successful, with Two Sides To A Coin monopolising afternoon viewing.

This year the format was little bit different from previous years. Four large video screens were mounted on walls to show award winning programmes:

Natural World Phenomenon Best Documentary, Foreign (CTN)
(dubbed Korean)

Two Sides To A Coin Best Producer (MBS)
Best Live Entertainment (MBS)
Best Chat Show (MBS)
Viewers Choice (MBS)
Critics Choice (MBS)
Best Chat Show Host (CTN)
Best Chat Show Host (CTN)
Best Newcomer (CTN)
Sponsors Choice (CTN)
Most Popular TV Personality (CTN)

BBS Children’s Programme Best Children’s Program (BBS/MBS)
Never Look Back Best Afternoon Drama W/D) MBS
Musical Postcard, radio Most Popular Radio Show (MBS)
Most Popular Deejay (Zhen Shan Mei)
When it came to the Cake cutting ceremony to commemorate the charity and bursary foundations which the Wen Rong Group sponsored, the First Lady of MBS Miss Zhen Shan Mei was invited on stage to present the cheque to the invited guest, the head of Liu Yi University. Together they cut the cake.
All present could see how proud their president was of his wife. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. Throughout, he was trying to catch her eye, as if wanting to pass on some secret message only the two of them understood.

Xiang Zhe was trying to tell his wife she was right about Zian Da. He knew everything that went on in the station. The video clip screening on Musical Postcard showed her behind the mic and next to her carousel on the night, husband and wife played their guitars, and the small gathering in the canteen afterwards. He didn’t see anybody filming anything that night, yet there they were up on the video screen. Must be one of the production assistants. That Senior Zian Da managed to keep this secret from him.

Michael enjoyed this video clip the best, and asked for a copy to bring back to London.

===

“Hi, it’s me. Are you busy?” Shan Mei’s sweet voice came over the phone.

“Depends on what you want,” his soft voice was full of innuendo.

“I know how you always want to make my birthday special. This year, I want to spend it at our little cabin. That would be the most special. Okay?”

“What about food? Everything is so basic there”

“The cabbage you grew should be ready for plucking around that time. I’ll make something with it. Just thought I’ll let you know before I forget about it. See you later. Love you, bye”

He was smiling into the phone. “Love you?” She must be reading something or watching some romantic movie? She must be feeling romantic. He must remember to put some fresh roses in their room tonight, to put her in better romantic mood. Maybe he would get some reward?

He had been out late the past 3 nights, out with Uncle Jin entertaining a party of Chinese contractors visiting Seoul and they were interested in buying some Wen Rong heavy machineries. By the time he got home, his precious little wife had long been asleep. He had missed her so much.
==

Meanwhile, Shan Mei had finished a session of beauty treatment for her skin. She wanted to tone up her skin to perfection in time for her birthday special with her husband. With one more session to go, her skin was looking and feeling fabulous. She browsed around the shops to see what kind of interesting goodies she could get for that day. She already had a theme in mind.

She shoved the shopping bag into her briefcase not wanting her husband to see. Her mobile rang. It was Ma asking them home for dinner. They managed to get some special crabs. Shan agreed at once, knowing how much Xue Zhang loved crabs though he was too lazy to pick the meat off their shells. She arranged a time with her husband. They went home to shower, then took baby with them. They took a great French white that was supposed to go very well with shellfish.

While Shan Mei was picking out the crab meat for her husband, she teased Ma about crabs being ‘best and fresh from the market today?’ Ma shyly answered, the stall owner insisted on giving her 4 of the biggest crabs when Ma stopped by his stall and recommended the crabs.

The men were drinking and eating and they all had a great time. Suddenly she remembered that horrid movie about drunken driving, and reminded Xue Zhang she was afraid to sit in a car driven by a drunken driver. Xiang Zhe understood her worry. He had felt guilty about the movie, but at that time he needed it as a means to an end. Ever since, she had not mentioned about ‘driving lessons’ again. Pa also understood, especially now they had a baby on board.

As Pa played with Bao Bao, he hinted it was about time for them to start on Baby No. 2. Xiang Zhe gave his wife a funny look like “I told you so.” “Aiyo, Pa. Have you asked You Zhen Ge and Minnie for their contribution to the family? I’m under tremendous stress from Xue Zhang. He wants a baby girl. I’m afraid if we have another boy, he will send me away from the house.”

As she finished talking, she noticed her husband getting up from his seat and eyeing her with a threatening look. She tried to run off when he chased after her, and tickled her silly after he caught up with her. Shan Mei was laughing away like crazy. Baby saw his mother laughing. He sat there looking at his parents playing some kind of new game, he began to make cooing sounds too. Pa said not to worry. “Princess, if that happens, just return home with the baby, and I’ll give him surname Zhen, and he’ll be our family’s little prince.” Ha-ha, Pa laughed happily away. The idea was not bad at all.

When they left, it was very late. Baby was already fast asleep. Before Xiang Zhe drove off, he gave his wife a tweak of her nose, chastising her for trying to give their babies away.
==

Today was Shan Mei’s birthday. Xiang Zhe had scheduled the morning for meetings. He kept the afternoon for paperwork and internal staff meeting. When the last bit of paper had been cleared from his desk and handed over to his secretary for handling, he stretched out his arms in his chair and let off a satisfied sigh. He checked the time on his wrist watch. It was already 4.30. He called his wife on her mobile.

“Dearest wife, I’ve cleared all paper work. Do you want me to collect you now?”

“I’m at the cabin already. Come when you’re ready. The cabbage you grew looks simply incredible. I’m waiting for you to see it before cutting it up.”

What was she doing? It was such a hot day, why couldn’t she wait for him?
He didn’t drop by home but drove straight to the cabin. He called out to her as he walked through the front gate. “Over here in the courtyard,” his wife called back to him.

His eyes nearly popped out when he saw her. She was in the skimpiest of bikinis. Large beach towel was laid out on a beach mat. On the table were iced coolers in champagne flutes, decorated on the top with little paper umbrellas and orange slices. She looked sensational.

His spirits soared dizzily. He was grinning widely after he got over his initial shock! She walked into his outstretched arms. He hugged her tight to him and gave her a very sensual kiss to match her sensual look. “You vamp, you’re driving me crazy!” he hissed huskily, squeezing her derriere hard.

As Shan Mei laughed softly, she took a small packet from the chair, and told him his beach wear was in it. He laughed and ran off excitedly to change. Xiang Zhe came out in his tight fitting Speedo trunks looking tall, lean and gorgeous. One look at him, Shan Mei said she was never ever going to let him loose on a beach. He laughed, telling her not to worry, he would be too shy to appear in public. He normally wore loose surfer shorts at the pool.

And he would definitely not let her out of the house, forget about beach, if she wore something like that. He loved the way she was dressed, but for his eyes only. He began to run his fingers over her silky smooth, creamy white skin, and began to kiss her bare back, her bare shoulders, her flat stomach, her thighs all the way down to her feet. He didn’t want food, he wanted something else now, urgently. When he kissed her mouth hungrily, his hands found their way into her bikini top, busy caressing her mounds. He was groaning and moaning, as his groin moved against her.

They lay side by side on the beach mat exhausted. Xiang Zhe turned on his side, still not getting enough kissing his wife. He never expected her to be dressed as such. It blew him away. He wanted another beach party soon before summer was over. She had to come in another new bikini outfit. Surprise him like today.

Shan Mei passed him the champagne. It was champagne with peach juice added. He loved it. As soon as he finished it, he wanted another glass. Shan Mei took him to the kitchen to look at his cabbage. It was beautiful, he admitted. But he tried to make his wife understand, food was the last thing on his mind, that minute. He was still too overwrought seeing his wife in a bikini to want anything except her!

They went into the Jacuzzi. He couldn’t keep his hands off her. He was smiling roguishly every time he caught her eye, and started kissing her all over again. He lay in the warm water, happily accepting the fact that he was completely enchanted by his wife. If being enchanted by his wife gave him this euphoria, he begged to be enchanted by her forever!

Shan Mei tried to get up quietly from the water. Her husband shot out his arm to deter her, “Not allowed.” He opened his eyes and arched his brow. Shan Mei told him, “to prepare dinner.”

Her husband told her he wasn’t hungry. “Darling, if only you truly realise the way you have affected me this afternoon, you’d offer me something else.”

“I’ve got a little cheese cake in the fridge, will that do?” He looked at her in exasperation, she trying to play dumb, or what?

He suddenly got out of the tub, carried her off to have a hot shower, slowly stripping off her bikini, and he divesting of his trunks. They soaped and rinsed off each other clean, then he carried her off to their cabin. When he lay Shan Mei down on the quilted mat, his lips began blazing a trail of hot kisses starting from her head of hair. Shan Mei wondered what had gotten into him?

By the time they awoke it was almost midnight. They put on their beach robes which Shan Mei had ready, then went to pack up nicely their beach mat in a plastic case and store it under the cabin. Beach towels, dirty laundry packed away in laundry bag to take home for washing.

After the wife cleaned out the Jacuzzi, she brought out vegetable salad; later the cake, cut into half. They sat under the star-lit sky, slowly having cake with their champagne. Xiang Zhe leant over to his wife, gave her a big slurpy kiss and told her, “I love you so much, so very much, birthday girl. Thank you for inviting me to your most fabulous party. How about planning another beach party for August?”

Shan Mei gave her husband a beguiling smile, indicating to him to finish his cake. She was very happy, the birthday party was an unqualified success; her Xue Zhang hadn’t stopped smiling, since he arrived at the cabin.

Chapter AW-30

The big function room was abuzz with excitement, to celebrate CTN-KE’s milestones in Korea. Completion of 4th year since CTN first arrived in Korea with its English service; 3rd year CTN-KE offered Korean language services; 1st year CTN-MBS cooperation.

On large video screens on two opposite walls of the room were shown CTN’s achievements in Korea, the highlights of which were the 3 years in which Shan Mei swept away all the major awards. “Two Sides To A Coin” was shown on one dedicated screen. The sponsors had gathered before the screen, talking animatedly with their local sole representatives of their products. None of CTN’s other regional offices had a show this successful.

Xiang Zhe was quietly standing in one corner watching the screens. He never tired of watching his wife wearing her beautiful hanbok the 1st year, then that golden exquisite creation the 2nd year, and the stunning gold/white lace gown she wore earlier this year to the award ceremony. She looked simply so beautiful. Her radiant smiles were being flashed all over the screens. He wanted so badly to go up to her and kiss those luscious lips.

Several representatives from CTN’s regional and world wide offices were present at the cocktail party. Tonight, Shan Mei was wearing the little black lacy Chanel number, which brought a devilish grin to Xiang Zhe’s mouth when he remembered how his wife bit him hard on his back, after which he could think of nothing else but her for the rest of the day.

Some sophisticated looking ladies introducing themselves as CTN’s Tokyo and Sydney offices’ representatives engaged him in their conversations. He entertained them politely, although he would rather be watching the video screens and his wife who was at that time being introduced by David Dutton to some aristocratic looking men, most probably CTN-UK’s shareholders.

“Hello girls. I hope you realise who you are trying to flirt with?” Michael’s smooth voice came across, Xiang Zhe was so relieved.

“The President of MBS?” cooed the girls in unison, one of them trying to hold on to Xiang Zhe’s arm. The man looked so gorgeous, the two girls were wondering how to hijack him for themselves after the function.

“The husband of your future boss!” came Michael’s swift retort

“But you’re our boss” the girls giggled.

“Not when I move up!” Michael laughed, and walked away with Xiang Zhe.

“Junior, you better watch out. Those girls are trouble makers. They love the smell of money and power. They have been making a play for me since Day 1 of CTN start-up. As long as they do their job properly, they can stay. I don’t encourage them one bit. Take them out for a coffee, the next minute, they think they are Mrs. Michael Dutton. You see that Akiko from Tokyo office and that Laura from Sydney office, they look like they want to kill every good looking woman in this room. Shan Mei is the only one who is totally unaware of the competition going around, that’s why she’s so natural and looking the most beautiful.”

“What did you mean about ‘future boss’?” Xiang Zhe asked Michael, a frown already appearing on his forehead.

“David has proposed I take over chairmanship of CTN-UK from next year. I’ll be based in London, travelling mostly between UK and USA. We’d like Shan Mei to take over directorship of CTN Asia/Pac. We have made her an offer last week. She told me you and baby were her top priority and she didn’t think it would be fair on you. She hasn’t mentioned it to you?”

Xiang Zhe shook his head, he was deep in thought. Would she want to take up the challenge? He was the deterrent, no?

Seeing his confusion, Michael further added

“It’s only Tokyo, Sydney, Hongkong and Singapore. She only needs to spend 1 or 2 days a week in one place, one month will cover the entire territory. You’re my two most favourite people. We are like family. She’s going to be the most powerful woman in the broadcasting industry in Asia. You look at her over there. The men are simply hanging on to her every word. You think about it, you don’t give her the okay, she’s going to reject the offer.”

“So, who’s going to guarantee someone won’t come along one day and take my wife away?” This was foremost in his mind.

“If she was so easily tempted and swayed, Junior, I’d have tried my darnest to make her Lady Michael Dutton long before she married you. That’s the very reason why we love her. She’s absolutely rock solid. You stop worrying about her and better start teaching yourself on how to say ‘no’ whenever those hotties come up and flirt with you. When I’m back in London, I won’t be around to rescue you. You’re the only one who can guarantee your wife stays happy. You hurt her, she goes.”

Michael then fished his mobile out of his pocket. “This is your rescue device. Girl tells you she is sick, call the doctor; girl tells you she needs help, call your secretary; girl tells you her car has broken down, call AA; girl tells you she wants a lift, call taxi; girl tells you she wants to buy you a drink, tell her you’ve to rush off for an appointment. Never, ever fall into their trap to get you alone with them. I’ve spent 20 years evading their wiles. Don’t use your mobile to only call up your wife.”

A little while later, Xiang Zhe left the function room and went to the hotel lobby, sat down by himself in a quiet corner and ordered a drink. While smoking a cigarette, he mulled over what Michael had said.

There was some kind of innate chemistry between Michael and Shan Mei, like it was pre-destined. Otherwise, how could Michael on seeing Shan Mei on television simply decided she was to be CTN girl, and had her image on big video screen in their London office Conference Room, even before meeting her in person? Now, they wanted her to cover entire Asia/Pacific region.

Like himself, who never bothered with girls before and lived like a monk. He couldn’t get her out of his mind after sending her to hospital the first time they met. He let her go, but that night at home, he became so worried he couldn’t sleep at all. He kept berating himself, he should have insisted on sending her home, to make sure she arrived home safe. He had never taken the initiative, and wouldn’t know how or was simply not interested to meet girls, yet where she was concerned, he was trying to find all sorts of plausible excuses to meet up with her. Now, she was his wife and mother of their baby. Their meeting was pre-destined too, yes?

He wanted to spend his every waking and every sleeping hour with her. Could he bear to let her be away from him 2 days, sometimes 2 nights, a week? Michael was prepared to groom Xiang Jie the way he groomed Shan Mei to ensure CTN and MBS had strong continuity. Michael had a point, he was now shareholder of MBS and Wen Rong; of course he wanted to see all three going forward in the right direction. Shan Mei hadn’t mentioned any thing to him. Was she going to reject the offer outright, without even seeking his opinion?

He heard her drying her hair, and went into the bathroom to help her. Now that her hand was free of the hair dryer, she circled her arms around his waist, her face resting against his stomach. She began lightly nibbling at his belly button, sending tingling sensations right up to his nerve’s end. After task completed he carried his wife to bed. He pulled her into his embrace, whispering into her ear that she had had a tiring day, being hostess at CTN’s anniversary function, “be good girl, go to sleep”. She puckered up her lips for a kiss.

He bent down to give her a kiss, but he simply couldn’t make it brief, once his lips touched hers, he kissed her deep and long and slow. His hand went off on its own tangent, caressing her tenderly all over. All evening he had wanted to kiss her, now he couldn’t stop.
==

Deep in the night when he stretched out his hand, all he felt was empty space on Shan Mei’s side of the bed. He propped himself up. There was no light coming from the bathroom. He went outside, no light on except the landing light. He went upstairs to their office. She was not there. Nursery door was open. He went in and saw his wife leaning against baby’s cot, staring down at Bao Bao. He joined her. She leant her face against his shoulder, and they remained there, staring at their beautiful baby. After a long while, he carried her back to their room. He sat down on the bed and placed her on his lap. He looked at her. “Something bothering you?” he asked very softly. She shook her head, and attempted to crawl back to her side of the bed. He wouldn’t let her. “Is it the directorship offer? Want to talk about it?”

She shot a look at him, her eyes big and round in surprise. “Michael told you about it?” He nodded.

“It’s a challenge. You should take it. It’s good for CTN and MBS.”

“I don’t care about the company. I only care about you and the baby.”

“Then take it. MBS is about me, you and the baby. Why else do you think I stay on in Korea? If not, I would have moved us a long time ago to London. I remember you once said my main responsibility was to continue the legacy of my mother by making MBS the premier broadcasting station in Korea. I cannot do that on my own. I need you. Meanwhile, Michael will groom Xiang Jie to help you, when I move over to Wen Rong. ”

Shan Mei sobbed into his chest saying she couldn’t bear to leave them, even if it was for one or two days out of a week. She would miss her husband too much.

“For Tokyo, you leave very early in the morning, and return same day on last flight. For Hongkong, Singapore, and Sydney leave by last flight of the day, arrive first thing the next morning, then return by last flight the same evening. Sometimes, I could come with you for a short romantic break.”

She suddenly jerked her head up, smiling at her husband, “you would?” He nodded his head, giving her his besotted look, then tweaked her nose playfully.

Promising to think the whole thing over, she cuddled up to her husband, ready to go to sleep. But he had other ideas. He pulled her up close to him, started raining feathery kisses on her face, her neck, her shouders, his hand under her nightgown caressing her in all the right spots, until she was writhing with pleasure.

The next morning at the office, Xiang Zhe buzzed his secretary “Miss Lee, can you please ask accounts to bring to me my mobile phone bills for the last three months? Thanks”

When the phone bills arrived, Xiang Zhe looked through them. The bill for last month showed all calls were made to Shan Mei’s mobile, or the house or her office. The other two bills showed the same pattern, except for a few calls interspersed in between made to Father, Patrick and Zian Da. He leant back in his chair and laughed. Rubbing at the happy wrinkle on his forehead, he cursed silently “this Michael”. He wasn’t aware that was what he did; apparently observant Michael was.

Chapter AW-31

Michael was so relieved to hear from Junior that he had advised Shan Mei to accept CTN’s offer. However, she hadn’t said anything to him yet. He would let the matter ride for a week, then approach her again. After all, the job would start only in January, giving her enough time to put her planning and other schedules into place. Before that, he would go with Shan Mei one or 2 times to visit the other four regional offices.

According to Michael, JJ – Junior Jie (Xiang Jie) was a good worker. When he returned to Seoul for his summer holidays, he would have already spent 10 weekends at CTN London office. When Xiang Zhe told him they would most probably put him back in Planning Department, Michael agreed that was good thinking. That boy was very smart and would be a great help to Shan Mei in the future.

It was obvious JJ idolised the ground Shan Mei walked on. Michael told Junior to take that dark jealous look off his face, and gave out a loud laugh. That Shan Mei knew how to choose her men. This JJ was going to be one hell of a good looker. He would be another Patrick; except more handsome, but he wouldn’t have Patrick’s ease of speech, because he was too shy. Michael would work on this shortcoming so when JJ finished his studies and returned to Seoul, he would be great asset to CTN and MBS.

Junior thought may be JJ should go work at Wen Rong after he graduated. Michael thought otherwise. Junior should be the one at Wen Rong. As MBS became more popular with viewers, more starlets and actresses would be floating in and out of it, wanting to meet the dashing DoP; Junior wouldn’t know how to defend himself. Whereas JJ would be different, he knew how to say ‘no’ firmly. In London, the girls were always asking him out, but he always refused them politely saying he had a lot of school work to follow through. No matter how hard they tried to make him change his mind, he was firm. In fact he’d stay back at Production Unit to see what he could learn or help with. “Reminded me so much of Shan Mei when she first started out at CTN. I’d like to see whether this lad would be as lucky as his elder brother, landing himself a Shan Mei!” Michael commented.

Xiang Zhe wanted to call Shan Mei to hear her sweet voice, recalling that time in London, when he waited for her at her apartment building; it was heart wrenching for him to watch her go to work at 5.30 in the morning. Then stopped himself just in time. That Michael would surely tease him again about only knowing how to call Shan Mei.
==

July was always a busy month for Shan Mei, especially since CTN was bringing in a lot a material to be dubbed. She was always at Mr. Ang’s office, going over voice samples. CTN’s mini-series programmes were very popular with viewers, especially their 5-episodes per series. These didn’t drag on like Korean dramas. Over 5 evenings, all 5 episodes were shown. Shan Mei wanted voices as close to the original voices as possible, with Korean subtitles. She still thought Han Jae Hoon’s voice was the best, and wanted his voice for many of the main roles.

Over dinner in their kitchen, Shan Mei very subtlely brought up the delicate issue of dubbing and Han Jae Hoon. Xiang Zhe knew where she was going and waited patiently for her to finish her explanation. She simply wanted to know whether it was possible to pull Han Jae Hoon completely out of Drama Department and put him into dubbing. She had selected at least 100 mini series from CTN’s library in USA. All these needed dubbing. It would also help her in planning for next year’s schedule. They would need 52 series for the entire year. This arrangement was also good for MBS, because they could use 28 of these dubbed series without screening fees, an unbelievable advantage for MBS. She felt, with Han Jae Hoon’s voice, the quality of the dubbing would be assured. She had asked Xiang Jie to learn as many dubbing tricks as possible from CTN London’s dubbing room, and when he was back during summer, he could assist Mr. Ang and Han Jae Hoon in the evenings after he finished his day job at Planning Dept. Her sponsors had been harrassing her for good programmes.

Xiang Zhe ate his dinner in silence, his mind wondering. Did Shan Mei want Han Jae Hoon’s voice for the good of the Mini-drama series, or did she want Jae Hoon close by her side? He didn’t even notice his wife was filling his glass with champage mixed with peach juice. He was already on his third glass. When they had finished, they went to TV room. Shan Mei took the small jug of mixed juice with her. Xiang Zhe was following the mini series CTN was screening this week. Tonight was the 4th episode. She left him on his own, to return to the kitchen to clean up, smiling cheerfully to herself. After which she checked on Bao Bao. Few weeks ago, he acted up with his teething problems. Now he was back to his happy good self. How she loved him, and his daddy!

After a hot shower, she went back to the TV room. She smiled secretly to herself when she saw the jug empty. She decided to make some hot coffee for her husband. When she brought him his coffee, she curled up to him on the sofa without disturbing him. He was too engrossed following the plot of tonight’s episode.

By the time she opened her sleepy eyes, her husband had already put her in their bed, and was easing into bed himself. “Movie finished?” she asked softly and sleepily. He nodded and smiled at her. She snuggled up to him. He put his arm around her shoulders and drew her close. He gave her a lingering kiss on her cheek. When she wound her arm around his neck, he took her hand, kissed the palm, and placed it against his beating heart. She looked at him lovingly.

“Tomorrow, I’ll have a talk with Han Jae Hoon and see what he thinks. If he doesn’t mind, we’ll re-negotiate another contract and put him in charge of dubbing the mini series and NWP. You’re right, there is something lacking in the dubbing, something not quite right. Happy now?” he looked at his wife. She nodded her head, giving him her special smile reserved only for him, and simply stated “some of the voices do not match the characters.”

Of course, Han Jae Hoon agreed to be in charge of dubbing for CTN’s mini series. Shan Mei met up with him at the CTN dining hall, to pass some notes to him. She also mentioned that Xiang Jie would be returning in a couple of days to work at MBS during his summer holidays. He would only be able to assist in his dubbing work during the evenings. Shan Mei wanted Xiang Jie to learn in as many MBS departments as possible, and for Jae Hoon to treat him like a younger brother.

Xiang Zhe happened to pass by with his assistant and Zian Da. He waved them on, and invited himself to sit in on the meeting. Actually, the meeting was over. Han Jae Hoon acknowledged them, then left, taking with him the notes Shan Mei had given him. Xiang Zhe gave Shan Mei a curious look. She ignored the look. Instead she took one of his hands now resting on the table, brought it under the table and held on to it, giving it a gentle squeeze. She folded her file at the same time.

Tonight she would be working late, as she had Musical Postcard. He was going to watch CTN’s mini series final episode in his office? He nodded. Shan Mei could sense his silent displeasure. Jealous again? She hoped with her notes and Xiang Jie’s return, she did not have to meet up with Han Jae Hoon, until he finished the first episode dubbing under his charge. They got up to leave; the president was holding on to the hand of his wife possessively in a loving way.

That evening Shan Mei ordered take-out from a famous Japanese restaurant, two types of sushi rolls, lobster meat with avocado salad; crabmeat with asparagus salad, and some delicious chestnut sweets which just arrived that afternoon from Japan. At 7, she called down to Xue Zhang to see whether he was through for the day, and told him she was on the way down to his office.

When he saw his wife bringing him dinner, he was in much better mood, especially when his wife told him to sample which type of sushi roll he prefered. She would make them for the August party that he had planned? And while he was watching TV later, she had dessert for him. She brought coffee to him. She sat on his lap and fed him the lobster meat roll. Good? He nodded. After a little pause, she fed him the crabmeat roll. Good? He nodded again. He then puckered up his lips wanting a kiss. She kissed him. He kissed her back long and deep. Then laughingly said that tasted the best! When she wanted to move away, he held her back. “Okay, okay, the other two tasted very good too.” She flicked at his nose, softly chiding him for being a “naughty boy.”

“Xue Zhang, you want to have both varieties?” she asked sweetly.

He shook his head and smiled teasingly. “I want to have all 3. A little bit of the first two, massive doses of the third.”
==

This year, they wouldn’t be celebrating their wedding anniversary again. He was complaining that it appeared she didn’t want to be reminded she was married to him, recalling what she had said a few months after their wedding; that time she ran out of their house, and away from him. When she heard his complaint, she laughed out so hard her cheeks hurt, then ran up to their bedroom to take shower. He followed her into the room; he wanted to know, “what’s so funny?”

“Dearest husband, I don’t need a celebration to remind me I’m married to you. We’ve got Bao Bao, right? You’re his father, and I’m his mother, right?”

She stuck out her ring finger with wedding band at him. “All that matters to me is to make sure Yin Xiang Zhe is beside me in bed every night and giving me all his love. Only this will show I’m truly Mrs. Yin Xiang Zhe. What is the point of celebrating all for show like some famous couples we have heard of? The husbands are out some where in somebody else’s bed every night? For a start to show we’re married, how about joining me in the shower to give me a good back scrub, to show your love?” she coaxed.

“Alright, at least something is better than nothing,” he grumbled, not completely satisfied with her answer.

He undressed then went inside the cubicle. He loved touching her skin. He began by gently and tenderly scrubbing her back. As he was carrying on, he thought to himself, she had a point there. Their marriage was their own business and nobody else’s. If he was not her husband, he wouldn’t be in this shower cubicle scrubbing her back, or sleeping next to her in their bed, or making love to her. Nurture and treasure their love for each other every day, which was the way Shan Mei wanted.

Soon Shan Mei was scrubbing his back. She then decided to write him a short note on his back and he had to tell her what she had written. All unhappy thoughts were banished from his mind, as he concentrated 100% on the task at hand, and that was, trying to decipher her message. It was “I love you so much.” He laughed happily when he got it right, and caught Shan Mei to him, both of them standing and kissing under the shower, letting the water rinsed them clean. He then carried her off to their bed, and began to kiss her dry.

“Hey husband, don’t start anything. Remember, we have to be at the airport. Xiang Jie’s flight is going to touch down in an hour’s time and we’re running late already. Father said he would meet us at the airport. I’ll go get Bao Bao ready while you dress.”

He tore his mouth from her body, looked up into her face, and cursed softly.

“Not now?” he ground out, again burying his face against her body. “Shan Mei, please don’t do this to me; not now!” he whimpered as he guided her hand to the pulsating thickness between his legs. “Feel me?” his voice was deceptively soft and cajoling.

“Later,” Shan Mei breathed hoarsely against his ear as she managed to ease herself from under his body and escape from the bed.

“Later! I promise you, Mrs. Yin, you won’t have much opportunity to sleep later.” He warned lightly as he lay prone on the bed.

“Good. I wasn’t going to let you sleep much either, Mr. Yin.”

“Shan Mei…….,” he began whining.

Shan Mei slapped his firm buttocks playfully, “Go, dowse yourself with cold water.”

“The way it’s going, I’ll need ice water. You’re so heartless” he pursed his lips at his wife as he made an effort to raise himself from the bed.

Shan Mei nodded, and then bent down to give him a swift kiss, “This is for being heartless.” She planted another kiss on his pouting lips, “And this is for being so in love with you, darling!”

She quickly got dressed and went to the nursery to see whether nanny was ready. Shan Mei had told her to prepare for overnight stay at Father’s place, knowing Xiang Jie would insist baby stay there, tomorrow being Sunday.
==

When Xiang Zhe decided to put his younger brother back working with Li Qing Xi during his summer holidays, he turned his Father’s previous office into the planning department headquarters, giving them more space which included a small conference room and a separate office for Xiang Jie.

As it turned out, this new arrangement made the work flow more efficient. Key personnel from the other departments were always dropping by all the time for coffee or something, making them more accessible and more ready to be cooperative. Han Jae Hoon dropped by almost every day to discuss the mini series project with Xiang Jie. Sometimes, the whole PIR team was there. With such corps de esprit, problems were resolved very quickly.

Li Qing Xi loved working with Xiang Jie. He reminded her so much of Shan Mei when she first started out at MBS. Working hard and never once complained about anything or any one, even though she knew she was being treated unfairly by Yong Xi and Ying Mei. She never flaunted her friendship with Xiang Zhe to gain special favours, just like Xiang Jie. Not wanting to be accorded special treatment because he was President’s younger brother. He wanted to achieve results by his own hard work and on his own merits. He was always so helpful when work mates came to him with questions knowing he had apprenticed at CTN-UK. She could already see brightest future for MBS, with Xiang Zhe, Xiang Jie and Shan Mei at its helm.

Thinking of Shan Mei, Li Qing Xi had often wondered what happened when she was at MBS. She was by nature very careful and punctual in her work. How could she be making all those mistakes she was accused of? Li Qing Xi had suspected that Xu Ying Mei was up to no good where Shan Mei was concerned. She couldn’t pinpoint exactly what. She knew Shan Mei would one day be the best broadcaster in Seoul, long before CTN ‘discovered’ her. In retrospect, she was glad Shan Mei left for England. If she had stayed behind, she would remain trodden down.

Chapter AW-32

Han Jae Hoon phoned Shan Mei letting her know dubbing for the first episode of the 5 part mini series “Seeking Roots” was completed and ready for viewing. He was very satisfied with the end result.

Shan Mei then phoned Xiang Jie asking him to arrange for Saturday viewing in the afternoon after work. Arrange for refreshments and finger food as well. He was to visit her in her office for planning, she would give him a list of the things to prepare and the people to invite to the viewing.

When Xiang Zhe walked into CTN’s big multi-purpose room, he was surprised when he was greeted by a young CTN assistant. He was shown to an area where he had to remove his shoes and change into a pair of very comfy thickly padded slippers marked out in his name.

The room was laid out like home sitting room. Twenty soft leathered armchairs, with foot stools, each station had side tables all specially assigned to the guests, with their beverage requests at hand. The 20 guests invited were from a wide spectrum of the community and of different age groups. He recognised at least 4 faces who were CEOs of either banks, vehicle manufacturers and Fizz, a soft drink bottler.

Before screening, Shan Mei explained a little bit about the exercise. “Each episode is 2 hours long. The objective of these mini series is for home viewing, so CTN has arranged as close and comfortable to a home ambience as possible. There will be a short break after the first hour. At the end of the show, please let us have your valuable opinions by filling out the questionnaires provided. Thank you.”

While the screening was in progress, finger food was served to the individual tables. Very soon, the first hour was up, the lights in the room came back on. Xiang Zhe felt so relaxed he didn’t want to move from his seat. If only he could have his wife nestled up to him on his lap, it would be perfect. He saw his father, Uncle Jin and Uncle Liu deep in conversation, their faces beaming. Michael was talking to the CEO from Fizz, Shan Mei to the CEOs from the 2 banks, and Patrick to the Director from ToTo group. The potential sponsors looked excited and very much interested.

During the last 15 minutes of the second hour, each guest was served a glass of iced champagne mixed with peach juice. One sip of it, and Xiang Zhe smiled to himself. What was that imp trying to do? Seduced them all? All too soon the second hour was over. The guests were reluctant to leave. They were so engrossed with the story, they wanted to know when the 2nd episode would be shown.

Michael and Shan Mei were all smiles. Xiang Jie collected back the questionaires. Shan Mei went up to the microphone and announced that if they had indicated they would like to be invited back for the 2nd screening, they would be. Just remember, to go look for their own slippers the next time they came.

The CEO of Fizz didn’t want to go and was engaged in deep conversation with Michael. The 3 bosom elders bade Xiang Zhe over, and told him Shan Mei had done an excellent job, putting them in such comfy armchairs in such a cosy environment, and being served such glorious food. They wanted to know whether they could stay another 2 hours; and bring their own alcohol at 2nd episode screening? The story had affected them deeply, taking them back to their own pioneering days. Xiang Zhe grinned broadly, then scratched his head, saying he would need to seek permission from the ‘boss lady.’

In fact, Michael was the one who suggested they should stay back. He didn’t get to enjoy the A-1 service at all. He, being the host, had to think of their guests’ comfort, not his own. He wanted that delicious champagne cooler.
So they pulled their armchairs around to form 2 groups. The elders in one, the others in another.

Shan Mei couldn’t praise Han Jae Hoon and Xiang Jie enough for the superb dubbing they had done. She recognised Xiang Jie’s voice in one of the characters. He began to go pink in his face. She asked her hasband’s opinion, “Mr. President, what do you think?” He agreed the standard of dubbing for this episode was very high.

Michael didn’t understand the language, but from the sponsors’ reaction, they wanted in. That was good enough for him. NSK Bank definitely wanted to sponsor once a month, so did Fizz. In fact, Fizz would be up at CTN office on Monday to sign contract for mini series, starting with Seeking Roots. Xiang Jie told Michael he learned many dubbing techniques from CTN-UK Dubbing room that he applied to this dubbing. Michael was very pleased. He would make sure JJ got to work in the dubbing room when he was back in London. After a while, Yin Snr told them to pack up. He wanted to treat them all to dinner.

In bed that night, when Shan Mei kissed her husband goodnight, he pouted and complained he couldn’t sleep. A frown appeared on her forehead; “Is something bothering you, darling?”

“You praised everyone, especially that Han Jae Hoon, but not me. You seemed to have forgotten my efforts were the most crucial. I was the one who agreed to release him from Drama department, I was the one who negotiated new contract, I was the one..….”

Shan Mei put a finger to his mouth to silence him. “You will be the only one who will receive special praise and thanks from me in private.” He looked at his wife questionably.

She went under the quilt, and bit him very hard on his chest. He folded down the quilt as he let off a shriek, “Ouww.!!! ..y.o.u…y.o..!” Shan Mei popped her head up to look at him with her dazzling smile and mischievous eyes, “that was the special praise, now for the special thank you.” She began kissing, nipping and licking slowly at the bite mark. Very soon, he was sighing blissfully away.
“Feeling better?” Shan Mei asked.

“Yes, oh yes...yes, feeling so goo….Erh…, no, no, still hurting. Keep kissing and licking. Don’t stop,” he cooed at once as he felt himself being ensconced in a pleasurable sensation he’d never before experienced.
==

At the end of the 2nd Episode screening of Seeking Roots, all four weeks of the month had been taken up by sponsors.

It was that time of the year for the Yins’ August Special. Xiang Zhe sat down with the boys and told them he was taking Shan Mei away for a long weekend. Since the next two Saturdays were given to Seeking Roots screening, he opted now to have weekend holiday on Sunday and Monday. Jae Hoon had to ensure three or four mini series were being dubbed simultaneously. If extra dubbers were needed, just hire. Patrick to ensure the Monday Shan Mei was off, the office would run smoothly; Xiang Jie to provide back up and check translation department. Xiang Zhe would tell Li Qing Xi to release Xiang Jie from planning for that day. All clear and understood? The three brothers assured Xiang Zhe, “Don’t worry, we’ll take care of everything. You just go ahead and enjoy your break.” And wondered where Mr. Yin planned to take Mrs. Yin for their 2-day romantic break?
==

When they awoke that Sunday, Shan Mei gave her husband a big hug and kiss. When he went downstairs for breakfast, he saw a freshly cut rose by his place setting on the kitchen table. He couldn’t help but kiss the bud. This was the first time he received a flower from the person who mattered most in the world to him. His wife was just walking in after putting some things into the car.

He told his wife not necessary to pack anything except the food she had prepared, because he had delivered some things to the cabin yesterday. He took the rose his wife had given him then drove to their cabin.

The weather was good. He laid out the beach mat, and the beach towel in the garden. He opened up the roofing and the skylight to air the cabin. At the vegetable patch, he tidied a corner and sowed in some vegetable seeds. The rose bush was coming along very well. Shan Mei was in the kitchen storing the food and checking on what her husband had brought over yesterday. Just a few bottles of champagne and white wine, plus a case of peach juice, a case of bottled water and plastic ice trays giving heart shaped ice cubes. Yesterday, he had filled a tray with diluted peach juice. Later they would be able to have heart shaped ices in their champagne, or with plain water.

After their chores, they showered together. Xiang Zhe changed into his swimming trunks. Shan Mei remained in the shower room, to change into her blue coloured bikini, the colour that brought out the radiant alabaster of her creamy white skin. Since her birthday in June, she had continued with the skin beauty treatment, and also attended yoga classes to trim down her waistline. She hoped to impress her husband with her new firmly toned up shapely figure. Xiang Zhe had seated himself on one of the deck chairs, nursing a champagne cooler and facing the shower room waiting for his wife to emerge. He was getting impatient. Was she getting cold feet, like the time she was to preview the baby doll nightie? Actually, after Shan Mei put on the tiny bikini, she noticed the lycra fabric was very thin, her nipples were pushing through. The sales assistant who sold her the bikini had told her it looked best with a slight suggestion of nipple, like in all bikini photo advertising shots. She became very self conscious.

August somehow by some quirk turn of fate, became their Reunion month. First time she left London to return to Seoul was in August. Xue Zhang had sent her to the airport and it was there she gave him Peter Rabbit. When Xue Zhang returned to Seoul and they met up in the park near her house, it was August. When she left MBS and ran off to London it was August. After she returned to Seoul with CTN-KE, they bumped into each other accidently in August at Cream House when Shan Mei was with a CTN colleague and Xiang Zhe was with Zian Da. At that meeting she thanked Xiang Zhe for the beautiful crystal butterfly he had sent over to her for CTN-KE’s launch in July. Shan Mei wanted their wedding to take place in August, but Xiang Zhe insisted on July the latest. He couldn’t bear to wait another month; he had waited long enough!

When she came through the shower room door, looking the way she did, Xiang Zhe wanted to eat her up. Had the imp been to exercise classes? Her so very shapely figure was so obvious. And that blue colour on that skin. And the twin peaks pushing through the thin bikini top drove him almost insane. He went up to her, planted a big kiss on her lips, then carried her to the beach mat. He brought their drinks over. He kept smiling and looking appreciatively all over her. She felt shy; choice of bikini a mistake? That Xue Zhang didn’t take his eyes away from her.

After a while, he declared the sun was getting too hot for his angel’s skin, which was true, then carried her indoors. After the second contact, he couldn’t control himself anymore. He simply had to kiss that silky smooth, creamy white skin. There wasn’t an inch of her that he didn’t kiss over and over again.

He turned to lie on his back, and suddenly blurted out breathlessly “Have you told Michael you would accept the directorship?”

She nodded. “I shoudn’t have?” she queried.

“No, I’m just thinking how I’m going to survive without you. I can’t bear to see you leave whenever I see you off at the airport. We’ll try to work something out. It’s still a few months off.” He then kissed her again.

He turned on his side, to look at his wife again. To him, there was no one more beautiful or fascinating. Her face, with those big round eyes, looked completely childlike and innocent, yet in that bikini she looked all woman and so irresistably desirable. After two years of marriage, he was more in love than ever with her! Last time he said he’d never let her out of the house; after today, he’d never let her out of his sight!

“Look, husband, no more direct sunshine. Let’s go dip in the Jacuzzi.” Xiang Zhe was agreeable, before that, he needed a drink and may be some food. They hadn’t eaten since breakfast. Shan Mei took some food from the fridge. Filled a jug with champagne and some peach juice, and put in some heart shaped ices. She giggled with excitement on seeing that, and thanked her husband for such a lovely thought. She kissed him on his lips, he slowly pulled her close and placed her on his lap, then returned a deep, deep kiss.

As the sun set, Shan Mei cleared the table before it got dark. Her husband just sat there enjoying himself as he watched her walking back and forth.

The water temperature was just about right. He tore petals off the rose his wife had given him, and threw the petals into the water. They went into the tub together. Xiang Zhe trailed kisses along her back. She sat back, leant against him in his embrace, his face against her nape savouring in the scent of her hair. After some time, he turned her around to kiss her mouth, her neck, her bare shoulders, her flat stomach. Very carefully, he untied the string of the bikini top, and began caressing and kissing the firm mounds. Shan Mei was melting away, making little sighs of pleasure.

Xiang Zhe couldn’t wait anymore. He had been reining himself in since the time he saw his wife emerged from the shower this morning. He told his wife he wanted dinner, and laughingly carried her off to their cabin. After his full-course dinner, he lay next to his wife contented and fully sated. She propped up on her elbow, looked at him caressingly, then mischievously asked, “Coffee or Tea?” He rolled over in good humour, grabbed her into his arms, “you brat, trying to be funny, eh? You’ve got to pay” then began another onslaught of frenzied kisses, his hands alternating between stroking her smooth beautiful back and squeezing her silky, creamy white hips.

Chapter AW-33

As Shan Mei hung up the phone, she bit her lower lip, not knowing what to say. Michael wanted her to attend the Broadcasting Conference to be held in London in October. He wanted to take the opportunity to introduce her as the new director designate of CTN-Asia/Pacific. She was already up to her neck in planning and production, how was she going to spare a week off?

And she didn’t want to be away from baby that long. He was now at that stage, where he would surprise them every day with something new that he had learnt. Last night, he very proudly stood up on his own by grabbing hold of the leg of a chair, then grabbing to other ‘legs’, he moved around the room.

With his few front teeth, he was also trying to chew on a thin slice of apple.
He found it too sourish for his taste, he spat it out, it landed on his daddy. Daddy looked so sorrowful, claiming he had to eat baby’s leftovers! He then suddenly brightened up. “Any mummy’s milk left over?” and looked devilishly at his wife.
==

She phoned her husband. On hearing her sweet voice, he went soft.

“Something new to report on baby?”

“Something new to report on Michael. That conference you have to attend in London? Michael just phoned, saying it was imperative that I attend too.”

On hearing this, Xiang Zhe said a silent prayer of thanks to Michael. He had been coaxing his wife to attend the conference with him since receiving the invitation 6 months ago. She had fobbed him off with a ‘wait and see’ half hearted promise.

The CEOs from the other television stations were bringing their wives along.
He asked for the Conference file from his secretary. He decided to drop by his wife’s office which he had never visited since CTN moved in. Shan Mei was not in her office but somewhere in the MBS building when he arrived. He looked around her office and noticed she had many family photos up on the shelving unit along the wall behind her chair, even the most recent ones taken at Bao Bao’s one year old birthday party. On her big executive table, she only had one photo; it was of him framed within a heart shaped cutout. He looked at the photo and wished he knew what his wife was thinking whenever she looked at it.

A special VCD/VC player connected to a high resolution TV screen opposite her table was placed on a side table. The images on the screen from the CD playing continuously looked familiar. He looked closer and was pleasantly surprised. It was the VC that he taped specially for her so long ago after he found her sobbing so sorrowfully after the mobile phone incident in the MBS Newsroom. That time, he was in Japan to meet with some production companies, trying to sell some of MBS’ drama series. Although his heart ached so painfully for Shan Mei, he knew she didn’t want him to exert his authority on Station policies; she simply wanted to vent her frustrations and wanted his comforting. He felt so helpless, he couldn’t protect her.

He wanted her to see how much he cared, by going out of his way to make her an edited tape showing her ‘in action’, how beautiful her smile was, and how he intended to keep her smiling forever!

There was a box full of duplicates. All were very high quality duplicates. She must have had them done while she was in London. The photo of him on her table was taken from his image on the CD. He smiled happily and secretly to himself. He wondered where the original video cassette was?

His wife called him on his mobile, letting him know she was still at MBS Planning Dept meeting with Brother Jae Hoon and Xiang Jie. Did he want to join them?

“Brother Jae Hoon now, eh?” he thought, disgruntled. Of course, he would be right down. He must remember to lodge a protest tonight. “Brother Jae Hoon, hmmpf?”

The people in the Planning Dept were surprised when MBS President arrived. It looked liked a high-level mini conference was going on. Li Qing Xi was in the conference room, with News Dept and Programme Dept Controllers having coffee and discussing how to slot their programmes to gain maximum advantage over SGS. Over in Xiang Jie’s office, they were finalising some translation work for the mini series. Shan Mei was worried after Xiang Jie returned to London in 3 weeks’ time; the dubbing process might slow down. They assured her Patrick had been recruited to help out.

Back in his office, Xiang Zhe showed his wife the London Conference programme, which was to run from Monday to Saturday. Shan Mei said “I don’t think I’ll want to stay till Saturday; it’s the day for the Conference Ball anyway. Xue Zhang, why don’t you stay on to give support the other Korean delegates?” Xiang Zhe looked at his wife, “Why don’t I show support to my wife? Like this,” and he pressed his lips against hers.

She would want to take the Wednesday flight out of London, ensuring she still arrived in Seoul in time to host the chat show with Patrick. They would leave Seoul Friday last flight for London. Musical Postcard would be pre-taped for that evening. Michael told her there would be formal dinner and dance on Saturday for all the CTN delegates from around the world. Sunday, David and Cassie were having house opening at their London townhouse. This would give the CTN forces enough time to get to know one another before the Conference began on Monday. “Xue Zhang, can you please plan flight arrangements accordingly? Thanks.”

Every evening, except Thursdays and Fridays, after work, they rushed home to see what mischief Bao Bao had been up to. He was the apple of his daddy and mummy’s eyes. Shan Mei complained that Xue Zhang was spoiling the baby too much. Soon he would become difficult to handle. “Jealous?” he teased his wife. She pouted, and moved away pretending to be upset with them both.

Daddy carried baby and ran after his wife. “Bao Bao, tell mummy you’re sorry you’ve been a naughty boy” and kept pushing baby to her face to give her a kiss. She hit her husband on his arm and complained he was the one who was naughty. Then they ran into their bedroom, putting baby on their bed, and began tickling him all over. Baby was busy laughing or jabbering. Sometimes, he would spend a whole 10 minutes simply jabbering away interspersed with some intelligible words. They would need his uncle on stand by to make sense of what baby was trying to say.
==

Xiang Zhe was very excited. He had just come back from Madam Kim, with photo of the designer gown he had asked her to order for his wife. He had also ordered matching jewelry to go with the gown. He went straight to her office. He wanted to show her. Her secretary was not at her desk. He was about to walk through the door when he saw Xiang Jie in Shan Mei’s arms. As they drew apart she gave him a package. Xiang Zhe had seen enough, he immediately went back down to his office. He was raging mad inside.

On the way home in the car that evening, as he stole sideway glances at his wife, he marveled at her coolness, as if letting Xiang Jie go was an every day occurrence. She sat there next to him in silence, her eyes closed. Was she still thinking of Xiang Jie?

When they arrived home, he took his briefcase and went straight up to his office, without even stopping to give his son a kiss. He sat at his desk, in a sullen mood, not knowing how to tackle the problem. Should he confront her directly, or wait to see how their ‘mutual adoration’ developed? Anyway, he had seen with his own eyes, so she couldn’t deny it. Didn’t Xiang Jie once told him that Shan Mei thought he was more handsome than his elder brother and that was supposed to be a secret between the two of them ? Was Shan Mei finding Xiang Jie irresistible now that he had matured into a fine, young man? Even he had to admit grudgingly to himself his younger brother was turning out to be darn good looking.

Shan Mei was worried. Had something happened in the company, that Xue Zhang was so burdened he didn’t even want dinner? As soon as he arrived home, he had kept to himself in his office. She quickly gave the baby some attention, then told nanny to take over, because she wanted to prepare dinner for Master.

She took coffee up to him. He was sitting in his chair smoking, deep in thought, his eyes glassy as he looked out the window. From the ashtray, she could see he had smoked through a pack of cigarettes already.

She looked at him, and gave him a dazzling smile. He ignored her. When she tried to give him a kiss on his cheek, he turned his face away. Then, she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. He pulled her hand away. He must really be in an extremely foul mood; he didn’t even want a kiss from her. She decided to leave him alone. She made some super delicious sushi rolls and left them in the fridge in case he wanted food later.

Night had fallen. Xiang Zhe didn’t bother to switch on the lights in his office. He massaged his temples with his fingers in circular movements. So, he was no longer top priority with her? Normally, she wouldn’t give up so easily whenever he was in silent mood. She would try her best, at least 2 tries, to humour him until she got some reaction or laughter from him. It was now four hours since she left him sitting in his office. Why wasn’t she up to see whether he was okay? It was eleven already; he would take a warm shower then see what she was up to.

Their bedroom was in total darkness, she was not in bed. He went to the kitchen. She was not there, too. It seemed no one had prepared dinner. He checked the fridge; a box of his favourite sushi was there. He went outside to the patio, no one was there. He ran his fingers through his hair nervously; it was so late, where could she be? After his shower, he ran back upstairs to check whether she was in her office. It was empty. He felt too worried to eat.

Finally, he called her mobile “where are you, stop playing games?” he sounded angry.

Shan Mei answered very softly “I thought you wanted to be left alone. I’m at the cabin, so you can be alone.”

“You’re crazy or something, walking down that lonely lane in the dark?!!” he barked down the phone, then hung up.

In less than 3 minutes he was at the cabin. He stormed in planning to give her an earful. The cabin was in darkness. He walked round to the courtyard. He saw her sitting there, her arms hugging her bent legs, her head resting on her knees. He knew at once she had been crying. He placed his hand on her shoulder. She shrugged it off. He bent down next to her and softly asked her, “want to go home now?”

“What for? You didn’t even want my kiss?” She stared at him angrily. Xiang Zhe noticed her swollen eyes and red nose. “Every time it’s the same. Something’s bothering you, you don’t come right out and say it. Just giving everybody the silent treatment. And you said you were giving up cigarettes, but you just smoked a pack, maybe more.”

“Okay, you want to know? I’ll tell you! This afternoon in your office you were holding on so tightly to Xiang Jie in your arms. Did you give him a kiss too? Couldn’t bear to see him leave? And giving him a farewell present! How do you think I felt? First his mother took my father away from my mother, now he wants to take my wife away from me?”

Shan Mei lifted her face to look at him, horrified! She suddenly jumped up. “Do you know what you are raving about?” then went to sit on the steps of the cabin, the colour in her face showed she was in a big huff.

“Are you denying he was in your office this afternoon, and you two were holding on to each other for dear life, and you gave him a farewell present?”

“I don’t deny a thing, except your crazy thinking. He’s our brother. As his sister of course I’ve to comfort him, seeing I’m the only one in the family without baggage. It’s 3 months since he’s been back. Father hasn’t once mentioned about his mother or asked about her. He was afraid to ask what Father intended to do.

When he was here, he didn’t understand the situation. After he went to London, he looked up the Internet and followed the Chosoon case of last summer. He realised you were trying to protect him, buying him the house and sending him away; and he loved you for it. In fact, he felt so disloyal to his mother because he didn’t want her to return. He didn’t want Bao Bao to call her ‘grandmother’, saying she was not worthy. What could I do except offer him comfort? A young boy rejecting his own mother for the wrong she had done, first to you, then to Father, and lastly to himself for the baggage he would have to carry forever on his shoulders? How upright more a person can you get?

The supposed-to-be-farewell present contained the things he requested and were prepared for him by You Zhen Ge. He wanted photo of Father, him and Bao Bao; you, me and Bao Bao taken at baby’s recent birthday party. The other was your mother’s photo, for remembrance. You should be so thankful you have such a wonderful brother, instead in your eyes, we are the adulterous pair.” She became so incensed; she went into the cabin, hoping to shut his face away.

He was speechless. Her missile-speed verbal attack gave him no chance to retaliate, and after what she told him, he was in shock. He was too enrapt in his own happiness, he never thought his father, Xiang Jie, Step mother could be suffering in silence. He never once asked his father what he intended to do, to resolve the matter. He never once offered comfort. At first he was pleased, it seemed like that woman was being banished by his father to outer space. But he never thought of Xiang Jie’s feeling and position.

His wife was right. Where to get such a good brother? Even though he knew his elder brother disliked his mother, and couldn't bear the sight of him, he took all this quietly in his stride. Of course Shan Mei would be the only person he could pour his heart out to. He should be so thankful, his wife and his younger brother always thought of his welfare, and only did things for his benefit. Didn’t Michael say he was a good kid? And Michael was never wrong.

He went into the cabin, but his wife was not talking to him. She had already said her piece. She was now under the quilt, ignoring him and trying to get some sleep. After undressing, he crept under the quilt. He inched as close to her as possible, then very softly whispered into the hollow behind her ear “I’ m so sorry. Please forgive me. I always act crazy because I love you too much. I always dread the day someone will come along and steal my most treasured possession from me, the same way someone stole my father from my mother.” He then pulled her into his arms, stroking her hair, caressing her face, kissing her lips. Suddenly, her body convulsed with incessant sobbing. He knew he brought all this on to himself. All he could do was holding her tightly to him and kept begging for forgiveness, kissing her tenderly all over.

When she finally tired herself out, he removed her clothes and carried her to shower room for a hot shower. After drying her and putting her clothes back on, he asked whether she had had dinner. She said she wasn’t hungry. “How can I eat when my husband could think I would want another man.”

Her eyes were becoming teary again. “Darling, I want to show you how very sorry I am, but I need my energiser,” he whispered softly, He went out to the car to get the box of sushi rolls his wife had so lovingly made for him. When he returned with the sushi, he puckered up his lips for a kiss. When she ignored him, he said he wasn’t going to eat unless he got his kiss. Still no reaction from her. Gosh, she must really be very, very angry !

“Darling, if you continue to ignore me, I’m going to tickle the soles of your feet.” As soon as Shan Mei heard this, she smiled hopelessly and leant forward to slide her lips across his mouth. When his wife gave him this little light kiss, he was not happy; he then pulled her on to his lap, held her tight to him and gave her a deep, lingering kiss, laughing freely, all doubts soundly banished from his mind.

“Don’t laugh so happily yet. What do you say if I ground you for your crazy thoughts.”

“How long?” He knew he deserved some form of punishment but, please, nothing as severe as ‘grounding’.

“A month, at least.” He didn’t say anything, except accept the punishment meekly, at the same time giving his wife a very, very sorrowful look. He thought he’d behave for a week; after that he’d work his way around her soft heart, so she would end this tortuous punishment.

After finishing the food, they very quickly went to sleep, ensconced in each other’s arms and love.

The tempest had cleared.

Chapter AW-34

Xiang Jie had returned to London, yet Shan Mei hadn’t totally forgiven her husband for his crazy outburst. She didn’t leave with him for work in the mornings, claiming she wanted to spend time with their son. After work, in the evenings, she told him to go home on his own, if he had finished his work. She hadn’t finished yet for the day and had a lot of things to follow through at the office. Baby needed him and she had left his dinner in the fridge. He simply needed to warm it up in the microwave.

Xiang Zhe had felt remorseful, and was missing his wife terribly without her around him. One evening after work he decided to drop by her office with dinner. There was no one around in her office, he thought she had said she was busy. He walked to the other end of the floor where CTN-KE had their work rooms. He peeped into a brightly lit room. He saw about 20 people working in a classroom-like setting, his wife sitting at a desk in the front, like the teacher. They were working in groups of 5. Every now and then, someone would bring some sheets of paper up to Shan Mei to check with her.

Shan Mei somehow sensed Xiang Zhe’s presence close by. She looked up and saw her husband. She smiled, and went up to him at the door.

“Something the matter?” she asked softly and sweetly.

“I’m missing you very much. I brought you dinner. Busy conducting a training class?”

She laughed softly. “Busy helping MBS supervise the translation work for the mini series.” She went back into the room and told the translators she would be back shortly, and then walked with her husband to her office.

“With current sponsorship contracts signed, we would need 4 mini series a month. There are now only 2 series extra as back up. With Xiang Jie back at Cambridge, there really isn’t anyone to follow up on translation. Patrick is in the recording studio helping Jae Hoon. And since we’ll be leaving for London next week, I want to ensure translation is completed for as many series as possible. NSK Bank CEO has phoned saying they are extremely happy with the mini series, even though only two titles shown so far. They have been receiving good response to their financial packages offered in conjunction with the screening. He assures me the bank will definitely continue after their one-year contract expires.”

“What time will you finish?” he asked softly as he held on to one of her hands.

“About 10. Don’t wait for me. Go home and get some rest.” She ran her fingers gently across his eyebrows and rubbed at his frowns when she said that. He could feel her love in each and every of her tender touch. At once, his heart melted like ice cream, his legs went soft like marshmallows, and his perspiring palms became sticky like candy floss. He wished they were back home in their bed, because in that instant he wanted to hold her tight against him, so tight that he would squeeze the breath out of her.

Instead, he asked her very calmly, “Who’s seeing you home?”

“Patrick has been seeing me home. Don’t worry, I’ll be alright.”

“Since I’m here, I want to wait for you. Take your dinner first.” And he began to unpack the food from the boxes.

“Thank you, husband.” She then gave him a swift kiss on his lips. She took 2 rolls, and went back to the translators, telling her husband to stay in her office or return to his to wait till 10. Xiang Zhe stayed around to look at the photos again, even though he had many of the same ones in his office. He looked at her table, to check whether his photo was still there. It was. He chewed on his lower lip with his teeth, then smiled happily with relief….. he might be grounded, but he knew, in Shan Mei’s heart, he was still her No. 1.

That night in bed, Shan Mei remonstrated with her husband that instead of waiting for her, he should take baby in the evenings to visit his father.

“With Xiang Jie back in London, and Patrick working late in the evenings, Father will surely feel lonely. Darling, may be now is good opportunity to ask him whether it’s time to ask Auntie to return to Seoul? Luckily, we have Auntie Lee, otherwise we would have to move in with your father to keep him company.”

Xiang Zhe told her, “I would rather we move in with Father than let that woman return. After we return from London, I’ll make some new arrangements for Father to keep his evenings occupied. As it is, baby is already at his place 3 nights a week. Also Pa and Ma and Minnie, sometimes with You Zhen, are there every weekend. And while we are in London for the week, baby and nanny will be staying with Father. That should be alright for the time being.”
===

Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei arrived in London early Saturday morning. They were met and sent by hotel limousine to the hotel where the Conference delegates were all staying including the entire CTN posse.

He was the one who packed their luggage. Shan Mei thanked her husband, and on unpacking found the lovely evening gown Xiang Zhe had arranged for her to wear that evening for the CTN dinner and dance. Her husband then showed her the 3 strands of perfect pearls set with blue diamond clasp that he wanted her to wear with the gown. The necklace was simply exquisite. He had also packed along some of her other jewelry, to match her day wear for meetings. Even the cocktail dresses he packed were new models he had asked Madam Kim to assemble together.

She quickly wrote him an IOU note, the O being drawn in shape of a heart, and left it on his dressing table. He saw it as soon as he came out of the shower. ‘Payable on demand to Mr. Yin Xiang Zhe a big reward from Zhen Shan Mei. Collection Time between 12 midnight to the following morning 5 a.m..”

He smiled softly, darting a glance toward his wife and then walked up slowly towards her, to encircle his arms around her waist. “To show your goodwill, I demand a small down payment right now.” He then started kissing her, caressing her. She returned a few of his kisses and caresses, and told her husband that that was a very substantial down payment she was giving him. He was having a hard time keeping his passions in check. Since his crazy outburst over Xiang Jie, his wife hadn’t let him anywhere near her, except being her neighbour in bed. Boy, if he hadn’t felt so guilty, he would have kicked up a big fuss. He didn’t want to be neighbourly, he wanted to be husbandly!!

But there had been no chance for him to act the demanding husband; every night Shan Mei arrived home from the Station very late, and after shower, she immediately fell off to sleep like a dead log.

Even though Shan Mei managed to sleep a bit on the long flight from Seoul to London, she was tired and wanted to sleep a bit, then she wanted a beauty massage and her hair done. Running through her tired mind, were translations and translations of storylines for 25 mini TV series. She hoped dubbing work at MBS was progressing well.

That night at the CTN party, so many introductions were made; they soon forgot who was who. But one thing was for sure; Shan Mei, in her light aqua coloured soft, floaty chiffon gown which accentuated her figure so perfectly, together with her handsome husband made a very beautiful and distinguished looking couple and drew a lot of admiring glances.

After all the official welcoming and introduction speeches were made, Michael went on to the podium to introduce Shan Mei as the Director of CTN-Asia/Pac beginning 1 January, the job eyed by many in the CTN worldwide family. A short video clip was shown of the CTN-KE office and its achievements, especially of Shan Mei and her numerous awards, closing with the Musical Postcard show, she and her husband playing their guitars. By the end of the evening, it was obvious Shan Mei was a popular choice being confident, versatile and beautiful. All those who met her assured her of their support.

David Dutton was the first to lead Shan Mei onto the dance floor, Xiang Zhe then had to invite Cassie. Soon, Michael came forward for Shan Mei and he told her how beautiful she looked. No one in the room could compare to her. Her dazzling smile and childlike allure captivated all. Many of the women in the room were waiting for a chance to dance with the gorgeous Mr. Yin. He noticed Michael didn’t dance with any other lady except Shan Mei, not even his sister-in-law, and managed so well to extricate himself from situations.

Xiang Zhe followed suit. He stayed well away from the other ladies and only mingled with the men. He was not worried of Michael. Michael was an honourable and open man, so open he didn’t even try to hide his feelings for Shan Mei from him.

Xiang Zhe was getting restless. It was past 11 and he couldn’t wait to return to their suite, to demand payment from his wife on her IOU. He had been waiting since morning. No, waiting since ONE MONTH ago would be more accurate! As soon as he caught Shan Mei’s attention, he signaled to her, with his trademark ‘wink’. She smiled at him, but continued chatting with Mr. Ted Steiner, the chairman of CTN-USA, who kept holding on to her hand, not keen at all to let her go. From afar, Michael caught Xiang Zhe’s eye-wink to Shan Mei, deduced what was going on, and came to Shan Mei’s rescue. As soon as Xiang Zhe saw that his wife was free, he immediately escorted her back to their table. From there they decided to make a quick, quiet exit.

His wife was totally exhausted. Back in their suite, Xiang Zhe ordered champagne, and prepared water for their bath. He swished his fingers around in the water. “I’ve added some bath salts,” he said. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“No, not at all,” Shan Mei answered as she walked into the bathroom in her robe. As he helped remove her robe and he brushed a deep, lingering kiss along her shoulders, he told her she was the belle of the ball, no one could compare. She smiled to herself, [didn’t Michael say the same?] In the bath, he gave her a good back rub, trying to negotiate a new deal with her. Since they didn’t have to be at David’s house opening until 1 p.m. the following afternoon, he wanted his wife to give him more time. She readily agreed.

Abed, with their champagne, Xiang Zhe congratulated his wife on being officially appointed the Director of CTN-Asia/Pac. He told her to do her job well, because he could see many people in that room tonight wanted the job. He would always be by her side to give whatever support she needed. He was so proud of her.

By the time Shan Mei was through with her 4th glass of champagne, she was in very happy mood, giggling at most things her husband was whispering into her ears. Xiang Zhe removed the glass from her hand; he lay her down on her pillow, and began to ravish her with his hungry kisses. Sobbing softly and groaning deeply in his throat, he buried his face in her hair. “Darling, I couldn’t stand you being so distant with me. I couldn’t bear not making love to you. This past month has been hell, and hell is not the place I want to be, ever again.” He resumed his onslaught of feverish kisses.

“I know.” Her voice was breathless, because his head had dipped and his lips touched the pulse at her throat. When he raised his head, a lock of dark hair had fallen across his forehead and she pushed it gently aside.

Shan Mei had missed her husband too, so much. As she circled her arms around his back, she moaned very softly, “Darling, love me, I need you so much.” There was no stopping Xiang Zhe, with that little bit of invitation from his wife.

She watched passion flare in his eyes, and when he groaned in pleasure, she knew he was feeling the same intensity of passion as she.

Throughout the night, he couldn’t keep count how many times his wife moaned for him, or he moaned for her. And this time in their moments of play, he taught her how to fondle and tease, how to touch and knead and thereby heighten her own near explosive yearnings and his. When the molten flame of passion had been fanned and quenched again and again, they were left utterly exhausted. By the time they finally fell asleep in each other’s arms, the first streaky light of dawn was beginning to push the dark clouds of the night away.

When they arrived at the Dutton’s town house, it was past 2 p.m. They had brought from Korea a pair of antique celadon vases to gift the Duttons. For Michael they gave him an antique celadon tea set with a canister of the best grade jasmine tea, knowing how much he enjoyed Chinese tea.

The guests at the Dutton’s home were mostly members from the CTN worldwide TV family. Food was served buffet style. David took Shan Mei with him to introduce her to some people she had not met before while Michael and Xiang Zhe engaged in small talk. Many of the people introduced to Shan Mei knew her by name, since they have heard from the UK sponsors what a terrific job she had done with “Two Sides To a Coin.”

After he was left on his own, Xiang Zhe occupied his time going through David and Cassie’s wedding photo albums. From the photos, he saw how Shan Mei really stood out. The groom, bride, matron of honour, bridesmaids were all blondes, except Shan Mei who was brunette. Her face had on the faintest of make up yet she looked pink against the other’s pale-on-pale look, like an especially beautiful dewy, pink rose right in the middle of a bouquet of champagne coloured roses. He noticed, in the photos, every time Michael looked Shan Mei’s way, his eyes were on her and there was so much love for her in his eyes shining through, that Xiang Zhe caught his breath just by looking.

A few directors from the U.K. Higher Education Foundation were there to meet Shan Mei. The associated institutions had received many enquiries from Korean, Japanese and Taiwanese and Mainland Chinese students interested in furthering their tertiary education in U.K. It would seem the series sponsored by the Foundation was very well received in Korea and by its surrounding regional neighbours.

Shan Mei later introduced the Foundation directors to her husband.

“Oh, Sir Henry, that’s my husband over there with Michael. I’d like you to meet him.” Shan Mei beckoned to Xiang Zhe. Michael walked over to Shan Mei together with Xiang Zhe. Michael did the introduction.

“Henry, please meet little Shan Mei’s husband Yin Xiang Zhe. Xiang Zhe is the president of MBS, one of the top television stations in Korea.” Sir Henry extended his hand for a warm handshake.

“Yes, I’ve heard of MBS. It’s the station that has this very successful cross over programme with CTN, right?”

Xiang Zhe was feeling quite proud. He didn’t know their 2STAC chat show had received rave reviews as far ashore as U.K.

“Sir Henry, the Higher Education programme on CTN-KE is very popular. I was thinking it would be interesting if a drama series can be developed, using one of the top education institutions as background to a drama storyline. This will tie in very nicely with the education series. MBS would be interested and honoured to produce such a series.”

“Mr. Yin, you have an interesting point there. At our next board meeting, I’ll definitely throw this suggestion on the table and gauge the reaction. Any institution in mind for the storyline?”

Without thinking deeply, Xiang Zhe blurted out, “My institution of choice will of course be Cambridge since I am also one of its graduates.”

Sir Henry lifted an eyebrow and gave Michael a brief glance, then turned back to Xiang Zhe with a suggestion. “Oh, that’s interesting. If you’re Michael’s Junior, he can surely second the proposal. You know how these conservative institutions think. Everything has to be vetted so carefully, not even one inch of their reputation must be tarnished.”

After more questions from Sir Henry, and he was justifiably satisfied, it was agreed as soon as Shan Mei received a positive reply from Sir Henry, MBS would send a team from Seoul to do the initial location scouting with a synopsis of the story outline. Xiang Zhe was tickled and excited. He himself could easily synopsise the outline of the story, like a piece of cake. He would simply take his and Shan Mei’s love story, commit that on paper, throw in a couple of sub-plots along the way but give it a quicker happy ending. The hero of the story would definitely not have to wait 8 long years to get his heroine to walk down the aisle with him! He-he!

That night back in their hotel suite, Xiang Zhe was curious and asked Shan Mei with David and Michael looking so much alike, how could she tell the difference from one twin to the other?

“Their parents were fraught with this problem when they named the elder one David Michael, the younger Michael David. This caused total confusion at school. So, David being the elder one went to Oxford, the younger one to Cambridge, using Oxbridge as a guide, to reveal who was the elder. Have you noticed their insignia rings on their little pinkies? And when they smile, Michael has the deeper dimples.”

“How did you manage to notice these subtle differences?”

“Because, during that time in London, I worked everyday with David in the CTN London office, and whenever Michael returned, I must make sure I addressed the right Mr. Dutton. In the office, David likes to be addressed to as Mr. Dutton, while Michael is very informal and prefers to be addressed by his name.”

London held special meaning for the Yins, as if there was a score to settle. When they first met, they were students. The second time Shan Mei stayed in London, they were at that difficult ‘falling in love’ stage, each having to hold back and tread very cautiously. Now, they were here as husband-and-wife. They could do whatever they want, however they want, and loving and indulging his wife was what Xiang Zhe wanted. He felt so liberated.

The delegates from SGS, Seoul and PKB, Pusan would arrive that night to attend the conference. Xiang Zhe thought it would be a good idea to meet up with them during breakfast as the delegates from Korea were supposed to form themselves into a team, to present the overall review of the future direction of the industry in Korea.

Next morning at the breakfast table, the Korean delegates decided that Yin Xiang Zhe would be the appointed rep for the group. Xiang Zhe then said, “Let’s work together on this. I’ll be leaving with my wife on Wednesday, so I agree to present the first paper on Tuesday. Some one will have to present the rest of the paper on Friday.” The President of PKB Busan was selected to present the second paper, while the SGS President was selected to conclude the presentation by summarising the overall broadcasting situation in Korea.

Shan Mei’s appearance at the Conference had served its purpose. She left very early on Wednesday for Seoul, her husband insisted on traveling with her even though she had asked him to stay back. Upon arrival in Seoul, she rushed back to the studio, to prepare for that week’s 1st part of the Chat Show. Patrick and the rest of the crew were so happy to see her back. After that, Xiang Zhe drove his wife to his father’s house to see their baby, whom they had missed so much.

Father had just arrived home from the office. Xiang Zhe told Auntie Lee not to bother with preparing dinner. “Auntie Lee, I’ll order home-delivery from our favourite restaurant in the area, to celebrate Shan Mei’s promotion, which was officially announced in London. Pa and Ma will be coming with tubs of side dishes they had prepared.”

Yin Snr was so proud. He called his friend Jin Jun Hao, who had always recognised his daughter-in-law’s potential.

“Hey Jin, come over for dinner tonight. Shan Mei has big announcement to make.”

“Another baby coming?”

Yin Snr laughed heartily. “Maybe!” was all he was prepared to say in answer to Jin’s question.

Chapter AW-35

Xiang Zhe called Zian Da into his office, instructing him to put out internal memos to the various departments that at this year’s company Christmas party – Management had some new plans.

“I know it’s a bit rushed but we’ve got to start from somewhere. Christmas is about the ideal time to do something different from the previous years. MBS wants to crown a Chess champion, a Go champion and a Bridge champion. The two months before Christmas will be elimination rounds. Father, Uncle Liu and Uncle Jin have promised to be moderators.”

They discussed briefly some guidelines for the games. Contests would be held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights, between 7 and 10 p.m. Depending on the kind of response received, PR department would be able to give out more information. Big trophy to the winner, 1st and 2nd runners-up would also receive prizes.

“Zian Da, can you get working on the organisation of this as quickly as possible?”

A few days later Zian Da reported excitedly back to Xiang Zhe that the response from the staff had been overwhelming, and he would let the seniors know so they could arrange time to come to MBS for preliminary meeting, before the first contest.

That night at home Xiang Zhe told his wife not to worry about father.

“Darling, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday lonely nights are now taken care of. I’ve arranged for Father to teach Chess at MBS. For those employees already experts, there will be competitions. Uncle Jin and Uncle Liu will join Father and be responsible for Go and Bridge. We’ll wait till Christmas to determine how effective the plan is. Happy?”

Shan Mei praised her husband for taking such swift action.

“How about helping me with these?” She took out some papers from her briefcase to show to Xue Zhang.

“These are the past 2 years’ financial reports from Sydney, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Singapore offices. You know, I don’t understand much about figures. Can you please go through them, and let me know whether these contain any hidden factors? I would be visiting the 4 offices at various times next month. I want the real picture from my husband, not what the people from those offices are going to tell me.”

Xiang Zhe smiled and looked at his wife in silence, when she wasn’t aware of it. He never realised she was so shrewd. Initially, he was worried whether his wife would be able to cope with the job of being CTN’s Director of Asia/Pacific. Now, he laughed inside himself. If she left the financial intricacies to him; the rest of the job would be an easy walk for her. Clever imp!

No wonder his father wanted to leave half of his MBS shares to her. Later, he left her his whole Wen Rong stake. Yin Senior knew she wouldn’t cheat her husband out of his inheritance, and her natural inborn skill in handling people-related issues would win her supporters. He would ask his father to let her sit in on one of Wen Rong’s BOD meetings. May be his angel could let him know whether changes were necessary in her simple logic.

As he scanned through the financial papers, his hand automatically rubbed at his forehead. Shan Mei was worried her work was adding extra burden for Xue Zhang. She went to the back of his chair, to give him a neck and shoulder massage. After a while, he pulled her forward into his lap. He kissed her hands, and told her he wanted a back massage too.

“Darling, why don’t you go lie down on the bed and wait for me, while I tidy away the papers?” He did look tired. She gave him a kiss, and hurried him out of his office along to their bedroom.

That night, she worked hard in giving her husband a very good massage that relaxed his tensed, knotted up muscles. After a while, he was fast asleep. She kissed him tenderly on the back of his nape, and covered him with the quilt. She stroked his hair, intense love for him pouring out of every pore in her body, with every beat of her heart.

As she sat there looking at him, she remembered the night he turned his face away from her kiss. That was the first time ever that her husband rejected a kiss from her. It was like the end of the world for her. She didn’t care what would happen to her. She only knew she had to escape to their secret haven where she hoped she would be safe from his anger. Better still if she was run over by a car in the darkness. For a minute there she had visions of another woman in Xue Zhang’s arms – he was growing tired of her like the expert ‘celebrity-watchers’ had predicted; out with the old and in with a captivating starlet? Of course, her fears were later proved baseless, yet that reaction had thrown her. She began to sob silently when she realized she wouldn’t know what to do if Xue Zhang left her for another woman. She went over to their sofa to think. Soon she fell asleep there.

Sometime during the night, Xiang Zhe rolled over on the bed, wanting to cuddle up to his wife. Her side of the bed was empty. He awoke wondering where she was. He propped himself on his elbow, looked around the room and saw her on the sofa. He padded over and carried her back to bed. She felt cold. What happened? He drew her into his warm embrace, pulling the quilt over them, went back to sleep, thinking may be he had hurt her unknowingly?
==

A week later, he gave her a full report in Financial Advisor format making it very easy for her to understand his analysis of the CTN/Asia Pacific accounts. Some parts, the explanation notes were in great detail, other parts he briefly summarized. He pointed out to his wife some sections that she should heed. And some sample questions that she should ask.

Lots of activities were going on in the MBS canteen that evening. Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei decided to stay back late in the office, because the first round of the contests for Christmas was underway and they wanted to see how Father was handling the situation. They went down to the canteen. The 3 seniors were excitedly moderating their sections. Because so many had signed up, each contest was allotted the most 30 minutes to determine the outcome. They had several elimination rounds going on at the same time. Father told the couple not to wait for him. Uncle Jin would drop him home that night.

On their to the car park, Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei looked at each other, Shan Mei giving her husband the thumbs up. She squeezed his hand, then praised him softly, “you’re so clever.”

“Do I get reward?” he whispered into her ear.

“Reward? You should be getting punishment for coming up with the idea one year too late,” she reproached him, pretending to be angry.

“Okay, I don’t mind punishment. Just tell me where you’re going to bite this time,” he replied, grinning broadly and ran ahead towards the car as Shan Mei was trying to hit him playfully on his arm.

While in the car, Shan Mei thought her husband could improve on the idea. “Darling, starting in the New Year, do you think it a good idea to extend the competition to the children of MBS staff? You know, friendly games to foster goodwill among the employees? A children’s club organized for the children. I suppose most probably the children will be school-going age so the contests will be held only on Sundays. The elimination rounds will take them right up to Christmas. Or for those children wanting to learn, the winners from the current competition can volunteer to teach. For the children’s club, the top four winners from the 3 different age groups will get some kind of scholarship money. It’s just a suggestion.”

Xiang Zhe slanted an indulgent sidelong glance at his wife and smiled softly at her suggestion. It looked like he and Shan Mei really made a winning team.
==

Xiang Zhe had just ended his call with Shan Mei about dinner arrangement when his secretary buzzed him on his phone extension, telling him that Mr. Zian Da had sent a Miss Park from Blossom Event Management Company to see him.

Miss Park actually wanted to invite President Yin Xiang Zhe to sit on the judging panel for the final judging for the forthcoming Miss Blossom Beauty Contest, to be held next February. Xiang Zhe laughed silently. He looked at Miss Park who was sitting on the sofa across him at the coffee table.

“Miss Park, thank you very much for thinking of me. But the truth is I have absolutely no experience in judging beauty contests. To be frank, I’m also not interested in such activities. I’m sorry I have to reject your kind invitation. Maybe, another time when Blossom organises something I’m more familiar with, I will gladly assist if I have the time.”

In fact, Miss Park had used this as an excuse to see Yin Xiang Zhe. She had first seen him at the Korean Tourism Board cocktail party two weeks ago, and was immediately enamoured with him and did all she could to find out as much as possible about this delicious hunk. She heard from the city’s gossip grapevine that he was not interested in girls, since all previous match making attempts since he was 17 years old were unsuccessful. Although he had been married for a little over two years, they suspected it was a marriage of convenience to ensure heir for the Yin family. No one was aware he was dating any girl before his marriage? His son was now one year old. He and his wife seldom participated in any social functions.

At close quarters, in his office surroundings, he looked even more handsome and appealing. She wished he would accept the invitation giving her every opportunity and pretext to call on him whenever she liked.

After Miss Park left his office, Xiang Zhe phoned Zian Da. “Hi, it’s me. What’s this nonsense, sending a Miss Park to my office without first getting clearance from me? Don’t ever do that again.”

“Hey, Xiang Zhe, relax. She is a beauty. I thought you might be interested, especially when you get invited to judge such beautiful girls. I would have jumped at the chance without even considering.”

“Then why didn’t you? You’re head of P.R. Department, you’re a qualified candidate to judge.”

“Trouble was she specifically asked for you, and wouldn’t consider any body else.”

“Next time, remember, the only one who wants to see me and gets to see me even when I’m in a top-level meeting is my wife.” He hung up his phone with a huff.

Later that week, when Miss Park was at the Westin Chosun Coffee Shop, she saw Xiang Zhe with a woman (assuming that was his wife) having dinner. Halfway through dinner, Shan Mei asked her husband discreetly, “Xue Zhang, do you know that girl sitting over at the far corner of the coffee shop? She has been staring at us the whole time we’ve been here. I’m beginning to feel quite uncomfortable. It seems her eyes are boring into my back!”

Xiang Zhe told his wife, “Darling, just ignore her. She is some girl from some event management company. Earlier in the week, she came to see me in the office, inviting me to be one of the judges for some beauty contest.”

He laughed softly. “Where do these people get such ideas?”

In fact, Miss Park was very interested in Shan Mei. From where she was sitting, she found there was nothing special about Mrs. Yin. If it was a marriage of convenience, she could easily cause mischief to break it up, and take that gorgeous Mr. Rich for herself.

A few days later, Miss Park made an appointment to see Shan Mei, inviting her to be one of the judges for Miss Blossom Beauty Contest. Shan Mei politely declined. “Miss Park, I’m very honoured but afraid I have to decline. Next year is going to be a very busy year for me. However, since you say you’re new in Seoul, having spent most of your growing-up years in Japan, I can put you in touch with someone who will make the perfect judge.”

Miss Park waited, silently hoping it would be Yin Xiang Zhe, while Shan Mei put a call through her friend Mr. Sung.

“Good morning Mr. Sung, Zhen Shan Mei here.”

S. D. Sung always loved to hear from Shan Mei. Since the charity concert, almost everyone in Seoul knew Mr. Sung had a thing for Shan Mei.

Shan Mei explained that Blossom Event Management Company was organising a beauty pageant and Miss Park, their representative, had approached her to be one of the judges. As she would have a hectic schedule, she had to refuse. She thought Mr. Sung would make the perfect judge. “Mr. Sung, can I send Miss Park over to see you?”

Mr. Sung understood Shan Mei very well. He knew she abhorred this kind of publicity, and was most probably seeking his help to get this Miss Park off her hands. “Sure, you can ask her to come see me at 3 this afternoon.”

After Miss Park left her office, Shan Mei had the feeling Miss Park was not really interested in her, but in Xue Zhang. All her questions had nothing at all to do with the beauty pageant but revolved around him. Shan Mei was reticent and cleverly avoided giving direct answers.

This was not the first time something like this had happened. She had been approached by many fashion and life-style magazine editors, all of them interested in wanting more information on her husband, her marriage and their family life. She sighed.

She knew when she agreed to marry Xue Zhang, she would be beset by such situations. She had promised herself to face them full on and not run away. She heaved a big sigh. It was Xue Zhang’s fault, for being so handsome, so rich, so gallant – every girl’s dream of Prince Charming!

Upon meeting Mr. Sung later that afternoon, Miss Park agreed Mr. Sung was indeed the perfect ‘judge’. And being so eligible, she wondered why he was still unmarried. After giving Mr. Sung some idea of what the judging would entail, she told him she would arrange a photo shoot session, for their publicity brochures.

As she joined Mr. Sung for afternoon tea in his reception room, she hedged about, asking questions about Mr. and Mrs. Yin. Mr. Sung was not a fool. He realised her target must have been Yin Xiang Zhe. Even though Xiang Zhe had been his love rival at one time, he didn’t want to see Shan Mei hurt or unhappy.

“So, it is true what Shan Mei has told me,” he pointed out to Miss Park, “that you are new in Seoul. Is this why you don’t know the Yins’ most romantic love story? They met ten years ago when they were both students at Cambridge, England. After returning to Seoul, when she found out he was rich and the boss of MBS, she ran away back to London. The person she fell in love with at Cambridge was just an ordinary guy. She didn’t want to be burdened with the usual problems of having a rich boyfriend. He never gave up and pursued her across two continents. Finally his sincerity and tenacity touched her heart and she accepted him.”

“Wasn’t theirs a marriage of convenience? Some people said Mr. Yin wasn’t dating anyone before he married.”

“What do those people know? Mr. and Mrs. Yin are very low-profile people. They liked to keep their private affairs strictly private.”

“Miss Zhen is a very lucky girl indeed!” Miss Park crowed with obvious envy in her voice.

“You should say, ‘Mr. Yin is a very lucky guy indeed!’ All men want to marry for true love, and not to some woman who is only interested in their fortunes or status in society. In fact, I was one of those who tried to court her without success. I was prepared to give her half of my fortune, which could easily buy her a few television stations, but she rejected me outright.

Where pedigree is concerned, that Yin Xiang Zhe is nothing; his father having no money or status of his own, but married into money. Even that money came with only short history. In North Korea, his great grandfather, was nothing, just a poor blacksmith. According to my parents, the old man only made some money with a shipyard and some old freighters, a tiny machinery tooling workshop and some odd small construction projects after he escaped to Busan. He had one son, Moon Joon-yik. This son had a daughter, Moon Soo-Wen, Yin Xiang Zhe’s mother. Later, after Madam Moon’s marriage, the family moved to Seoul. Whatever little pedigree Yin Xiang Zhe had came from his mother’s side.

How, later on, they managed to come into so much money and clout to start a television station, and win army building contracts, no one could understand. Their Moon Enterprise later changed its name to Wen Rong Holdings, and their original choice of name for their broadcasting venture of Moon Broadcasting Service was later abbreviated to MBS.”

S. D. Sung shook his head slowly as if he was still trying to fathom where the Moon’s money came from; this question had baffled his parents for years.

“My family is different. Our lineage can be traced back 20 generations and my family has always been of nobility class.

Since Yin married Shan Mei, the share price of MBS has gone up, up, and up. Before that, MBS share price went up and down, mostly down, like a yoyo with sagging string. Only certain programmes like Korean dramas, children programmes or sports fared comparatively on par against their rival stations. Their 7 and 9 o’clock news slots always lost out to their rivals. If they got 20% viewership rating for any of their programmes, they would be ecstatic. After Shan Mei launched PIR for MBS’ morning slot, suddenly MBS morning show gained top viewership rating. It’s just so incredible.”

Mr. Sung laughed mockingly at some private joke, having gleaned all this information from Nielsen’s Survey. “That was why Bansung never advertised on MBS before Zhen Shan Mei came onto the scene. We are not impressed with MBS’s viewership figures. As soon as CTN came to Korea, CTN has won in the viewership war. CTN’s ratings, on average, never dip below 50 percent, Shan Mei’s Korean Kinship hovered consistently around 75-80%, such figures unattainable dreams for the other stations. MBS scooped CTN channeling rights from SGS only because of Shan Mei. She is the one who gave MBS ‘The Price Is Right’ show. We advertise on several segments of this show.”
==

He suddenly recalled first morning of PIR’s second season. Bansung had offered 3 of their brand-new older model cars at 70% discount. As soon as the Bargain Corner hotline opened for order taking, during the first 10 minutes no call could get through, because the lines were jammed with calls. MBS had to request the Telephone Company to make emergency release of ten extra automatic queuing lines to the Hotline. To the 3 callers who finally managed to secure the purchase, it was like striking the lottery. MBS began receiving emails asking for repeat of offer because they couldn’t get through the line. To make Shan Mei happy, he offered another 20 such cars at 30% discount. Within half an hour after the hotline opened for order taking, all 20 cars were sold.

He was so stunned. It was such an easy way to clear old stock from their inventory. Except for being older models, the cars were actually brand new and would be supported by good after-sales service directly from Bansung. He then decided to use Bargain Corner to clear car stock at 30% discount. Even if Bansung gave MBS 10% as sales commission, Bansung would still be clearing the stock at marginal profit.
==

Mr. Sung further highlighted to Miss Park, “the movement of MBS share price is affected not by what Yin Xiang Zhe would do, but by what Zhen Shan Mei would say.”

Miss Park was surprised Mr. Sung was so unguarded in his revelations. In fact, he sounded bitter throughout and was desperate for some channel to vent his pent-up frustrations.

He was! He had always wondered what Shan Mei ever saw in Yin Xiang Zhe, apart from his pretty boy looks? As far as he knew, Shan Mei was definitely not someone who placed great importance on pretty looks. She had more character than that.

Chapter AW-36

Michael phoned CTN-KE office from London. “Shan Mei, I’m going to be in Singapore on Monday, in Hong Kong on Tuesday. I want you to meet up with me in Singapore. I’ll fly back to Seoul with you on Wednesday. Now that we’ve sat down to work out the logistics of the Asia Pacific operation, the board of directors has agreed that the Asia/Pacific regional head office being in Seoul makes liaison with offices working within the same time frame, instead of from London, much more efficient. I’ve managed to secure for you quite a substantial budget to back you up for whatever advertising you may need.”

Shan Mei was, at that morning, in the office interviewing candidates for 2 secretarial positions. Since Asia/Pacific was split into 2 time zones, she wanted one secretary each to handle the two zones. The 3 secretaries would work as a unit, assisting each other apart from their specific areas. Apart from her, the secretaries would take instructions from Xiang Jie.

While Shan Mei was packing for her trip to Singapore/Hong Kong to meet up with Michael, Xiang Zhe pleaded with his wife to let him meet up with her on Tuesday in Hong Kong. “Darling, please let me come along. We haven’t really been anywhere together for quite a while.” He sounded mournful. The way he was biting at his lower lip, Shan Mei was sure her husband had a few other excuses up his sleeve in case the one he just threw could not sway her. She would tease him a while.

“Weren’t we together in London recently?”

“But that was some kind of business trip. I want to do Christmas shopping in Hong Kong. I won’t disturb your meetings on Tuesday with Michael and will wait patiently for you at the hotel. I promise. Okay, darling?” Xiang Zhe asked as he stroked the palm of her hand.

She couldn’t refuse him anything, when he gave her one of his besotted looks.

“What about your work?”

“I’ll work from home throughout Sunday night after I send you off at the airport, and all day on Monday, and take the late afternoon flight out of Seoul on Monday for Hong Kong. Okay, darling?”

What could Shan Mei do except agree? Xue Zhang would surely badger her until he got his way.

He was so happy to see his wife when he arrived late Monday night at their hotel in Hong Kong. When he waved her off at Seoul airport on Sunday evening, he was so reluctant to let her go. He had felt so alone standing there in the Departure Hall as he watched Shan Mei disappear after passing through Immigration. That night at home, he cleared all the paper work in his brief case; he made notes to his assistant for things he should follow up during his one-day absence.

Since Li Qing Xi took over control of Planning Department, everything was running very smoothly, and the cooperation among the departments better organised, because these people now fully acknowledged him as the President and he shouldn’t be burdened by their petty squabbles. He only wanted to see results.

And the dubbing department was also coming along very well after overhaul by Shan Mei. Mr. Ang supervised mostly Japanese to Korean or Korean to Japanese dubbing. Xiang Zhe had to admit that Han Jae Hoon was doing a fantastic job on CTN’s mini series.

In Hong Kong, Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei had early breakfast in their room.

“You’re sure you’ll be okay today on your own, husband?”

“Darling, don’t worry. After you leave, I’ll go back to bed to rest for a few more hours. I’ve all my shopping planned.” After kissing his wife off to work with Michael, he hopped back into bed. By 11 o’clock, he was hitting the shops.

Hong Kong was truly a Shopper’s Paradise. He bought jewelry and clothes for his wife, toys and baby clothes, and a whole range of Peter Rabbit baby dining set for baby, Armani suits and shirts for himself. Also presents for Father, Pa, Ma, You Zhen and Minnie, Auntie Lee and Patrick and Xiang Jie. He began packing to see whether the suitcase he brought along was big enough for space. Since morning, he had lost count of the number of times he had been in and out of their hotel room, bringing back bags of shopping.

Shopping was indeed more tiring than work at the office. No wonder Shan Mei didn’t like to go shopping. She only shopped when she had specific things to buy or a specific place to go to.

While soaking in the tub, he smiled secretly to himself. His wife would kill him when she saw the wicked bikini he had bought for her. He would insist she wear it this Christmas in the cabin, since the place had heat insulation.

Although it was past 7 p.m. he didn’t call his wife on her mobile phone because he had promised her he wouldn’t disturb her. Eventually, Shan Mei returned to the hotel at 9. She looked totally exhausted.

“Darling, Michael won’t be joining us for dinner; he is meeting his cousin who is the general manager of the local Hongkong Bank. How about I treat you to a real Hong Kong style Chinese dinner? The Chinese Restaurant they have on the ground floor of this hotel is supposed to serve the best Peking duck in the whole of Hong Kong.”

“Shan Mei, you’ve had a long day today. I’d rather we eat in the privacy of our room.” He went up to her and enfolded her in his arms. “I’ve missed you very much during the day. I’m not prepared to share you now with a room full of diners. I’ll call down to the restaurant for some food.” So, while he ordered Chinese food, Shan Mei took a bath.

During dinner, Xiang Zhe took out from the fridge two miniature sized bottles of champagne. He couldn’t resist buying them. They came with their own drinking glasses.

Over the meal, Shan Mei discussed the CTN Hong Kong office set up with her husband. “I don’t think I’m all that popular with the Hongkong office. I feel their running expenses are way too high, and the office overstaffed. Today, when I asked from the employees their job description and what they actually did, they were rather vague. They specialised too much, many of the jobs overlapped, no one multitasked. Anyway, I’ve asked them to fax written reports to me at the end of the week. Let’s see what I’d get.”

Her husband told her not to worry. “Get all the facts together, then make recommendation to Michael. You can show me the papers you got from the office today later when we’re in bed.” He picked some delicious slices of roasted duck and put them on Shan Mei’s plate. “Eat up. These are good!”

Xiang Zhe was sitting in bed, his back against the headboard, looking over last month’s Hong Kong office financial statements that Shan Mei had given him. His wife was lying in the crook of his arm, her face against his shoulder and hand against his chest. She was right; the expenditure appeared to be high against income generated. He put the papers on the side table.

His wife had fallen asleep. He was about to gently ease her down to her pillow, when he noticed his wife’s hand spread out on his chest. The rings on her finger were sparkling bright. He had noticed after bath time every morning, she would polish the rings carefully, and put them back on her finger. He brought the hand up to his lips for a tender lingering kiss, and placed it back on his chest, the way his wife had left it. He looked down at his wife, so innocent and defenseless in her sleep. He wrapped his other arm around her, wanting to protect her, yet he was the one he had to protect her against, he and his insane jealousy.

The first time she indicated she had strong feelings for him so many years ago, didn’t she assure him there was no one else, he was the only one, and he must believe her? He still remembered that night so vividly. As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt so shy, she had run quickly back into her house without even a backward glance at him. Didn’t Michael say she was rock solid, not easily swayed?

His cheeks puffed up as he let out a long sigh. If only his wife would tell him what she loved about him, may be then he would feel more secure? Every time he asked, she simply smiled at him and answered, “Because you’re Xue Zhang.” She had told him most of the things she didn’t like about him, which were not much, but none of what she loved. It was all so aggravating. He knew riches, fame and good looks weren’t what she looked for.

Shan Mei stirred. Finding herself in his upright embrace, she looked at him sleepily. “Xue Zhang? Aren’t you sleepy?” Realising he was still sitting against the headboard, she moved away so he could ease himself back onto the bed. She gave him a kiss on his cheek. Before she turned away, her husband caught her face between his hands. She looked at him. His eyes were moist.

“Xue Zhang, is something the matter?” She sounded worried, as she lifted her hand up to his face and caressed him softly.

“Nothing, just wondering why most times I’m your Xue Zhang, not Xiang Zhe, or husband ?” His soft tone tried to ease her worry.

She smiled lovingly at him. “My Xue Zhang is not the same as your Xue Zhang Zian Da or Xue Zhang Michael. My Xue Zhang is perfect!”

“If I’m perfect, why do you often get mad with me?”

“When do I often get mad at you? Only at times when some of your senses become off-balanced. Keep your jealousy in balance, like your perfect balance of kindness, charity, understanding, courtesy, patience, generosity. Only thing allowed off-balanced in plenty supply is love for me and our baby. There is no one who can compare to my Xue Zhang, the best in the world. He is the one I love most.” She was being carried away by her excited rambling.

Suspecting she was about to give him a stinging bite, he quickly gathered her into his arms, murmuring hoarsely against her hair, “Darling, I don’t want your bite this time, I want something else. I want to sip in the very intoxicating taste of champagne on your lips.” His mouth moved against hers hungrily as if starved for her kisses while his hand felt its way to the side console to switch off the lights in the room.
==

The only excitement before Christmas was Xiang Jie’s return from London for the holidays, and crowning of MBS Chess, Go and Bridge champions.

The seniors met frequently trying to decide on designs for their trophies. They had Zian Da spinning from day to day. Luckily for Zian Da, he had been given another merchandiser to assist him with procurement of goods for Bargain Corner, and an assistant to handle his paperwork. Xiang Zhe only laughed on seeing the look on Zian Da’s face. No matter what, Xiang Zhe reminded Zian Da that dancing at the Christmas party to start only after he and Shan Mei had left the party.
==

Michael when he stopped over in Seoul for two day, and before he flew off to Tokyo, arranged to meet up Shan Mei in Sydney the coming Monday.

This was second trip to Sydney for Shan Mei. She met with many of their top sponsors; the sponsors were very impressed with her and wanted her to make a longer visit when she officially took over from 1st January. The staff in the Sydney office worked in a very relaxed atmosphere.

That night at dinner with Michael, Shan Mei asked him, “Michael, if you don’t mind me asking, I want to know what the job really entails. We’ve visited the Singapore and Hong Kong offices; I thought things were pretty straight forward in these two offices since they aren’t involved in production work, only reselling of programmes.”

He laughed as he looked at Shan Mei, and had wondered when she was going to get around to that, knowing she liked work, real hard solid work.

“You are to do absolutely nothing, except drop in on the offices, once a month to keep them on their toes. These trips will give you a chance to take a break from CTN-KE. You deserve it, seeing that you’ve worked so hard to propel CTN-KE into such prominence. And may be you’ll have more time for baby making.” He laughed when Shan Mei blushed. “I can already see one baby is not enough to go around. If you have another baby, may be I can whisk Bao Bao back to London with me for a month or two when he is older.”

Shan Mei pretended to be angry with him, for not letting her know sooner. She eyeballed him. “Now you tell me, after Xue Zhang and I have decided to put baby making plans on hold for one year. My poor Xue Zhang! I told him if I fall pregnant during the coming year, he’s to blame.” They both laughed a bit over that.

“Well, if you really want to do something, you can see which areas can be improved on, to maximise productivity, and lowering expenses at the same time. I couldn’t be bothered with it during my time, because I always put it down as teething period. But that has long come and gone. The offices are costing more to maintain, but income is not as lucrative as the Seoul office, remembering that the Seoul office has a shorter working history.

You should relax and take your time in introducing improvements. The sponsors have told me you are very approachable. I take that as a good sign, and know they are prepared to sign up further sponsorship deals with you at the helm. They have assured me of their continuing support. If you can get Bansung to move into these areas, your job is done, simple as that.”

A day later, Shan Mei was back in her Seoul office. Apart from making more space for her 2 new secretaries, she also wanted to give Xiang Jie some desk space as she had a project for him to follow through for her.

Father was all excited his younger son would be arriving from London this weekend. He had missed him so much.

Shan Mei decided to meet up with her husband for lunch, then coffee in his office. He wondered what she wanted from him this time, knowing she seldom visited him in his office during office hours. Throughout lunch, he kept looking at his wife, to see whether he could detect a clue.

Back in his office, his wife went around his chair to give his neck and shoulders a quick massage. “Tired?” she asked softly.

“Ehmm, a bit” he murmured wondering what she was up to, then asked, “Don’t you have a job to do?”

“I want to do my job, but you’re too tired,” biting her lower lip as she said that, her brows knitted in knots.

He caught hold of her hand and pulled her on to his lap. He looked at her intently, expecting to hear further from her. She threw him a mischievous glance from under her lashes, got off his lap and went meekly to sit on his sofa.

“Encountering some problems? You need my help?” Xiang Zhe was getting curious as he shot her an indulgent smile.

“Not encountering problems. Just need your cooperation.” Shan Mei threw her husband a fleeting side glance, before continuing, “Michael said the main responsibility of my new job is to make babies and take holiday trips around the region.”

His eyes turned big on her, “True?” She nodded her head. He scratched his head nonplussed. What game were the two of them playing?

She continued, “I suppose from Michael’s point of view, it’s cheaper than maintaining a wife. And quality assured, looking at his godson.” The two of them looked at one another, and suddenly burst out laughing. He stopped.

Becoming serious, he began clearing his desk, and was just about to buzz his secretary on the phone intercom, when his wife stopped him. “Didn’t you mention this morning about a meeting in the afternoon?”

He signaled to her for silence then called Li Qing Xi, asking her whether she could spare some time from her planning schedule to attend an afternoon meeting on his behalf. He buzzed his secretary asking her to cancel all appointments for the afternoon.

“What do you have in your mind? Trying to skip work? If you get into trouble, I’m not going to be held responsible.” Shan Mei warned her husband.

Xiang Zhe left his chair and made his way to sit down next to his wife on the sofa. He drew Shan Mei into his arms, and smiled down sensuously into her wide eyes and in a husky voice told her, “I’ve a mind to do a lot of things to you.” Then he whispered his quite explicit plans into her ear, which had her blushing and flustered. “Come,” he said as he stood up, pulled her up from the sofa and dragged his wife with him out of his office.

Xiang Zhe decided to go to their cabin, since baby and nanny were at home.
After he turned on the heating in the cabin, they changed out of their work clothes into their comfy Ts and shorts, the real story from her could wait.

[tbc]

Chapter AW-37

Xiang Zhe laid out the quilted mat, and was getting ready to lie down, pulling his wife down next to him when she queried, “Aiyo, husband, what are you doing?”

He smiled and gave her an innocent look. “Just helping you in doing your job, no? Did I not promise you my 100% support whenever you needed it?”

He laughed delightfully as he eased her back onto the mat. He drew her closer and cradled her face in his hands as he kissed her tenderly. He lay on his back next to her, his hand clasping hers, turned his head to look at her, and giving her his soft smile he said, “Now, give me the whole story.”

“Michael said to just drop in once a month at the regional offices to keep them on their toes. He agreed that there should be room for improvement, but to ease it in. If not for Michael, many of the sponsors would prefer to take their sponsorship deals elsewhere. I think the staff has an attitude problem, especially Tokyo and Sydney offices. My presence would remind them how well the Seoul office is doing. Apart from making babies, and traveling around on holiday, I’d have to convince Bansung to move their advertising account to CTN Asia/Pac. Right now at CTN-KE Bansung is sponsoring NWP, Legends and one monthly mini-series, all award winning programmes. But I don’t think it’s that easy to convince them to consider advertising through CTN for the other markets.”

Xiang Zhe looked at his wife, suddenly giving her an idea in jest. “Bansung would advertise anywhere in the world if you holiday all over the region with him making babies.”

“Xue Zhang, please be serious, and stop talking nonsense.” She didn’t appreciate the way he was teasing her.

“I’m serious. Haven’t you heard how Madam Sung was telling her friends our Bao Bao should have been her grandson? You give her a baby, she’d give you control of half of their company.” Xiang Zhe continued his theory.

”So, you suggest I give them a baby? You know I always do what you recommend,” Shan Mei asked sweetly and softly, giving him a mischievous look. She then rummaged through her handbag for her mobile phone. She flipped open the cover, as if preparing to make a call.

He snatched the mobile phone away. “What do you think you are you doing?” he snapped.

“Calling Mr. Sung, to make a date,” came her flippant reply. Shan Mei looked serious.

“Over my dead body,” he laughed.

“Okay, then. I’m going to finish you off.” She proceeded to tickle him and bite him at wherever she could sink her teeth into.

He sat up to catch hold of her and placed her on his lap. “See all these bite marks? How are you going to make them better?” he asked in an injured tone, glaring his big eyes at her.

She started signing her imaginary autograph against each of the marks. With an exaggerated flourish of her hand, she signed off the final one, and then planted a lingering kiss on his forehead. She wiggled out of his hold and made her way quickly to the kitchen to get herself a drink.

“”Where are you going? Shan Mei, wait a minute. It’s too cold out there,” he asked in the velvety thick voice of tired contentment. Taking his jacket, he ran after her. When he caught up with her, he wrapped the jacket around her, drew her into his embrace for his warmth, and then gave her a long kiss. He put a cup of water into the microwave to heat up. He filled the water kettle with water for boiling. When Shan Mei had finished the water, he took the cup away from her and whispered very seriously into her ear, “The only babies you are having will be Yin Xiang Zhe’s,” and carried her back to their cabin.

When she saw the red bite marks on him, she really felt bad for inflicting such pain to her husband, but she wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of knowing it. “Come on, dearest husband, don’t be such a baby. These are nothing. Your skin is so thick my teeth ached simply trying to bite into you. I’ll kiss them better for you, okay?”

He grinned devilishly. “I want same treatment like last time.” Then he lay down nicely on the warm mat, waiting for his angel’s magical ministrations.
Was that what the saying ‘the agony and the ecstasy’ meant? He felt agony and indescribable ecstasy. He wanted release. He was reaching a state of lightness as well as intensity; he was drowning yet felt afloat. He suddenly rolled over on top of his wife; without uttering a word, his eyes hot with passion, he blazed a trail of fiery kisses all over her, his hands caressing her lovingly.
==

The evening Xiang Jie returned from London was big party time at Yin’s family home. Bao Bao had grown so much, and he about answered Yes or No to almost everything. Uncle thought he heard wrong, until Patrick confirmed baby was trying to say Yes and No. Xiang Jie then also began to baby talk in simple English with his baby nephew.

Shan Mei felt she had not punished her husband enough for thinking so foolishly about her and Xiang Jie. She was going to make him pay some more. After tonight, she would let the matter rest. Throughout dinner, she picked food for her little brother, saying this was his favourite, and that was made especially for him.

Xiang Jie, unaware of the undercurrents, was so happy. He was the centre of attention. Everybody in the house had welcomed him home so warmly, especially his baby nephew. BB wanted to sit on his uncle’s lap all night, and wouldn’t even go to his Daddy. Shan Mei knew her husband was seething. He was angry with Shan Mei for giving such special attention to his younger brother, but he didn’t dare show it. Xiang Zhe fretted quietly to himself, they would have showdown in the house tonight, since nanny and baby would be staying over at Father’s place. Even if they tore the house down, he didn’t care.

During coffee and tea, Shan Mei asked Xiang Jie whether he was the one who did the editing for the video clip at the CTN Ball? He went pink in the face. “David insisted I give it a try.”

‘David?’ Shan Mei thought highly amused, when everybody at the CTN-London office had to address him by Mr. Dutton. “Hmm,” Shan Mei continued to muse, “Seems like little brother and David Dutton are getting along just fine.” The video clip was so well done, especially at the end when he panned in close-up of his brother playing his guitar, all the ladies present at the Ball couldn’t believe the president of MBS was so young, handsome and talented.

Xiang Jie became excited and admitted shyly, “That was exactly what I told my friends at the editing Unit. My brother is not only handsome and clever but talented; no one would believe such a young man could be the president of the largest television station in Korea.” He laughed, running one hand through his hair, the other he fisted up and punched into the air, with “Yahoo”. Baby looked at his uncle curiously and began to copy him, punching his tiny fist into the air, laughingly imitated, “Hoo..oo!”

Shan Mei took out from her tote bag the newest Palm model, and gave it to him, saying it was a gift from his elder brother. “Your brother said you would be busy this holiday helping at both MBS and CTN, you would need a portable organiser.”

Xiang Jie was so appreciative; it was exactly what he wanted. He ran up to Xiang Zhe and gave him a big ‘thank you’ hug. Big brother ruffled his hair and gave him a pat on his back, and he stole a sidelong glance at his wife. Xiang Jie then showed his Dad how the electronic organiser functioned. Father was impressed and said, “May be I’ll need one to keep track of the competition results.” Xiang Jie wanted to know everything about the competitions.

That night, when Shan Mei and Xiang Zhe were about to leave, little brother saw them out, and gave a CD to his brother, telling his brother not to forget to watch it. And again thanked his brother profusely for the Palm organiser.

In the car, Xiang Zhe stole another side way glance at his wife. He smiled to himself. He had again played right into her hands. If she didn’t end up sweetening him through Xiang Jie, only God would know the outcome of this evening. She was now sitting next to him, keeping quiet, smiling so demurely and acting so innocent as if he didn’t realize she had purposely set out to make him jealous at the dinner table.

“Trying to bewitch Xiang Jie like the way you bewitched me?” he asked his wife gravely, breaking the silence.

“I didn’t do anything of that kind,” she retorted pertly. “I didn’t even try to make you like me when I first knew you.”

He gave a twisted grin. “In that, you failed miserably. But if you were deliberately attempting to make me jealous tonight, I assure you it worked.”

“I was only showing Xiang Jie some encouragement for a job well-done. That clip he did of MBS at the CTN Ball boosted your profile around the world better than any other publicity campaign your Zian Da could have master-minded for you.”

His brow lowered with mock anger. “Are you trying to find any reason to make me jealous again?” he growled.

“No,” she replied with a laugh that showed how seriously she took his bogus accusation. “I’m trying to make him feel comfortable and welcomed when he begins work with us at the stations.” With that, she put out a hand and caressed the back of Xiang Zhe’s hand that was resting on the gear shift.
This soft, little caress did wonders to his testerone level and he felt himself beginning to harden.

When they arrived home, Shan Mei asked him, “Do you want to watch the CD Xiang Jie gave you? I’m not too tired, may be we can watch it together if you’re not tired too.”

Xiang Zhe gave his wife a soft smile. Actually, he was ready to rush her up to their bedroom, but he wanted to humour her too. “Why not?” knowing she was just as curious as he was.

Shan Mei went into the kitchen to mix the small size champagne she had bought from Hong Kong, with peach juice in a jug. When she came back into the TV room with the drinks, Xiang Zhe switched on the machine. She curled up to her husband on the sofa.

It was a video of Shan Mei from her KFA days in London and Europe, some shots showed her biting her knuckles and her eyes looking so big and anxious, when ever her team was not doing too well, she would be furiously taking photos and making notes. Every time such shots came up, her husband drew her close to him and kissed her lightly on her temple, laughing softly into her hair.

Then the video showed her early CTN days. Shan Mei working in the Production Unit, looking so serious and making notes all the time. After a while, it became obvious Shan Mei had worked at all the back room divisions. She had different coloured note books for the various depts. She was at CTN Company Christmas party; many colleagues invited her to dance. Xiang Zhe recognised some faces from Brighton weekend. The video continued with clips from her Korean Kinship assignment filming, her farewell party, Cassie and David’s wedding, Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei on stage at her mini concert, her wedding in Seoul, the Award Ceremonies, where Xiang Jie put his brother and sister in the same frame from the various years, baby Bao Bao, Musical Postcard with the duo playing their guitars, ending with their kiss at their wedding.

The video brought back so many sweet and loving memories. Shan Mei’s eyes became wet with unshed tears. Could these have happened not so long ago? Xiang Zhe was so touched. He looked at his wife with such profound love in his eyes, and softly murmured into her ear, “Darling, you’re so right. I’m so lucky to have such a wonderful brother, and so blessed to have the most loving wife.”

They might have torn the house down that night, but not with their fighting, only with their loving.
[tbc]

Chapter AW-38

MBS Planning Department was again a hive of activity since Xiang Jie’s return for work assisting Li Qing Xi. Han Jae Hoon and Patrick were constantly in and out of Xiang Jie’s office.

At CTN, he also had a desk to work from. Shan Mei wanted him to get some statistics for her in the CTN Asia/Pac regions of viewers’ viewing patterns so she could have a rough idea what programmes would sell for each particular area.

His work schedule was almost set. Mornings, he went to work with Patrick. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights he stayed late in the office, meeting up with the seniors after the game club, for supper or something.

On Fridays, he tried to be home early, knowing Bao Bao would be at their place. He was so grateful having Auntie Lee. She was just like Dad’s sister, taking care of them, and always so understanding. If Sister had her Gugu, he had his Auntie Lee. And Patrick was like his best buddy and more approachable than his own elder brother. Xiang Jie had noticed everybody was afraid of his elder brother; only Sister could rationalise with him. His elder brother doted on her like crazy. Michael had said she was the most wonderful person in the world. Xiang Jie agreed.
==

MBS Christmas party was next week. Xiang Zhe had just arranged with the loggers to send a big Christmas tree over to his father’s house. There was excitement in Yin Senior’s house because this had become a new custom for them to have a Christmas tree. Xiang Zhe had sent the first tree to Father’s house last Christmas and they all enjoyed the tree and the presents very much. Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei didn’t need one at their own house, because usually they were not home for Christmas. His Father’s place was now designated the headquarters. His presents to go with the tree were in his car. He would send them over this evening when they dropped baby off.

Zian Da had shown him the trophies for the winners of the competitions. Next week, the winners would emerge. The canteen had never been so busy.

Xiang Zhe thought it might be a good idea after the New Year to introduce more features to the games meetings. He called Zian Da to his office. “Zian Da, do you think it’s a good idea to continue with the games after the new year – meeting during the three evenings during the week, making it some kind of game club? Those who are not interested in competitions may like to relax with a game as leisure. Others can organise their own games. We have only to ensure no one is involved in gambling.”

“No harm in letting the employees continue meeting for the games. So far the lot seems very pleased with the evening arrangement; not all stay back to play, many stay back to chit chat and simply watch the proceeding.”

“In this case, prepare to announce the continuation of the game club during the Christmas party. We will also announce the formation of a junior game club at the same time. Membership for this club will only be open to children of our employees. And Zian Da, just ensure that Shan Mei and I are left out of any prize giving ceremony. Leave all the prize presentation to the seniors. I want to make early getaway from the party with my wife.”
==

Xiang Zhe was now sitting in his own office, planning his own private Christmas party. If they went to the cabin, it would be too cold to spend any time outdoors. This year the cold was quite severe. That night when Shan Mei ran around the cabin in her shorts and t-shirt, he was worried she would catch a cold.

The house would be the safest bet, since it too had central heating. It would be like before baby came. They used to have the whole house to themselves. They would have their annual 2-day Love Fest, as Shan Mei had so named it, at home.

He looked at Peter Rabbit, and then took Shan Mei’s photo from his table in his hand and learned back against his chair. As he held it in his hand, he stared at her. From her sweet and happy face to her dazzling smile, it was obvious Shan Mei believed in everything. What was it about her that she could, with one smile make his heart race, and with one look makes his knees melt? It was a mystery to him, how he could now be sitting at his table excitedly planning his own private Christmas party, or birthday party, or some special day party, when he had been bored with the whole process before he met Shan Mei, and was cynical of those who went to extreme efforts to plan such silly things. The difference, he had discovered, even though she liked parties, Shan Mei valued her privacy. She never liked to make a show of things. If she had the chance again, he was sure she would ask him to put the anklet on her in the privacy of her home, not at some busy restaurant for all to see. Getting to clasp the anklet on Shan Mei was so unexpected. He smiled; he rubbed his forehead as he shook his head – he was surprised at himself, too. He had never done anything so bold in his life – Love could really make a person do crazy things!

Just then his phone rang; it was his angel, inviting him for lunch, in her sweet voice. They met up at Cream House. His eyes had a question in them.

“Seeing the video makes me think back of my days at MBS, and how caring and supportive you were towards me, and how childish and impossible I was towards you. You should have sent me packing a long time before I decided to leave.” She took his hand under the table and gave it a loving squeeze.

He held on to it, not letting her hand go. He simply looked at her and smiled softly at her, thinking how generous his wife was. She had apologised for acting childish during those MBS days, but never once mentioned about his stupid, though unintentional, behaviour, that sent You Zhen tumbling down a dark abyss.

“Have you decided on a Christmas present for your Father?”

He nodded and asked his wife, “Are you going to get Father a present too?”

“I was thinking of getting him a Palm.”

“I want one too,” he managed to squeeze out between a pout.

“Why would you need one? That thing inside your head is more powerful than that little Palm.” And she gave him such a loving look, his knees were beginning to melt.

“You already occupy a great deal of my poor brain that it has very little room left for other things. Do you know that?”

“I don’t know,” she said finally, quietly. “I only know that you’re very important to me, Husband.”

Xiang Zhe liked the sound of that. He brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed the tips of her fingers, each lingeringly and intently.

She blushed and furtively eyed around to see whether anyone had noticed the outrageous behaviour of her husband. When they were almost through with lunch, his wife asked him,

“Doing anything this afternoon?”

“Depends on what you have in mind,” he answered, grinning wickedly.

“Definitely not the same as what you have in yours,” she chirped back.

He looked crest-fallen, but added, “Nothing that cannot be cancelled.”

She was happy to hear that. “I was thinking may be we could drive out to that seafood village. I want to see what fresh seafood I can get. I want to make super delicious food for you this Christmas, since I will be busy starting 1st January. I want to treat you like a king over the holidays”

Suddenly, he became alert. “Really? You will do anything I tell you to?”

“Of course, your Royal Highness!” she answered giving him a slight bow with a genuine submissive air.

“Okay, we will drive out to the seafood village now.” He called his secretary telling her he wouldn’t be in the office this afternoon. He had to drive Mrs. Yin to the sea side. His mind was at ease, he had just this morning wondered how he was going to get his wife to wear the naughty bikini he had bought for her in Hong Kong.
==

On the night of MBS Christmas party, the venue was well packed before the given time. Many came to admire the trophies and prizes on display. The winners themselves were excitedly discussing among themselves the various tactical moves of their plays to emerge winners in the finals. Xiang Zhe was pleased with himself for suggesting the idea. Shan Mei was right. He should have proposed the idea a long time ago, except he never thought of it until his wife pointed out to him his father needed something to occupy his evenings. He wanted to see the response to the idea of a Junior Game Club. He saw Han Jae Hoon mingling with a group from the Drama Department. May be he could get him to organise a dance club too.

Before dinner commenced, Zian Da was on stage to make the 2 important announcements. Response was overwhelming, especially to the idea of Junior Club. Xiang Zhe could see youngsters with their parents collecting application forms from the designated counter.

Unbeknown to Xiang Zhe, CTN was presenting 4 Appreciative Awards that evening for cooperative efforts. Shan Mei presented one award to Dubbing Dept, another to Canteen Management, Patrick to News Dept., You Zhen to Production Dept. This was such a pleasant surprise, for Xiang Zhe as well as for all the winning Department Heads who beamed all night. His wife really knew how to motivate. He was looking forward to meals at CTN Executive dining room. After tonight, they would make sure Zhen Shan Mei got the best. That imp!

They had stayed longer at the party than he wanted to. Because seeing how happy his Father was, he didn’t want to leave. For the first time, the seniors were actively involved. Father was in total agreement with the scheme for Junior Club; he donated two other awards of prize money for the Chess Section. The 2 other seniors did the same for their Sections. This simple gesture was to encourage the children to learn to play seriously.
==

At home, Shan Mei brought out champagne, peach juice, plus Christmas snacks she had bought from Westin’s delicatessen. Xiang Zhe wanted to watch again the CD his brother had given him. There was a clip showing Shan Mei at CTN’s Christmas party. He ran through that section in slow motion. His wife had to explain to him, almost frame by frame, what she was doing and with whom. At some junctures when he saw her talking with some male colleague, he would pass some barb comments, like, ‘you barely know that man, why are you talking with him?’ or ‘I thought you only started with CTN at the beginning of December, why did you allow that man to hold on to you so tightly when dancing with him?’ or ‘why weren’t you staying close to Vicky and the other girls ?’ and so on and so on. Shan Mei had to suppress an urge to laugh. Xue Zhang was determined to find fault, no matter how irrelevant, with the contents of the CD.

He saw Michael there standing around nursing a drink, and he was not dancing. “Why not?” he asked his wife, wanting to know. Shan Mei suggested her husband should ask Michael, and not her.

Just then, Shan Mei’s phone rang. Believe it or not, it was Michael, calling to wish them merry Christmas. After an exchange of pleasantries, Shan Mei passed him on to her husband saying Junior had a question for him.

Xiang Zhe wagged a finger at his wife, for putting him on the spot. Since Michael was on the phone, he might as well ask him. “Senior, Shan Mei and I are now watching a video JJ made for us. One part showed Shan Mei at CTN Christmas party when she first joined CTN. I noticed that you were not dancing at all. Weren’t you feeling okay that time?”

Michael remembered that night very well. Shan Mei had just joined CTN at the beginning of the month. All night he had been circling the fringes of the room admiring her, trying to work up some courage to ask her for a dance. He was afraid as soon as he asked, he would frighten her off, and she might take the next flight back to Seoul. Better to be patient and bide his time. If he knew Junior was in the wings waiting, he would have swooped in and flown her off to his castle and wouldn’t let her escape until she agreed to marry him.

“Wouldn’t you call that kidnap?” Junior asked innocently and laughed softly. Michael bellowed out with a loud laugh, saying Junior was getting sharp. “Anyway, not to worry. You can keep Shan Mei, just give me BB (Bao Bao).” Before hanging up, Michael said he would fly in for the Broadcasting Award Ceremony, if he could postpone his meeting with CTN-USA which had been scheduled for the same weekend.

Before bed, they enjoyed a long warm soak in the tub. They were totally relaxed when they were abed. As usual Xiang Zhe got his special Christmas kiss from his wife. They sang Christmas carols to themselves. Their bedroom was imbibed with such Christmas peace and goodwill, it seemed as if angels were floating around. They soon fell asleep ensconced in their love, somewhere up in heaven

Christmas morning came, the day Xiang Zhe had been waiting for since last month. Today and tomorrow, his wife had promised to give him the royal treatment.

They woke up late. She went to the kitchen to prepare for him a royal brunch. At the kitchen table, he reminded her he was king for the day. She took from somewhere in a corner a paper crown made out of gold colourd tinfoil and threw it on his head saying that was all he was allowed to wear and nothing else. Luckily she let him keep his white boxer shorts on.

After brunch, he wanted his wife to play him something on her flamenco guitar. They were upstairs on the office floor, sipping champagne, and he leaning against the sofa, cocooned in the warmth of Shan Mei’s love, was soon lost in her music. Soothing moments later he fell into a light sleep. When she stopped playing, he awoke. She had gone to the kitchen to check on her ginseng soup, and to make some finger sandwiches with the best pate de foie gras Westin had flown in from France for the Christmas season. When Shan Mei was back on the office floor with the sandwiches, Xiang Zhe took one bite, and pronounced it was ‘first class’ like what he used to take with his French loaves in London. Xiang Zhe was lapping up all the attention his wife was giving him.

Shan Mei had the funny feeling her husband was working against some kind of agenda. He seemed to know what he wanted, one thing after another.

When evening descended upon them, he wanted his warm bath. He put on a Nat King Cole’s CD of romantic songs. His wife washed him thoroughly, even clipping his nails for him.

“Darling, didn’t I just clip your nails last week?”

“Never mind about last week. Today, this King wants his nails clipped!”

When he walked into their bedroom, he wanted his massage. His patient wife simply let him play his game, already feeling guilty that soon she would be leaving him a few days each week to go ‘pursue’ her career. How she wished he could go with her each time. But she must not be selfish. He was the president of MBS, himself a very important and busy man.

On his bedside table, as he was easing onto his side of the bed, he saw a Palm organiser. On its special cover was engraved in beautiful lettering his name and a loving message ‘Y Love you Forever Z’, the Y represented by a flat round peridot, the Z represented by a flat round Mabe pearl. He was ecstatic, but kept quiet, waiting for his wife’s magical massage.

Before she could begin, he insisted she changed into her special masseuse uniform, which he had left on the dresser in her dressing room. As soon as she walked towards her dressing room, he pulled a pillow over his ears. He didn’t want to hear her shrieks.

The shrieks never came. Shan Mei laughed when she saw the outfit. So this was what he had been up to all day. A very beautiful diamond choker inset with cream and dark coloured south sea and Tahitian pearls was placed on top of the bikini set.

She changed into the naughty bikini stitched out of some kind of gossamer fabric. On its bra top, was ‘KissMe’ on both cups; on the panties, at the back ‘SqueezeMe,’ and on the front, strategically placed ‘LoveMe.’ He really surprised her. Knowing him, even if he wanted to, he would be too shy to buy it. He must have been in a teasing mood, egged on by the devil at the time of purchase. Shan Mei then thought “what the heck?” If he wasn’t too shy to buy it, why should I be too shy to wear it for my husband’s pleasure?”

He was sitting up in bed against the headboard waiting for her to emerge.
He never took his eyes off her, thinking how simply gorgeous she looked.
When she tried to turn him around on his stomach to get ready for massage, he asked her why she wasn’t wearing the diamond choker? “Even a king has to do some work”, she smirked, then handed him the piece of jewelry. He laughed. His hands shook on touching her silky smooth skin, as he clasped the choker around her graceful neck. She turned around to give him a long, delicious ‘thank you’ kiss full on his lips. He then thanked his wife in like manner for the Palm which he was going to use to keep track of their love dates.

He began to squeeze her bottom, and as he slid her down against him, he caressed her firm mounds, and kissed hungrily at the buds now so erect and trying to push through the gossamer fabric. He was caressing her, squeezing her, kneading her.

As his lips closed over hers in a scorching hot kiss, he moaned for her as he pressed hard against her. When they broke apart for breath, he murmured into his wife’s ear, “Shan Mei, I want to love you now” and continued his caresses. He knew once he let himself go, he wouldn’t be able to stop.

“But Husband, what about the massage you wanted?”

“Forget the back massage. I’ll teach you something better and more fun.” And with that note, Xiang Zhe proceeded to work on removing the scanty bikini clothes, kissing her slowly and letting her feast on the delicious sensations he was evoking. A moan came from deep in her throat. He paused, grinning up at her.

“I think you’re a devil,” she told him seeing his wicked delight.

“And I think you’re gorgeous. Truly, my sweetheart,” he returned with a half-groan and half-laugh, as he ran his lips and fingers softly along the side of her hip.
(tbc)

Chapter AW-39

On the 1st day of January, the nomination list for February’s Broadcasting Industry Award Ceremony was out: MBS 12 nominations, CTN 18 nominations. Zian Da, on reading this in the newspapers, immediately rushed to Xiang Zhe’s office. Michael happened to be with Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei discussing the possibility of pitching the 2STAC concept to CTN’s Australian advertisers seeing how successful it was in Korea.

When Zian Da showed the news to Xiang Zhe, he passed the newspaper on to Shan Mei. She simply smiled and shrugged her shoulders.

For Zian Da, of course he would be excited. MBS had never before received so many nominations at one go. 2STAC and PIR were pitched against each other for top honours in similar categories.

Michael was indifferent. The novelty had worn off. He was more interested to see what Shan Mei would wear to the award ceremony this time. He had noticed her curvaceous figure in that stunning gown at the CTN Ball in London. Knowing Junior, he knew he wouldn’t allow her to wear anything too revealing.

CTN-KE’s achievements under Shan Mei had far surpassed the Dutton Twins’ expectations. David kept saying ‘unbelievable’ whenever Nomination time came around. The list should be on the Internet tomorrow.

Michael would wait to see what David had to say.

It was a benchmark no other television station in Korea had emulated or could emulate, he was sure. They would need someone with Shan Mei’s talent and charisma. Even if they found one, it would take time to train. Skills and techniques could be trained, X factor couldn’t. It was an innate trait; either a person had it or didn’t have it.

Two days later, when Xiang Zhe was taking Michael to the airport, Zian Da chose that time to phone Xiang Zhe. “Hi, it’s me. The press wants to know whether MBS will want to do some kind of promotion for Two Sides To A Coin, since it has again been nominated for 5 major awards.”

Xiang Zhe laughed and told him, “I don’t think it’s necessary. Or the other stations may accuse us of vote buying. Shan Mei has planned a topic that’s bound to create so much controversy, the debate among the public would generate enough media buzz to promote the show by itself.”

Michael wanted to know what little Shan Mei had up her sleeves. Xiang Zhe simply gave him a secretive smile and told him, “I’ll ask Patrick to courier to you the discs when they start this 2STAC segment. You can then see for yourself. Trying to describe to you the dog fighting I’m anticipating is beyond me.”

Michael was curious and reminded Junior not to forget to courier the CD as he alighted from the car with his shoulder bag. Michael always traveled light because he kept some of his clothes in the CTN officers in various cities he traveled to.

Two weeks later, it appeared as if any one who had watched the latest show of ‘Two Sides To A Coin’ was in hot debate over its current topic: Should a woman remain at home or keep a career after marriage? Thursday was ‘For’, and Friday ‘Against’. The following week, MBS would expand on this topic with: Who should be in Charge of Finances or Making Financial Decisions in the Family? On Friday, Shan Mei and Patrick had such a tough time calming the excited audience. The paparazzi were out in force after they got wind of the reaction to Thursday’s session. The viewers were eager to talk to the press, letting their views be known.

The viewers wouldn’t let up. They felt this issue could be elaborated further and requested the co-hosts to plan further debates. Meanwhile, all the major newspapers also polled their readers’ opinion. The results were so varied, the leading newspaper decided to interview directly the people involved with this production: Mr. Yin Xiang Zhe, president of MBS who was himself a family man with a working wife; Miss Zhen Shan Mei who was married and enjoyed a successful career; Mr. Patrick Lee giving a bachelor’s viewpoint on whether he would want a career-minded wife or a stay-at-home wife.

The newspaper sent two reporters to interview the Yins separately in their offices. On comparing notes, the reporters were surprised how similarly the Yins reflected one another’s view, in general.

Yin Xiang Zhe, on being interviewed, told the reporter why he would always be supportive of his wife's career.

“I love my wife completely, whole heartedly; whatever she wants to do, I will be totally supportive. When I first met her in London, she was only 20. At that time, I already knew she would one day be that very special someone in my life. When I returned to Seoul after I completed my degree course 3-1/2 years later, I returned with the intention of convincing her to return with me to London. After seeing how serious and hard she was working towards a broadcaster’s license, I stayed back to show my support.

She worked very hard for her success. Most nights when she was at home doing her research or assignments, without her knowledge, I sat outside her house and only left after the lights in her room were out.

When she first resigned from MBS, wanting to try her luck in London, I immediately went after her trying to convince her to return to MBS. She refused, wanting to try her luck on her own. I didn’t know how it happened, but only 2 days after her arrival in London, she was offered a job with the Korean Football Association International Players training in UK and Europe at that time. I was in real agony then. After waiting patiently for six years for her to grow up and ready to accept marriage, I didn’t want to lose her to another man. Then three months after, she was given a contract with CTN-UK.

Later, when Shan Mei was with CTN-UK, I visited London to attend a brief 2-day TV Convention. CTN also participated in this convention, I didn’t get to see her because she had to work overnight to complete a story outline to be presented at a directors’ meeting the next day. The next morning I waited downstairs at her apartment block at 5 in the morning. She came down at 5.30 a.m. preparing to go to work. Since I was supposed to leave London that night, we had dinner together. That was all because she had to complete the Script and Direction outline to the approved story line to be submitted the next day. Which meant she didn’t sleep for 3 days and 2 nights! That story outline was for her production of ‘Korean Kinship’ which has since enjoyed such tremendous popularity and success worldwide. It was so heart wrenching for me to see her work like that. Her success is gained by sheer hard work and through her enormous talent. Later, she told me, at CTN-UK she normally began work at 6 o’clock in the morning! My heart twisted in such pain on hearing that. After that, I knew I could never take her success away from her, and I promised myself I would always be supportive of her career, no matter what.

Luckily for us, being in the same industry, we understand the erratic hours involved. My wife is so very well organised and can juggle work and home so well, everything at home runs like clockwork. Even though my wife is so successful in her own right in her career, at home she always leaves all the major decision-making to me.”

Zian Da on reading this was shocked. He didn’t know Shan Mei could write such complete story and direction outlines as well as scripting. He went to see Xiang Zhe to brood over this.

Xiang Zhe looked at him, perplexed. “If Shan Mei cannot do all these things, how did she manage to win 3 awards for her Korean Kinship series? How could she have conceptualised PIR in her head? She is spoon-feeding you all; getting in the big sponsors, arranging for the guests, all you people have to do is follow orders.” Xiang Zhe rubbed at the deep frowns on his forehead, getting fed-up with Zian Da. No wonder Yong Xi finally chose Zian Da as her marriage partner. In their marriage, no doubt about it, she would be in total control of everything, and Zian Da would relish it. He didn’t like using his mind at all. Xiang Zhe then told him to think back why all the unfortunate things should happen to Shan Mei and no one else in the News Department when she first started with MBS? Who would hope to gain, knowing Shan Mei was talented and he liked Shan Mei, and if she was forced to leave MBS due to her supposed-to-be incompetence, there would be no more competition, right?

That night Zian Da broached the subject with Yong Xi, knowing she had loved Xiang Zhe since young. Yong Xi immediately thought of Ying Mei.

“She used everybody as a stepping stone. She tried to glean as much information as possible about Xiang Zhe from me, wanting to make a play for him. That time I was such a fool, I didn’t even realize it. I thought she was interested because she was sympathetic to my situation, knowing I looked upon Xiang Zhe as more than a special friend. And if I remember correctly, Ying Mei once said Shan Mei was very careless and forgetful; she also accused Shan Mei of deleting a story I had written from the computer, when in fact I haven’t told anyone about it, since I had made an extra copy. When I confronted her whether she was the one who deleted the story, she turned on me for accusing her without evidence…... It was after that I had the mishap in the car.”

Husband and wife looked at one another. Did Xiang Zhe find out something in London? Was that why he issued instant dismissal letter to Ying Mei while he was still in London? What else did he find out? After discussing further, they both agreed Ying Mei was at the root of the problems. It was not only Shan Mei who left, but You Zhen too and he didn’t want to stay in Korea but migrated immediately to New Zealand. No wonder when he told Xiang Zhe over the phone that You Zhen had resigned, he didn’t sound at all surprised. Whatever the problem was, it must have been serious.

Looking at Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei now, Zian Da never saw a happier and more in love couple. How could he ever think they were not compatible? Even though he didn’t dare admit to Yong Xi, there was a time when he had tried to push Ying Mei and Xiang Zhe together. Now he realized Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei matched each other so perfectly, they even thought with one mind, from the contents he had read from the separate interviews in the newspaper. Their answers were the same, only worded differently. He knew he had to be more careful in assessing people’s characters in the future.

And what a difference Shan Mei had made to the Yin household? Father and Elder son now understood each other. Elder brother now accepted younger brother. Where previously Xiang Zhe was adamant he wouldn’t want to marry and have children, Shan Mei had now given him so much love and a beautiful son. Her father-in-law loved her so much, he even transferred his stake in Wen Rong entirely to her, and Xiang Zhe was comfortable with that. In fact, he was very proud of his wife.

Michael couldn’t get away from CTN-USA meeting, but he had phoned to let Shan Mei know he would catch up with the news on Internet, but the sponsors from UK and US for Two Sides To A Coin would be attending as part of the CTN/MBS entourage to the Award ceremony. The Yins’ ascending star shone brighter than ever, after their interviews were published in the papers.

So was Patrick’s, especially when he said he hoped to make a marriage like the Yins. He had known them for slightly over two years; they appeared to be more in love than ever. He noticed whenever he was out with them in public places, husband and wife always held hands secretly under the table.

As Xiang Zhe accompanied his wife down the red carpet, on-lookers could see how proud he was of her. They got wave after wave of applause and cheers from fans waiting at the venue to get a glimpse of the beautiful couple. Photographers were jockeying for prime positions hoping to score a coup like the photographer from last year who caught some shots of the Yin couple in their private moments. That issue of newspaper ran into 4 reprints.

She looked sensational in a Versace vintage evening gown that hugged her figure perfectly. When she was shopping for a gown to wear to the event, she showed Madam Kim the diamond/pearl choker her husband had gifted her for Christmas. Madam Kim immediately knew what to get her saying, “Dear Shan Mei, I saw the perfect gown from the Versace Vintage Collection at Milan recently. It’ll match your exquisite choker perfectly.”

Shan Mei besieged by paparazzi upon her arrival, had announced to the reporters prior to the ceremony, that due to her heavy involvement with CTN-Asia/Pac, she would curtail her activities in front of the camera. “I’ll continue to co-host the Chat Show and be news anchor one day of the week and continue to host her radio show, Musical Postcard. Other than that, I’ve too much on my hands right now to be able to find the time to do some more.” Her fans wanted her to reconsider her decision.

That evening CTN again won in every category that they had been nominated for. If they were eligible for some other categories, they would have walked it too. Their popularity was at such a high, they could do no wrong. In the eyes of the viewers, CTN meant ‘quality’. MBS walked away with 8 awards, with Two Sides To A Coin again taking 5. At the CTN/MBS celebratory party that night, Xiang Zhe could not stop grinning. His wife was not only the most beautiful in the crowd, but had made TV history by winning the Most Popular TV Personality Award 4 years in a row. Mr. Sung hung around waiting for a chance to invite Shan Mei for a dance.

Seeing Mr. Sung again so supportive of his wife, Xiang Zhe felt he should be generous enough, to let her dance with him. Only major sponsors were eligible to cast vote for Sponsors’ Choice and Bansung was definitely one of them. Shan Mei walked off with not only the award but a cash prize of Won 10,000,000 as well. She said she would donate the money to CTN/MBS Junior Club funds. Before she walked off the stage, she received a standing round of ovation from the floor.

Champagne was popping every where. An insuppressible air of jubilation pervaded the whole room. Shan Mei on getting a nod of approval from her husband, asked the band to strike up a tango number. She remembered Mr. Sung had at a charity appeal a few years ago donated millions of Won for a dance with her. Tonight, she felt so humbled. So many good friends had supported her so much in making her dream come true. She owed it most to her husband, to Michael and to Mr. Sung for their 100% support. Shan Mei and Mr. Sung burned up the dance floor, with their perfect rhythm, timing and technique.

Xiang Zhe was surprised at himself; he didn’t feel one bit jealous. In fact he was relieved. Watching them dance, he told himself: Mr. Sung could hold, he could admire, but he could never own his beautiful Shan Mei.

After that, it was party, party, party all the way till the wee hours of the morning. He couldn’t care less how many times Mr. Sung or Han Jae Hoon danced with Shan Mei. She did save her last dance for him. It was a slow, slow number. They swayed slowly to the mood of the music, lost in their own world. He couldn’t help himself, he just had to bury his face in her hair, its fragrance seducing him. At the end, when the lights came on, he tilted her face up to him, to give her a tender, lingering kiss. His eyes, as he looked into hers, showed a promise of more to come and his mouth softly whispered, “I love you.” At last! After a 6 hours’ wait, the paparazzi got their ‘magic’ shot.

As soon as they walked through the main door of their house, Xiang Zhe pulled his wife back into his embrace and whispered into her ear, “the night is not yet over, but only just beginning.” She smiled at him, “I know, that’s why I’m rushing upstairs to change. Want to help me?” He didn’t need further encouragement, but followed his wife up the stairs.

They danced the night away, with Shan Mei wanting to place bets. Tomorrow morning, at least 5 tabloids would hint that Zhen Shan Mei was ready to divorce her husband for Mr. Sung. And at least another 5 would report President Yin would divorce his wife after discovering she and Mr. Sung had been carrying on an affair for the past 2 years. Another head line would be: Zhen Shan Mei was bold enough to tango with Mr. Sung under Mr. Yin’s nose. Marriage on the rocks! Or, Mr. Yin had eyes only for the new starlet so and so. Or, President Yin ignored his wife all night, she had to run into the arms of Mr. Sung for solace!

Xiang Zhe told his wife to stop creating such far-fetched headlines. “I only had eyes for you the whole evening. And if any of these headlines should appear tomorrow morning, I’m going to hold you accountable and punish you as such. All I want to know is whether you mean what you said about cutting back on your commitments? Does that mean you’re going to spend more time with me? ” When he finished his questioning, he nibbled along the jaw line of his wife, hoping she’d tell him if she had a choice she’d want to spend all her time with him, and him alone.

The following morning. Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei hogged the headlines and front pages of the day’s mainstream newspapers, every picture showing how loving the couple was towards one another, how they shared a tender kiss at their party. Other tabloids, well known for being sensational, showed many photos of Shan Mei with Mr. Sung, dancing, talking, or just standing about.

One even showed Xiang Zhe individually posing with a few starlets, with headline: A king with his 4 new queens, the old witch to be banished from Seoul. The accompanying article explained because of this fact, to save face, Miss Zhen Shan Mei announced that she was going to cut back her commitment in front of the TV screen!

One of the starlets, when talking to this tabloid’s gossip columnist, even passed a comment that she didn’t realize Zhen Shan Mei looked so old in real person. Xiang Zhe made a mental note of this. Tomorrow he must instruct Zian Da to warn all MBS departments that none of these 4 starlets, whoever they were, must ever to be allowed to pass through the threshold of MBS building. Any employee disobeying this order would be subject to instant dismissal, without employee compensation of any sort whatsoever!

Xiang Zhe, eyes wide opened, looked up aghast at Shan Mei when they were having their breakfast. Pushing the newspapers toward her he asked, “Darling, who are these girls? I’ve never set eyes on any of them before, let alone posed with them. And, you’re the old witch?” He nudged his wife in her arms, thinking the headline so funny – Shan Mei being labeled ‘the old witch’. Throughout breakfast, every time he thought of that, he laughed out loud. Shan Mei was not amused at all, and sulked the whole day, not wanting any lunch or dinner.

Seeing his wife had taken the matter too seriously, he tried to go humour her, otherwise he would end up without dinner too. “My dearest old witch, do you want your old warlock to suffer along with you? If you don’t feed me soon, your old warlock will be a dead warlock,” and started tickling her palm. She didn’t respond.

“Okay, okay, if I let you bite me, will you promise to forget about that stupid tabloid?" Her eyes lit up, she nodded her head; Xiang Zhe began to roll up the front of his tee shirt. Pretending to bite him, instead she gave him a big, slurpy kiss right across his chest. He laughed, and caught her tight against his chest. “In this lifetime, the next and the eternal next, there will be only one queen for me and that is you. If you don’t appear in any one of my lifetimes, I‘ll pass. You’ll promise the same?” She nodded, a disbelieving pout on her lips.

“Stick you lips out like that again, I’m liable to kiss you non-stop.” Shan Mei bit at her lower lip, trying to hide a smirk.

“There’s that pout again,” he noted, tugging her to him and kissing her in a way that should show her he had missed her very much indeed that day.

She relaxed into his embrace and he marveled that every kiss seemed even more exciting than the last. Then, too soon, she pulled away but smiled beautifully, the warmth in her eyes touching him. “I missed that too.”

He got up and carried her to their kitchen, she held on tight to him, her head resting on his shoulder. He put her on the kitchen table, and began to softly kiss her tears away. After that, he went to the fridge to get her a drink, then offered her a sushi roll that he had made sometime in the afternoon. While she was eating, he rained feathery kisses along the side of her face, her neck, while his hands tenderly caressed her silky smooth back. “Maybe after sushi, my wife would like to have me for dessert?”

The next morning, at the MBS President’s office, Zian Da walked in and asked Xiang Zhe, “you want to see me?”

“Yes. Take a seat.”

Then Xiang Zhe flung yesterday’s copy of that tabloid at him. “Who are these 4 brainless bimbos? This tabloid is spouting rubbish again. You’d better write a warning letter to their Editor that if they ever print such trashy untruths again, I’ll have no alternative but clear the matter through legal recourse. Remind him what happened to Chosoon a few years back when they started to report irresponsibly. Tell him that we know these bogus photos had been photoshopped. Put them on our media black list. No more press releases to be forwarded to them.”

Before he sent Zian Da out of his office, Xiang Zhe instructed him to issue to all MBS staff a warning of what would happen if ever any one of these four starlets was ever found in MBS building or in any one of MBS programmes.

Chapter AW-40

Mr. Sung invited Shan Mei and her husband to be his guests at his specially reserved VVIP table for the Miss Blossom Beauty pageant. Shan Mei was reluctant to attend since Michael was in town; she didn’t want to leave him on his own. Mr. Sung was only too pleased to invite Michael along as well. “Shan Mei, what sporting luck you’ve got a spare. My sister needs an escort. And I think she’d have no fault to find with Sir Michael.” So it was thus arranged.

Xiang Zhe was not happy to go, but if he refused, that guy would think he was not up to the challenge, since the local gossip mongers knew Mr. Sung had a thing for his wife, especially after last week’s tabloids’ nonsensical reporting on the award ceremony. Michael was easy, but hoped that Miss Sung wouldn’t be a bore.

That evening, Xiang Zhe looked so dashing, so handsome; Shan Mei was worried, since she knew that Miss Park would surely be on the lookout for her husband. But, what to do?

She was in the floaty blue chiffon gown she wore at CTN’s Ball in London. If she had seen herself in the full-length mirror, she needn’t have worried about Miss Park. Shan Mei was a knock-out herself.

When they went to collect Miss Sung, Michael said she looked alright. She should: she was decked out in a necklace of triple strand diamonds, the size of marbles, and a silver-laced designer gown. He himself looked fabulous.

Miss Park had waited for them the whole night near the entrance of the venue, after noticing their names from Mr. Sung’s table seating arrangements. When Mr. & Mrs. Yin arrived, all eyes were upon them. They did make such a beautiful pair. Mr. Yin was holding on to his wife’s hand. On seeing them, Mr. & Mrs. Chung from SGS went up to them. Next, Michael entered with Miss Sung. Miss Park was immediately intrigued when Michael’s golden looks caught her fancy. “Where did this gorgeous hunk appear from?” she asked herself excitedly. They joined Junior and Shan Mei. All 6 of them were in deep conversation at the cocktail bar before eventually making their way to Mr. Sung’s table. Miss Park came by to make polite conversation. The first time Xiang Zhe saw her at his office, he already knew she would be termed a ‘trouble maker’ in Michael’s order of things. He watched to see how Michael would give her his polite brush-off.

There were other VIP tables, but Miss Park availed herself of the Sung’s table only. Mr. Yin was not a priority now. She had found out that the Golden Hunk was Sir Michael Dutton of London, a bachelor, and also related to the Royal family. Michael was getting fed up with her incessant interruptions. Turning to Miss Sung, Michael excused himself saying, “Miss Sung, will you please excuse us from the table for a while? Shan Mei and I have to accept an important call from London office. As soon as we are finished, we’ll be back.” As he vacated his seat, he gave Xiang Zhe a light pat on his shoulder. Xiang Zhe felt nervous. Both his wife and Michael had left the table without him, and he began to wonder whether there was any truth in their ‘getaway’ excuse?

Half an hour later, when Xiang Zhe noticed Miss Park making her way towards him, he told Miss Sung, he had to look for his wife. She was supposed to take her medication about an hour before meal time. He too made off. He went to the hotel lobby to look for them. He found them sitting there enjoying their drinks, Michael his Martini, Shan Mei a fresh juice mixture and they were talking and laughing.

Xiang Zhe was furious with them for leaving him alone in there. Instead of taking offence, Michael congratulated him on passing his test. “Congrats, old boy! You’ve managed to save yourself from a ‘trouble maker’. If ever there’s a trouble maker, that Miss Park in there will surely be top on the list. Now, Shan Mei will have to pay for the drinks. She was adamant that you would be too shy and too polite to make your getaway. But I was banking on you, telling her that would be the case before ‘training.’ Come on, make sure to order something with a stiff price.” Xiang Zhe laughed at that, and ordered himself a drink, giving his wife a doting look from under his lashes.

Eventually, they made their way back to the ballroom. Michael, to make amends for his inexcusable behaviour, went out of his way to be his most charming self towards Miss Sung. Miss Park on noticing this, was spitting fires. Xiang Zhe also gave his undivided attention to his wife, hoping that Miss Park when seeing how attentive he was towards his wife, would move on to other pastures. He didn’t need to try. He was, by nature and habit, very attentive and loving towards his wife.

Xiang Zhe wasn’t interested in watching the contest. In his mind, not one of the contestants up on the stage could rival his wife in looks and deportment. At the end of the evening, Miss Sung was very impressed with Michael and tried to arrange a date. Michael apologised profusely, saying he had to fly out tomorrow morning, when in fact he was not. On his next trip back, he would definitely make it a point to call on her.

That night in bed, husband and wife laughed so much over the evening’s happenings. One of the winners of a minor title came to sit at their table as Mr. Sung’s guest. Xiang Zhe remarked cheekily to his wife, “You know something? One of the prerequisites for being a contestant to this evening’s contest is to be dumb. That girl never uttered more than two words, ‘yes’ and ‘no’, throughout the whole night. Did you notice? Madam Sung ignored her completely complaining that her English was not up to mark.” Xiang Zhe shook his head at that. During the course of the evening, to be polite to Michael the guests at their table had conducted the evening’s discourse entirely in English.

During the function, Michael was up to his playful antics by leading the Sung family on. Madam Sung was beaming. She was such a snob, rejecting most suitors as beneath them, that was the main reason why her two daughters were still unmarried. The only one she tolerated was Shan Mei because she was the first girl their son had indicated an interest in. A month after the Yins first wedding anniversary when Shan Mei gave birth to a son, Madam Sung kept telling those friends who would listen that that grandson should had been theirs, such was their desperation for an heir.

This evening at the function when Madam Sung asked after their baby, Shan Mei told her the baby was growing up fast. Barely 18 months, but big like 2 years old and acted like 2. He was very clever too, already talking in 2 languages. Madam Sung was so envious. She was hopeful something would come out of the evening’s pairing of Sir Michael and her elder daughter. May be she would get her grandson after all.

On the way back to his hotel, Michael told Xiang Zhe, “My mother’s blood is bluer than Madam Sung’s, yet my mother is the kindest and most simple of person. That was why at first sight of Shan Mei, she instantly fell in love with her. She felt they were the same kind of people.”

“Husband, did you think that No. 12 should have won the title? I thought No. 8 was overall much better,” Shan Mei asked her husband’s opinion.

“I thought the girl in the blue evening gown should have been the winner.”

“Was there a contestant wearing a blue evening gown?” Shan Mei queried hesitantly. May be her husband had the colours mixed up.

“The beautiful girl sitting by my side at the table, and now lying so contentedly in my arms in my bed,” Xiang Zhe said, giving her a roguish smile and he started tickling her. ..…..

“Help, I feel too ticklish, I can’t breathe.”

‘You always cheat when we play tickle game,” Xiang Zhe protested lamely.

“Okay. To show I’m sorry, I’ll give you a back massage.”

“Don’t want. I’m not ready to sleep yet,” came his protest.

Shan Mei surrendered. “Okay, if you don’t want to sleep, I do. It has been a long day for me and I am tired.”

“If you want to sleep, I’ll oblige.” He then switched off the bedside lights and slid back into bed under the covers.

She curled up next to her husband, hugging him tight like a bolster. If there was one thing he liked to be, he liked being her bolster. He turned around and enveloped her in his arms. He was tired too. Tomorrow would be another busy day. They would be taking Michael to visit his BB at Father’s place.

When Michael saw his godson, he couldn’t wipe that grin off his face. The kid was 18 months but had grown so much. He was going to be another handsome fellow. He wanted so much to take him back to London, and was busy on planning a trip in his mind for Shan Mei and Junior to visit London with the kid next summer. The kid was bilingual, believe it or not. Auntie Lee, Patrick and Minnie made it a point to talk to him in English, the rest of the family in Korean. He could answer very fluently with Yes and No. His daddy joked that he was now eligible to enter the Miss Blossom Beauty Pageant, ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ being the primary necessary prerequisite, it would seem. Michael laughed so hard he almost rolled over in his seat, tears coming to his eyes.

Soon Yin Snr arrived home with Patrick. They had just come back from MBS, acting as moderators at the junior championships. Of course, Yin Snr was there to show off his special Chess set that Xiang Zhe had given him for Christmas. Uncle Jin had his Go set, Uncle Liu had his Bridge set. These sets were not available in Korea. Xiang Zhe specially bought them in Hong Kong. As expected by Xiang Zhe, the 3 seniors never failed to show up Sunday afternoons at MBS to teach the juniors the games.

Shan Mei’s parents came with You Zhen and Minnie. Ma had prepared some delicious food. Shan Mei had told her the food must not be too spicy or oily. Mr. Michael Dutton didn’t like spicy or oily food.

The men went into Yin Snr’s private sitting room. They brewed special grade Chinese tea. He had many antique tea sets and tea canisters. When Xiang Zhe told his father that they had gifted Michael an antique celadon tea set, his father took from his cabinet an antique celadon tea canister and gifted that to Michael to complete the set. Michael was very appreciative. With his trained eyes, he could tell the set was very old, about 100 years and very rare on the market.

The dinner that evening looked like one extended family gathering. All were connected in some way, Xiang Zhe thought silently to himself. Apart from Father and himself, all the others came indirectly through Shan Mei. And her family had brought them so much love and joy.

The days when he was by himself in London seemed like a faded memory. He by himself in London; Father, Xiang Jie and stepmother by themselves in Seoul. Now, to sit down for a family meal would involve 10 to 12 persons at least. Not the silent ordeal as before, but filled with good company, happy chatter and laughter.

If only there was another baby in the house, but husband and wife had decided to keep the first year of Shan Mei’s directorship with CTN-Asia/Pac as stress-free as possible. If Shan Mei fell pregnant during this time, it would be his fault, she had said. She had reminded him, “Husband, you’ve to be very careful keeping track of dates. Any time I’m ‘safe’, just let me know and I’ll give you all the time that you need and want.”

She had further promised him that after the 1st year, regardless whether she continued or not with Asia/Pac, they would try for their baby princess. By his reckoning, they could start trying in November, giving them another baby next year? Just thinking of this, gave him extra good appetite.

His wife had been watching him, seeing his big eyes rolling about as if scheming something. She saw him smiling secretly to himself, and suddenly he was asking for his second bowl of rice. If he didn’t watch his waistline, he would have to take a larger size in his trousers, like what he bought in Hong Kong.

About 10 p.m., Shan Mei stretched up from her chair and said, “Aiya, sorry to break up this party folks but I have to call it a night as I am flying out with Michael to Tokyo early tomorrow morning for a day trip. Come BB, give mummy a kiss.” She was so reluctant to leave her baby.

Xiang Zhe told BB, “Daddy will be back tomorrow to see you, okay?” Baby answered, “Yes”. Everybody just laughed wondering whether he really understood.

Michael could understand Shan Mei’s reluctance, Madam Sung’s envy, and Junior’s pride. He himself was ready to kidnap the little imp back to London.

At home, husband and wife shared a warm shower, scrubbing each other’s backs. Shan Mei always enjoyed the way her husband scrubbed her back. She could feel his tender love with every stroke. Tonight, he took greater care, knowing his wife would be having a hectic day tomorrow, she wanting to spend only one day in Tokyo, in order to rush home so she could be with him and baby.

During Shan Mei’s earlier MBS days, whenever he had to be in Japan for business meetings, he always tried to finish his business in one day, so that he could fly home as quickly as possible to see his angel. Whenever he was away, he always had some kind of premonition that some thing unpleasant was going to happen to her. Take that time when he just returned home from the airport from Japan, he received a distressed call from Shan Mei on his recording machine about her unfortunate mobile phone fiasco in the newsroom. Of course, later he understood why these things occurred. Instead of investigating thoroughly, Zian Da simply put it down to her inexperience, carelessness or forgetfulness, his thinking being influenced by Yong Xi.

His poor angel. He promised he would never let any body harm her or put her at such a disadvantage again. His beloved wife, his one and only love![

Chapter AW-41

Fingering nervously at the diamond rose pendant attached to the chain which Xiang Zhe had only this morning clasped around her neck, Shan Mei phoned her husband telling him she would spend one night in Tokyo and only return to Seoul the following evening.

“Darling, Michael and I will be traveling to Yokohama to meet the people at this TV station at Yokohama. Can you please find out from Mr. Ang how long it will take to dub a mini series from English to Japanese or Korean to Japanese, whichever is the easier? Mr. Yuri who is a current buyer of CTN programmes may be interested to deal directly with CTN Tokyo? Please let me have the information when you get it from Mr. Ang. Thank you. And darling, I’m missing you and our baby very much.”

“Are you wearing my rose pendant?” His tone sounded suspiciously like he assumed Shan Mei was living out the maxim, ‘out of sight, out of mind.’

‘Oh dear’ Shan Mei thought. Her dear husband sounded grouchy. “Of course, husband! Need you ask? In fact, I’m going to sleep with it around my neck tonight. And just to show you how much I love you, when I’m back in Seoul, I’m going to wear it to bed with nothing else except you tomorrow night.” And she quickly hung up the phone, not giving him the chance to have the last word.

“Hmm!” Xiang Zhe fumed, yet highly excited, when he placed the phone down. “One ‘missing you’ and she hopes to get away with murder. Wear nothing else except the pendant and me to bed, did she say?” A wide bittersweet smile broke out on his face, his eyes glazed, as he leaned his head back against his chair. “I’ll let her know I’m not so easily placated. And why she has to stay one extra night in Japan?” Xiang Zhe scratched his head, wondering what his wife was up to this time. Anyway, he had better get what she wanted before she threw a tantrum and refused him the treat as she had just promised. He called Mr. Ang’s phone extension number.

Earlier, upon arrival at Haneda airport, Shan Mei had bumped into Mr. Harry Yuri whom she had met when he was in London to buy programmes from the various TV programme producers. He was a client of CTN-UK. Mr. Yuri was so happy to see Shan Mei, and invited her and Michael to visit their NYK broadcasting house in Yokohama.

NYK was a family-run business. Harry Yuri was assisted by 3 younger brothers and 2 sisters, each responsible for a different section of the business. During their visit, Shan Mei suggested NYK try one of CTN’s mini series which they could provide to NYK all dubbed in Japanese. Harry was extremely interested. Shan Mei would arrange to give Harry a short sample clip in dubbed Japanese so they could judge the quality.

Michael was very pleased that Shan Mei was already negotiating something with NYK, which was big in their catchment area. In fact, he suggested if Harry was keen, they could offer NYK a special discounted screening fee. So it was thus decided and the amicable meeting came to a close.

That night they had dinner with the Yuri family. All the working siblings showed up. They were eager to cooperate with CTN, saying the big overseas programme producers were more interested in working with the stations in the big cities, and tended to overlook them. The Yuri brothers were charmed by Shan Mei. Knowing she was now the new director of CTN Tokyo, they requested her to assist them in selling CTN’s programmes to their sponsors. Their 2 sisters were in charge of marketing. Shan Mei assured them CTN was open to discuss any kind of cooperation with NYK.

The next evening when Xiang Zhe collected Shan Mei from the airport, he was not happy. As soon as they had left the airport vicinity, he began his grumbling. He thought she promised it was a one day trip. To his chagrin the trip turned into 2 days.

His wife told him, “Darling, please pull your car by the road side.”

After he did that, she asked gently, “Now, tell me what’s eating you?” She gave him a melting look that included an apology in her eyes. He admitted, “I couldn’t sleep all of last night wondering what had delayed your trip home. Lack of sleep is putting me in a grouchy mood. Are you going to make amends like you promised yesterday?”

Shan Mei smiled at him, nodded and tapped at her mouth with her fingertip. His lips closed over hers in a bruising kiss. When he lifted his head to look at her, his eyes had softened. Shan Mei laughed and reached out to bring his lips against hers again for a long, deep kiss. “Happy now?” she teased him, giving one of his cheeks a gentle pinch. He nodded, laughing softly, and released the brakes to ease the car back onto the road.

She went straight to check on BB when they arrived home. It seemed he had grown again since she last saw him on Sunday. BB was happily jabbering away in his limited vocabulary when he saw his mummy. He suddenly started crying for no reason at all, and stretched out his hands for his Daddy.

Taking BB into his arms, Xiang Zhe chided Shan Mei, “You see, even BB is saying you have been a naughty mummy, leaving us all alone at home.”

Shan Mei gave her little baby a sorrowful look. They took BB back to their room to play with him awhile. “Darling, how about having BB spends the night with us in our bed? I’ve really missed him.” And she gave baby another deep kiss on one of his chubby cheeks.

Xiang Zhe protested immediately, saying the only baby allowed next to her in bed would be him, and no one else. He whispered quietly into her ear a reminder. “You did promise me you weren’t going to wear anything in bed tonight. How are you going to manage that with him around? I’m the only one who’s ever going to enjoy all your charms – no other man!” He then very quickly took BB back to nanny, before his wife insisted on keeping baby. He didn’t want a baby spoiling his party plans for the night as he salaciously pictured Shan Mei wearing nothing else but the rose pendant and chain around her graceful neck and nestled up snugly in his arms. The provocative thought was enough to blaze a red-hot trail of leaping fire in his groins.

His angel was on the phone, maybe wanting to take him to lunch?

“Husband, I’ve just received a message from Harry Yuri that his sister and two brothers would be arriving Seoul tomorrow morning. They want to look over the dubbing facilities. They were very happy with the finished quality of the sample clip we sent them. They intend to spend 2 days in Seoul. Can you please let Mr. Ang know? Thank you. By the way, want to meet up for lunch at the canteen?”

After the Christmas holidays, this was the first time Xiang Zhe ate at CTN Executive Dining Room, but not the first time eating at MBS canteen. When he arrived, he went straight to the CTN Executive Dining area – he was early. The staff serving in the CTN dining area called out to the Master Chef in the kitchen. “Boss, Zhen Shan Mei’s husband is here for lunch!”

“Okay. Phone Miss Zhen,” boomed a reply from somewhere.

Xiang Zhe smiled to himself wondering what the world had come to. In his own building, he was not even president of MBS, but Zhen Shan Mei’s husband. He wondered which carried more clout? He would know when they served him his food.

The waiter brought him a bottle of special imported mineral water and a crystal drinking glass. Ice was separately served. On the table was also a small plate of imported pickled onions and olives.

Shan Mei walked in. She acknowledged her husband with a sweet smile, then greeted every one in the dining room in her happy, chirpy style. She went into the kitchen bringing a small present for the Master Chef. When she sat down at her husband’s table, she told him that Master Chef had become a first-time father last week. She was so envious because they had a baby girl.

“Envious, really? We can get off work early today and do something about that,” Xiang Zhe whispered in a conspiratorial tone into his wife’s ear.

Then his mind went back to the waiter earlier addressing him as Miss Zhen Shan Mei’s husband. Xiang Zhe shook his head and rubbed at his habitual frown. If he didn’t watch it, their BB would soon be known around the office as Zhen Shan Mei’s baby. Xiang Zhe gave the waiter a slight wave. His eyes twinkling with silent laughter, he asked, “What are you going to give Zhen Shan Mei’s husband for lunch?”

The waiter became embarrassed at his earlier slip of the tongue. “Yes, Mr. President, I’ll check with Master Chef,” he stammered in an apologetic tone, then scurried off.

Shan Mei gave he husband a warning look. “Darling, please don’t tease the staff. You are so seldom down here, of course, they become nervous when they see the President of MBS walking in; sometimes their minds get muddled.”

Xiang Zhe didn’t say any more but made a grab of Shan Mei’s hands under the table. Since Patrick’s disclosure in his newspaper interview, the people around the Yin couple always checked at every possible opportunity, whether they really held hands under the table. They were at their table a full 5 minutes and Xiang Zhe wondered aloud, “Darling, why hasn’t anybody approached me for my order? I’m quite hungry, you know?”

“Don’t worry, husband. Since the new year, Master Chef has assured me whenever you come in for a meal, he will make you your special – spaghetti with mixed grill of fillet steak, salmon steak and bacon rashes.”

Xiang Zhe told his wife, “If that’s the fare he’s going to serve up, I’d better eat at CTN instead of MBS every day. No wonder, the viewers associate CTN with Quality.”

“You’re more than welcome, but please no complaints if your waistline expands (again!). Once a week would be plenty enough. If you want something lighter the rest of the week, please phone down before hand so he knows what to prepare for you.”

At the end of the meal, Xiang Zhe was very satisfied. The portion was just right, he didn’t feel overfed. When they got up to leave, he made a point of going up to the Master Chef to congratulate him on his new baby. The chef was beaming; imagine the president of MBS paying him a special visit! Seeing that kind gesture from Xue Zhang, his wife gave his hand a gentle squeeze, sending telepathy message to him that he would be getting special reward, for making the special effort. He must have received the message, because his eyes instantly held hers, silently telling her he was holding out for her promise.

Before returning to her office, Shan Mei dropped by to see Mr. Ang, to ensure everything was in order in his department for the Japanese visitors, and to ask Han Jae Hoon to be on stand by to give what ever assistance was necessary to Mr. Ang.

The next day, MBS sent their car to airport to collect the Yuri siblings. When they arrived, they were taken straight up to Shan Mei’s office. They then went to MBS dubbing department where they were shown over the facilities. Han Jae Hoon and Patrick were on stand by to translate because Mr. Ang did not speak or understand English. Just before lunch, Xiang Zhe dropped in to see how they were doing, then invited them for lunch. It was obvious Miss Yuri was very interested in the president of MBS, because she began asking a lot of questions about MBS, making comments on their similarities with NYK, the most common one being family-owned. They should cooperate closer in the future.

When Xiang Zhe’s assistant brought his car to the front of the MBS lobby, Miss Yuri let herself in at the front seat, just as Xiang Zhe was about to get into the driver’s seat. Seeing that, Xiang Zhe straightened up and slid out of the car, gave eye signal to Patrick who understood immediately. Xiang Zhe told him to meet at the Japanese restaurant they usually patronised. The brothers realised their sister had made a social faux pas. Even if she was that smitten with Yin Xiang Zhe, she should at least hold her horses till tomorrow, or wait until their return to Japan, then make another visit to Seoul later on. When the BMW pulled away from the curbside, Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei left for the Japanese restaurant into another chauffeur-driven company car.

At lunch, Patrick thought it was so hilarious. The Yuri girl couldn’t keep her eyes off Xiang Zhe, the Yuri boys couldn’t keep their eyes off Shan Mei, Xiang Zhe couldn’t keep his eyes off his wife, Shan Mei kept her eyes on her food, and Patrick kept his eyes on the drama unfolding before him. After lunch, except Xiang Zhe, the rest of the group went back to CTN’s office to go over the titles they had on offer for the mini series. The girl wanted to go back to MBS and only stopped fidgeting when her brothers said something very sternly to her in Japanese.

That night, Patrick invited the Yuri siblings to sample something of Seoul’s night life. Jae Hoon went along. Patrick gave Jae Hoon the run-down of that day’s happenings since the Yuri siblings walked into CTN office. “Do you know what happened at lunch? If looks could kill, both Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei would be dead by now.”

Jae Hoon laughed. He had expected something like that. “During the meeting in Dubbing Department this afternoon, I noticed how the Yuri boys kept staring at Shan Mei? I don’t blame them at all. Those who meet Shan Mei for the first time usually react that way.”

“But even they didn’t dare act as boldly as their sister. Can you imagine her hitting on Xiang Zhe as soon as she laid eyes on him? And, then getting into the front seat of the car without waiting to be invited? What ill breeding?”

“Tonight is going to be fun. Let’s not tell them that Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei are married to each other, and see where the game will lead us to. OK?”

And as the two best friends showed the visitors around, they were having a rocking fun time, fencing around questions put to them by the Japanese.

During dinner at home that night, across the dining table husband and wife raised their heads over their bowls to look at each other at the same time. They held their stares; after a while, they both laughed out loud, thinking about lunch today, as Xiang Zhe shook his head about. He told his wife, “MBS is not interested to do business with NYK. That girl and those boys are ‘trouble makers’ in Michael’s order of things. Do you understand me?”

Xiang Zhe admitted he learnt a lot from Michael. If Michael hadn’t shown him how to extricate himself from unwelcome situations, this afternoon he would have driven them off to the restaurant out of politeness and he would feel so angry with himself later on for doing something he didn’t want to.

A week later, Shan Mei received a fax from Harry apologising for his sister’s inappropriate conduct when she was in Seoul. They had sent several faxes and emails to MBS but they had not answered.

“Dear Mr. Yuri,” Shan Mei explained, “MBS is not in a position to answer directly to your communication because MBS is contracted to CTN. Any queries NYK has must be channeled through CTN Tokyo or directly to CTN-KE, Div. CTN-Asia/Pac. So, please let me have copies of the queries, I’ll try to answer them as best as I can.”

Shan Mei mused to herself. So Miss Yuri wanted to make direct contact with Xiang Zhe, hoping in the process, to cut CTN out, not knowing CTN was the one owning all the titles, unless they were interested in MBS’ own drama productions. Even if that was the case, wasn’t she made to understand by her husband that he wasn’t interested in NYK business? So, good luck to them.

Patrick had told her the night they took the Yuri siblings out, they might as well have sat down in the hotel lobby and not gone anywhere. They were not interested in the sights of Seoul. All night, the boys pumped them with questions about Shan Mei while the girl wanted to know everything about Xiang Zhe. “Well, she must have by now visited the web site of MBS, and know that Xiang Zhe is a married man. Why is she still trying to make direct contact with Xiang Zhe using ‘business’ as an excuse?” Shan Mei thought privately to herself.

Shan Mei was tired, thinking of the games the girls were prepared to play to get close to her husband. She decided to go home and get close to her baby son.

She picked up her phone to put a call to Xiang Zhe. “Husband, are you ready to go yet?”

On hearing his wife’s sweet voice, he felt his tiredness draining away. It had been a long day, cooped up in one meeting after another all afternoon in the conference room.

“I was just about to call you. I’ve missed you so much. Yes, let’s go home and see what new tricks our little son has learned today.”

Chapter AW-42

Shan Mei was screaming and her body writhing around on the bed. Her low guttural sobs filled the stillness of the room.

Xiang Zhe immediately woke up and roused her from her sleep. “Shan Mei,” he whispered softly, realising that she was caught in a nightmare. He clasped her shoulders and whispered again, “Come on, darling, wake up.” She had broken out all over in a cold sweat, and moaned, trying to thrust him away. He was very worried and asked, “Was it a very bad dream? What is it, darling?”

She became aware of her husband and clung onto him tightly, sobbing hysterically into his chest. Embracing her tightly and protectively in his arms, he tried to calm her, gently telling her everything was alright.

Suddenly, Shan Mei turned, gave him a frightened look and recoiled from him, protesting, “No, everything is not alright! I saw Ying Mei, in Xue Zhang’s arms, sneering at me, and you were stroking Ying Mei and telling her everything was alright.”

Xiang Zhe stopped dead in his tracks and gave his wife a startled stare. What had he done recently to bring back ghosts? He thought Shan Mei had conquered her demons. Apparently not!

He tried to gather her close, but she pushed him away. “This is the third night in a row that I am having this nightmare, each one more hauntingly realistic than the previous,” she sobbed quietly. “It’s just not going away.”

Xiang Zhe tried to convince his wife, “Darling, please believe me, nothing ever happened. In fact, the closest that XuYing Mei ever managed to get to me, was when she came by my apartment one evening after she was discharged from hospital, to offer her thanks. [Ugh, better don’t tell her about the bunch of roses this Xu Ying Mei brought for him otherwise she’ll fly off the handle again]. When she stood up ready to leave, she fainted. I caught her with my arms. I helped her up and told her to go home and rest. That was all.” He hesitated somewhat…then decided to confess…. “When she came to the apartment, she brought a bunch of roses as a token of thanks. I didn’t even want those rose but left them the next morning with the property management office.” He looked at his wife, but she was too distraught to notice anything or accept any explanation.

He gently picked the damp tendrils of hair from her face, and smoothed them back; he took a damp towel from the bathroom, and dubbed her face dry. After that he told her to go back to sleep and gave her several light kisses. He began kneading the taut muscles of her neck and her shoulders, hoping his firm hands would knead away her fear.

“I can’t. Every time I close my eyes, the same image will appear, replaying before my eyes,” she sobbed again. Looking at her husband, a sudden thought flashed through her tangled mind. “Husband, if what you say is true, then may be Ying Mei is trying to make contact with me. She might be in trouble and need me. I’ve got to go and find her.”

Xiang Zhe rolled his eyes heavenward and began to hit his forehead. “Why not let sleeping dogs lie? Why go and stir up a snake’s pit? Hasn’t that woman created enough trouble to last several life times?”

But Shan Mei wouldn’t give up. Tomorrow, she would begin her search. She seemed oblivious to his distress and his ragged breathing.

Seeing her determination, Xiang Zhe heaved a sigh and promised his wife he would get a private investigator to trace Xu Ying Mei’s whereabouts but his wife had to promise him 3 things.

Shan Mei nodded her head. Xiang Zhe wanted to seal the promise with a ‘pinkie’ pledge least she went back on her words, all too aware of her soft and forgiving heart. “After we find this Xu Ying Mei and you go to see her,

-you’re not to ever invite her back to Seoul to work in MBS or CTN or socialise in our midst.

-you must not forget the great harm she’d inflicted on You Zhen. She can cause grief to Minnie, again depriving You Zhen, Ma and Pa of the happiness they so deserved.

-you are not to believe any trash this Xu Ying Mei will spin, knowing she is a trouble maker, especially, not about your husband in intimate situations with her. Understand? What did I tell you after we married? After my nanny left when I was 9 years old, I never allowed another woman to touch me, except you.”

He then looked very shyly at his wife, hesitantly. If he didn’t confess another fact, those demons would continue to invade their bed. Taking his wife’s hand to place over his heart, he very softly whispered into her ear: “Shan Mei, look at me. Can you see my eyes clear with honesty?”

Shan Mei nodded slowly as she looked at her husband through misty, trusting eyes as he ran a fingertip down the length of her neck.

“Dearest wife, the night of our wedding, you were my first, the same way as I was your first. I was just as scared as you were.”

“But surely …..?”

Xiang Zhe laughed softly. “No,” he said. “I understood the mechanics. But I’d never bedded a woman. Instinct is a powerful thing.”

Shan Mei’s big round eyes, swimming in tears, stared at her husband in utter wonderment, recollecting the exquisite sensations she’d been introduced to that night, despite the initial pain. How could that be? On their wedding night he had assured her that he knew what he was doing in their marriage bed and he wasn’t lying. He was gentle, tender, patient, and considerate and knew the game of love so well – so well, that he had her moaning and groaning in bed for him in no time at all. How could he now claim she was his first? Yet, biting at her lower lip now, she saw no guile in his eyes and she chided herself for doubting him. If there was one person she trusted and believed implicitly, it was her husband.

Xiang Zhe then reached out and captured her mouth in a lingering kiss, assuring her in soft whispers, “And I promise you that you will always be my only one. I really don’t want anyone else but you.” Slowly easing her down onto her pillow, he soothed her back to sleep.

The next morning, after finding out You Zhen was at CTN office, Xiang Zhe invited him over to his office at MBS; he needed some information. Xiang Zhe didn’t want to open old scars but he was in a dilemma. “You Zhen, do you remember that Mr. Pei’s full name and which town he and Xu Ying Mei came from? I need to make contact with him to solve a problem.” You Zhen gave him the information. And by tacit agreement, no further word was necessary.

Xiang Zhe offered You Zhen some coffee, and jovially asked him when Minnie and he planned to start a family, to take the heat off them. You Zhen only shrugged his shoulders in response.

“Pa is already asking us for Baby No. 2. I’d like to have another baby, but Shan Mei is so busy this year with CTN Asia/Pacific, I don’t know how we can fit that in. Maybe next year.”

Xiang Zhe, noticing You Zhen’s discomfort of talk about babies, deftly changed to another subject. “And You Zhen, what do you think of Xiang Jie? What potential do you see in him?”

Now, on this topic, You Zhen was prepared to talk. “I think Xiang Jie will be a great asset to MBS. Though he’s young in years, he’s got a good head screwed on. And he works so well with Shan Mei.”

“You work a lot with Patrick. Has Patrick mentioned anything about my father? Will he accept if father adopts him as a son?”

You Zhen was skeptical whether Patrick would welcome the idea of adoption. “Although he never likes to mention it, indirectly I get to know, from snippets of references from Jae Hoon, Patrick’s family lineage can be traced back to that Admiral Yi, the one famous for saving Korea from foreign sea-faring invaders in his turtle-designed battle ships. Researching his family’s roots was Patrick’s primary intention when he especially came to Seoul University from America to undertake post graduate studies on Korean history.”

“What about Auntie Lee and her future in the Yin household? Get my meaning?”

“To be honest, Patrick and I had in fact mused over the possibility of Auntie Lee marrying Uncle Yin. Patrick had said it would be his mother’s decision entirely. If she came to him for advice, he wouldn’t sway her in any way. He would simply tell her to follow her heart. Whichever way she decides, he will be 100% supportive.”

Before they could continue further, Xiang Zhe’s secretary buzzed him on the intercom to remind him of a production meeting in 10 minutes’ time. You Zhen took that interruption to excuse himself and he left hurriedly back to his office as he had a lot of editing to do for his new series.

As soon as You Zhen left his office, Xiang Zhe got in touch with the private investigator whose services were frequently used by MBS.

This man remembered the couple that Mr. Yin wanted him to put a tracer on. Many years ago he did some investigation work on the same woman who was a MBS news reader at that time. The private investigator came back to Xiang Zhe 3 days later, giving him details and an address in Busan.

Xiang Zhe leaned back against his big leather chair, tapping his forehead with two of his fingers, trying to find answers to the questions now foremost in his mind – ‘Who to send down to Busan with Shan Mei? Is it wise to let Shan Mei meet up with Xu Ying Mei? Why is Shan Mei having these fearsome nightmares?’ But what could he do? Once his wife had an idea, no one could talk her out of it. He hesitated briefly. A second later, he called Patrick on his mobile phone.

The following morning, Patrick flew out with Shan Mei by the earliest flight down to Busan. In the taxi to the Golden Goddess Karaoke Lounge at the address that Xiang Zhe had written out for him, Patrick tried to calm Shan Mei, noticing her fidgety behaviour. Xiang Zhe had briefed him on the situation. Patrick wanted to meet this scheming woman and see for himself what kind of game she would play this time. He was all prepared; he would make sure Shan Mei wouldn’t be a gullible innocent again where this Xu Ying Mei was concerned.

When the taxi pulled up in front of the karaoke lounge, some men were seen coming out as if in a hurry. Shan Mei immediately recognised one of them as Mr. Pei, and called out to him. Mr. Pei, on seeing Shan Mei, stood rooted to the ground, and ran towards her after he regained his senses. “Miss Zhen Shan Mei, how did you find us? I wanted to contact you but I was afraid if your husband knew, he would make trouble for us.”

“Is something wrong with Ying Mei? Take us to her right away,” Shan Mei asked with a tone of urgency and deep concern in her voice.

“About 2 weeks ago, Ying Mei overdosed and had been in hospital ever since. She kept asking for you, wanting to confess all the wrongs she had done to you. The doctor just called to say her condition has worsened, and asked me to be there soonest.”

Shan Mei and Patrick followed Mr. Pei’s car in their taxi to the hospital.

As soon as Ying Mei heard Shan Mei by her bedside sobbing, she became alert. She put out a weak hand and chided Shan Mei as “still the cry baby.” She saw Patrick. “Ah, the famous Mr. Lee is here as well. I’m very grateful for the honour and pleasure. I hate you, Zhen Shan Mei. How do you always manage to surround yourself with the best looking guys, and they all dote on you like crazy? Even my husband, seeing you on TV every time, always says you are the best.”

She let off a heavy sigh. “I was deluding myself thinking that Yin Xiang Zhe would want me, when all along he only had eyes for you. I have always wondered how could an innocent like you keep him so enthralled? You were right, he was different. He didn’t fall for any of my seduction ploys. May be given more time, I would have caught him with one of my dirty tricks. But he was blessed by very powerful guardian angels; they kept him safe from me. It’s now time for me to go. I want to go with forgiveness from you in my heart. I want to go in peace.”

Shan Mei kept nodding her head, sobbing away, too overwrought for words. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing; the proud, vibrant Ying Mei of MBS days and the Ying Mei now lying on the hospital bed, ashen faced without make up, her vibrancy gone, her defiant fighting spirit gone, calmly waiting for death.

Shan Mei managed to utter, “You Zhen Ge…….”

She didn’t finish her sentence when Ying Mei cut in, “Don’t tell him. I’m too ashamed to face him again in the netherworld.”

A moment later, the doctor came into the room and indicated that he wanted to check the patient and only her husband could stay; the rest of the visitors to please wait out in the lobby. Shan Mei was crying hysterically into Patrick’s arms as they walked out of the room.

Patrick phoned Xiang Zhe, telling him what had happened. Shan Mei wanted him to tell her parents and make arrangements for them to fly down to Busan within the next few days, but they must not let You Zhen know.

Xiang Zhe was getting distraught; he could hear his wife sobbing. He wanted to fly down, but Patrick advised against it. “This Mr. Pei is obviously some big shot in the underworld community in Busan. The connection wouldn’t be good for MBS if the press should catch you with him. The doctor is with Miss Xu now. We’ll be able to get a clearer picture of her situation soon when Mr. Pei emerges from her room. Xiang Zhe, regardless of what the doctor is going to tell us, I’ll fly back to Seoul with Shan Mei this evening. I won’t let her stay the night down here. Don’t worry. Talk to you again later.”

Three days later, Xiang Zhe was sitting in his office, feeling miffed because Shan Mei wouldn’t let him accompany her down to Busan. She was right, of course. If the four of them were out of Seoul at the same time, You Zhen might become suspicious, because Xiang Zhe had only a week ago asked for Mr. Pei’s name from him. Patrick was to hold the fort at CTN while she was in Busan. The only other sensible person he could trust to keep quiet in accompanying Shan Mei, Pa and Ma down to Busan would be Han Jae Hoon.

The next day, Jae Hoon accompanied the Zhens down to Busan to attend Ying Mei’s funeral. Mr. Pei appreciated their attendance, their kindness and forgiveness for his wayward wife. Jae Hoon had heard some gossips about Xu Ying Mei when she was still at MBS. He didn’t understand how the Zhens were involved with the gangster world. He’d try to get some info from Patrick upon his return to Seoul.

Xiang Zhe was this evening at the cabin by himself. He was sitting at their table enjoying a cigarette, a drink, the quiet and the peace, wishing his wife was with him. Since the night he found his wife having those nightmares, and later what transpired, he wondered what other kind of wrongs this Xu Ying Mei had done to his wife, that she was seeking forgiveness so strongly, her thoughts could be conveyed through the spiritual realm to Shan Mei. His wife had never actually told him what Xu Ying Mei had done to her. All he knew he had overheard at Gugu’s place, or obtained the information from Zhao Di and Chen Sui. But Xiang Zhe was sure there must have been worse misdeeds on Xu Ying Mei’s part that Shan Mei did not divulge.

He wanted to learn to be like his wife, so forgiving, so generous, so charitable, and so loving. The first person he wanted to work on would be his younger brother. Before that, he must first understand the magic of the stars, the rain, the winds, the clouds. These were Shan Mei’s most favourite things. He noticed Shan Mei usually observed what weather condition prevailed at any given time, her mood would be set accordingly. No matter what, come rain, shine or sleet, her dazzling smile was always there.

“Dearest wife, I’m now at our cabin. I’m missing you so much, wishing you were here. Come home soon. I love you and only you. Are you getting my telepathy message?”

It was very late before Xiang Zhe went back into the cabin to try to catch some sleep.

He was cursing Xu Ying Mei silently. Even in her death, she had to cause him trouble. Today was his birthday, but his wife was in Busan attending her funeral. Shan Mei had promised to make it up to him, when she returned tomorrow.

He sighed. How true that adage was. “You don’t miss what you never had.” Before he met Shan Mei, he never missed anything, as long as he had his whisky, his cigarettes and his music. Now, whisky, cigarettes and music were no longer important; his wife was. Alone at the cabin, he missed her terribly, he missed celebrating his birthday with her. Without her lying next to him, he found difficulty in falling asleep. Hugging onto her nest of pillows, he wondered what she was doing at that moment?

According to Patrick, Mr. Pei was so relieved to see Shan Mei. “He had wanted to contact Shan Mei as soon as that Miss Xu was in trouble but was afraid you would make trouble for them.”

Pa and Ma and Shan Mei were such generous and forgiving people. His Father had also learnt a lot from the Zhens. Xiang Zhe knew his Father wished he could have the same kind of close and loving relationship with him, the way Shan Mei had with her Pa. The love his Father wanted to give to him, he now gave to Shan Mei, hoping Xiang Zhe would understand. Before he met Shan Mei he wouldn’t. But Shan Mei had since opened his eyes and his mind to see things from different angles and through different layers.

The next morning, Xiang Zhe was at the airport to collect Shan Mei and company. When they arrived at the Zhen residence, Pa and Ma invited them in for coffee. They thanked Han Jae Hoon for accompanying them to Busan. Pa said he was a huge fan of his program NWP. They discussed a bit of what happened in Busan. After which everybody had to forget about the matter and never ever let You Zhen or Minnie know.

Xiang Zhe dropped Han Jae Hoon back at MBS office, then took Shan Mei home. After she took a long, hot shower; she wanted to go to bed. “Husband, why don’t you run along back to the office? I think I’ll stay home. I’m a bit tired. You can come back later to collect me.”

Xiang Zhe looked uncertain. “Maybe we should skip going to the cabin tonight. I’m worried you may still be too tired. We can always go another day next week.”

“Nonsense! Of course, I want to be there tonight. You were there last night, weren’t you?” How did she know, he wondered?

His wife laughingly assured him she felt it.

He hugged her tightly to him, kissing her hair, her lips, her neck and her cheeks. “Did you also know how much I was missing you?” he asked, looking at her in his besotted way. She nodded her head, then pushed him out of the door. As he drove to work, he prayed there would be stars for his Shan Mei tonight.

That evening when Xiang Zhe arrived home from the office, Shan Mei had a food basket ready. Her eyes looked swollen, from crying most probably, but he wasn’t going to mention it. At the cabin, Shan Mei lit a candle in its candle holder and placed it on the table, giving a feeling of romantic al fresco dining. The drinks were ready in the jug. Dinner was cold lobster fruit salad, especially prepared and delivered by master chef for his favourite lady. He even made for her a little chocolate ice cream cake just big enough for two. Xiang Zhe bet this Christmas, Shan Mei would give him a special individual appreciation award.

After dinner his wife came around to give him a delicious kiss, then patted him on his stomach. “Full?”

He nodded, very satisfied and very happy.

“Fat?”

He shook his head and laughingly pulled her on to his lap. “Just because you have a smaller waist line now, you’re trying to get me to exercise. I’m exercising plenty, in bed!” His hand then moved lovingly across her stomach, “Any news?”

She shook her head.

He gave her a serious look. “We’ll need to work harder tonight,” and with that he was ready to carry her off to the cabin. She protested, she was waiting for her stars, and they hadn’t even cleared the table.

Perched on her husband’s lap, she felt so loved and contented. She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her face against his face, singing very softly to him the birthday song. Xiang Zhe’s arms were around her waist, he felt so loved, so contented, so blessed.

Shan Mei remembered something. “You cheated last night!”

Xiang Zhe was hurt and pouted, “How could you say that? I was here all alone by myself.”

His wife laughed, nibbling his ear and saying softly, “Silly, I didn’t mean that. You were smoking!”

He looked flustered and guilty. “You were not here, I was missing you so much. I…”

Shan Mei tweaked his nose, then got up to clear the table and did the washing up. Xiang Zhe blew out the candle, and took the candle holder back to the kitchen. Shan Mei was now wiping the refrigerator clean.

Xiang Zhe went to their cabin, laid out the heated floor mat, spread out their pillows and waited for his wife.

Shortly after, she slowly ambled in, with a tiny scowl on her face. “Xue Zhang, you’re getting to be forgetful.” She sat down on her knees, took his right hand in hers, gave it a gentle slap, and then slowly slid his beaded bracelet over his fingers up to his wrist. “Didn’t I tell you not to leave your precious bracelet just anywhere? I’ve purposely set aside that little crystal bowl to hold your beads when you remove them to take your shower and still you like to leave them lying around in the shower or the kitchen? I don’t know how you can forget? The bowl is one of a pair, the same one I put out on your dresser at home and you always remember to put your beads in there. One of these days when I’m not so careful, I might wrap the bracelet up with the rubbish and throw it out. Then please don’t come to me crying.”

Xiang Zhe gave her a sheepish smile and tried to make light of the situation. “I’ve never forgotten to put this thing back on my hand after my bath since the time my mother gave it to me. Tonight I’ve been so bewitched by you, that this was not the only thing I forgot. I’m very sorry. Come on now, darling, hurry up and get ready for bed.”

“You forgot something else as well?” She shot up her brows, perplexed, seeing the laughter lurking in his eyes.

He laughed and pulled her down next to him. “Yes. This!” and he began to ravish her mouth with deep and hungry kisses.

“You rogue!” Shan Mei squealed and tried to beat him off. “How can I get ready for bed, if you insist on holding on so tight to me?”

Xiang Zhe still shaking with uninhibited laughter finally released his hold on her. She sat up and began removing her top and pants. Underneath she had on the bikini set he gave her for Christmas. He laughed and immediately caught hold of her, squeezing her derriere. She yelped; he looked at her innocently and laughingly told her, “Simply following orders.”

“Huh, if you’re so good at following orders, do you remember where you are supposed to leave your beads when you go for your shower?”

Crinkling up his eyes and mouth in mock mischief, he pointed to the little crystal bowl on the small corner table. “Do I remember right this time?”

Shan Mei wrinkled her nose at him, then eased down on her back onto the warm mat.

Xiang Zhe lay on his side admiring his wife, his hands stroking her soft creamy smooth skin. He began nibbling and kissing her buds.

Shan Mei wanted to give him a back massage. He rejected it suspecting she was trying to put him to sleep. “Husband, how can you think like that? I want to show how much I love and care about you.”

Xiang Zhe liked hearing that, and told his wife he got a better way for her to show her love. He started kissing her, caressing her and soon he was disrobing her.

After MBS morning show one morning, Han Jae Hoon called Xiang Zhe wanting to have coffee with him – not in his office, somewhere away from MBS.

When he accompanied the Zhens down to Busan for Miss Axe’s funeral service, Mr. Pei had confided in him, and not to Shan Mei seeing how distraught the family was. He said Miss Xu didn’t believe that Director Yin had issued her the dismissal letter, and it was Liu Yong Xi who had instigated Senior Zian Da to get rid of her while Director Yin was out of the country. And it was You Zhen who gave the cassette tape to Mr. Pei. In fact, all these years, she was adamant that Director Yin loved her and not Shan Mei. Director Yin was always taking her to meals and for drinks. In fact, she was sure Director Yin finally realized she was indispensable to him and to MBS; that was why he decided to break off with Shan Mei and turn his attention to her instead. You Zhen then tried to spoil things for her with the threat of exposing her relationship with Mr. Pei. You Zhen knew he couldn’t have her so he conspired with Shan Mei to make sure she was driven away from MBS. All the later awards won by Shan Mei should have been won by her.

It was only at the beginning of the year, when she read of Director Yin’s interview about Shan Mei in the newspapers, that Ying Mei was in total shock. She read how Director Yin had hurried off to London after Shan Mei when all along she was under the impression the Director was away at that time from the office on a business trip. She realised she was living in delusion. She couldn’t bear to see Shan Mei being First Lady of MBS, and winning all those awards that she claimed should have been hers. She began drinking heavily and going on drugs. When Mr. Pei found out she was on drugs, she was in too deep. Mr. Pei said he’d better let Shan Mei know, because Ying Mei had threatened to expose the dirty tricks of You Zhen to the press, seeing that he won several awards at the Broadcasting Award Ceremony and other Television prize-presentations. She had insisted he didn’t deserve them. Mr. Pei saw her writing part of the letter, but he had not been able to locate it.

Xiang Zhe sat there in silence. He rubbed at the frown now on his forehead. He looked at Jae Hoon from under his lashes, and told him, “I’d really appreciate it if you don’t let Shan Mei know. She has suffered enough, through the mischief of this trouble maker. As for the letter, we’ll simply forget it until it surfaces, if such a letter does exist. That woman wouldn’t have the guts to see it through, knowing what she was going to say would be a total pack of lies. She had already brought enough suffering to You Zhen and his family. Anyway, I thank you for accompanying my wife and her parents to Busan. I also want to thank you for always giving my wife your 100% support. Shan Mei is so blessed to have friends like you and Patrick.”

The unhappy episode of Xu Ying Mei was forgotten.

Chapter AW-43

Shan Mei just walked out of the bathroom and was getting ready to get into bed when she remembered something. “Husband, Xiang Jie will be home soon for Easter holidays. Do you have anything special you want him to do?”

Xiang Zhe looked at his wife and asked, “Why? You want to spend the holidays with him?”

“Well, not with me but with You Zhen Ge. When he was back during Christmas, he didn’t mention once about his mother. And you know how busy and happy your Father was last Christmas. As it is, your Father is at MBS 3 nights a week, then the whole of Sundays. He is so involved with the Junior Club, it seems he is not missing anything. Xiang Jie can travel around with You Zhen and get to know something of the real Korea. I’ve an idea for a show that I want to reserve for Xiang Jie, to be produced by you. When he graduates, he will be 21 years old. MBS should push him out as the Face of MBS. He should be so good looking then. He would be the new star.”

“Are you saying he is more handsome than me? That time when he was in London visiting you when you were with KFA, didn’t you tell him he was better looking than me? Are you still thinking the same?” her husband asked as he looked directly at her and was waiting…. waiting for a direct answer from her.

“Well, that time I said certain things to boost Xiang Jie’s confidence. Any young man standing next to you would surely get a complex. Hmm, now, I can’t say for certain who is the better looking.” Her husband glowered at her. She continued nonchalantly. “Well, I’ve got to be fair. I never saw you when you were 21, so there would be no way to compare. And Xiang Jie is not yet 30, so I wouldn’t know how he will look then, so I can’t be judgmental.”

“Why 30 to make comparison? I’m way past that age.”

“I thought you looked so handsome when you were cutting the anniversary cake at MBS 20th anniversary luncheon, and I was so proud of you. After that I realised you were not just good looking and smart, but have a kind heart and were really caring and protective towards me. My feelings for you began to change. I knew for sure I was in love with you in your 31st year.”

“You did? When, where? Please tell me. Let me have all the details.” Xiang Jie was forgotten, as he pestered his wife for another direct answer.

“Yin Xiang Zhe! You want an answer? You tell me your secret first then I’ll tell you mine.”

“Well, I think I fell in love with you the first time I saw you, but I didn’t realise it, not knowing what falling in love was then. All I knew was I wanted to spend all my spare time every day with you because I felt very comfortable around you. The last night we had dinner together before you left London, I made a toast to a beautiful future for us? Before you appeared in my life, I never thought of future. After knowing you, I knew we could have a beautiful future together. After you left London, do you know how many nights a week I spent on the open top bus going round and round the city, imagining you were there with me? I never mentioned anything in my emails because I didn’t want to rush you.

After my return to Seoul, when we met the first time at the park, didn’t I tell you not to bother with You Zhen anymore? And to simply fall into my arms to end your heartache! That time you told me to stop jesting. Then that night after the amusement park, sitting down, next to you, watching the stars, I was absolutely certain I wanted you by my side forever. I decided I wasn’t going to give you more time, I should begin to woo you in earnest. Did you know how difficult it was for me to see you walk away from me every time I send you home? All I wanted was not letting you go but keeping you by my side.” He tilted her face so she could look at him and see the honesty in his words, in his eyes. He caressed her face ever so tenderly thinking of the torment she had been through, because of love for him.

He didn’t tell her though; it was after seeing her in that crumbled up photo of her standing next to You Zhen that an inexplicable dread as well as intense jealousy came over him. He couldn’t bear to see her standing beside any man except him, especially not next to You Zhen, whom he considered his love rival. He knew he had to act fast. He had to let her know he had feelings for her. He was serious about her. That night in bed he was giddy with happiness remembering the so unexpected English style ‘thank you’ peck she gave him on his cheek when he sent her home.

He arched a brow at her, indicating it was her turn.

She smiled, and looked at him very shyly. “Was it love, if every time I needed someone to talk to, it was you I thought of? Was it love, if every time I needed some words of encouragement, it was you I thought of? Was it love, if every time I needed a shoulder to cry on, it was you I thought of? Was it love, if every time I wanted to share good news, it was you I wanted to share with? Was it love, if every time I wanted to think of someone, it was you I thought of? Was it love……”

“Zhen Shan Mei, don’t be a cheat. Hurry up, please be specific.”

She snuggled up to him, her face resting on his chest, her arms around his waist as she whispered, “On my 26th birthday, the night you put the anklet on me. I could never ever forget the look in your eyes. All the love I was capable of giving, I gave to you in that instant. How did you think I found my way back to you? All that time in London, I simply closed my eyes and that look would come through. It gave me the will power and strength to continue, to wait, to believe it’s me you truly love.”

And she was quietly sobbing into him thinking with anguish how she almost lost him.

He held onto her. He was silently crying too. He remembered that night very well. After putting the anklet on her, he looked up to her and saw such love pouring out of her eyes, giving him hope, promising him love; yet how could she turn around and say she still loved You Zhen, according to Xu Ying Mei. If he had known Michael earlier, he would have realised this Xu Ying Mei was a ‘trouble maker’ of the first degree. He felt so wretched for doubting his sweet angel.

She didn’t want to burden him further. She took on the blame for the break up, when in fact it was his fault doing stupid things due to his jealousy. He should have stopped Xu Ying Mei from dropping by his apartment whenever she felt like it. She always used official work as an excuse. Official work should be settled at the office. He was so sorry he was such a fool.

Now, holding Shan Mei closer, he caressed her, kissed her, murmuring sweet words of love, assuring her of his unwavering fidelity, promising her he would never make her cry again.

The next day, when he had a free moment, Xiang Zhe decided to call Patrick. “Patrick, Xiang Zhe here. What do you think if I put Xiang Jie in front of the camera? Not now, but after he graduates. Do you think he has that kind of chemistry with viewers, like you and Shan Mei?”

“Brother, I think that’s an excellent idea. Observing him over Christmas, I was wondering the same thing myself. Give him another year, he will have matured with such good looks and personality, he would definitely pull in viewers for the station. At the present time, he seemed to lack some kind of confidence. Giving him the right show is the key. I hope you can think of some CTN and MBS joint production. I don’t think Shan Mei would want to lose him to MBS, knowing he has a wealth of talent hidden somewhere in him. ”

“Thank you Patrick. Will keep that in mind in whatever is being planned.”

Xiang Zhe sighed heavily as he leant back against his leather chair, rubbing the frown now appearing on his forehead. Was he so prejudiced against his younger brother he couldn’t see the talent in him? Was Shan Mei grooming him to take her place, an ace in front of and behind the camera?

She had once mentioned, if they had two or more babies, she didn’t want to continue working. He’d love nothing more than have her stay home. But every time that thought surfaced, he would think back to that morning in London when he saw her going to work at 5.30 in the morning and then many times working throughout the nights. He couldn’t allow her to sacrifice her career after what she had gone through. He couldn’t take that away from her. He would rather they sacrifice having more babies.

The day Shan Mei flew out to Singapore and Hong Kong, Xiang Jie would arrive from London in the evening. Big gathering was on at Yin’s family home. The men sat down in Yin Snr’s sitting room enjoying tea, while the ladies prepared dinner.

Xiang Zhe took the opportunity to ask You Zhen of his travel plans. “You Zhen, will you be traveling around the region scouting for locations any time soon?”

You Zhen answered, “As a matter of fact, I’ll be leaving in 2 days’ time for about 10 days of location shooting.”

‘I was just wondering whether you can take Xiang Jie with you. Shan Mei wants Xiang Jie to familiarise himself with the real Korea. You think you can squeeze him in?”

“I’ll be happy to take little brother along. Since Minnie has decided not to travel with me this time, the trip will be brief. He’ll be good company.”

Father thought it was a good idea, too. So it was thus decided.

Tuesday, Xiang Zhe worked throughout the night. Shan Mei’s plane would be arriving from Hong Kong at 6 a.m Wednesday. He put the reports together and went back to his office to leave them on his secretary’s desk leaving a note that he would only be back after lunch. Then he drove off leisurely to the airport to meet Shan Mei. Of course his wife had told him she could easily take a taxi from the airport.

“No way! I’m not going to let you travel alone with a stranger so early in the morning. I’ll be there. What’s the point of staying home? I can’t sleep without you anyway. Surely you should know that by now. You’re so heartless!” he complained.

The arrival hall was almost empty. The plane had arrived 20 minutes earlier than the scheduled time. He saw his wife at the baggage carousel collecting her luggage. The customs officer waved her through, and very soon he was kissing and hugging his wife. Taking her luggage from her, Xiang Zhe led the way to the car.

At home, he had hot soup waiting for her. They took their soup, washed up, then went to bed, Xiang Zhe cuddling up to his wife. He woke at noon, getting ready to go to work. Hearing him move about the room, Shan Mei got up too and decided to leave for the office with her husband.

That night when they were at Father’s place for dinner and to see BB, only then did Shan Mei know that Xiang Jie had accompanied You Zhen on his location trip. She didn’t say anything, just looked at Xue Zhang and gave him her most brilliant smile, sending telepathy message to him that he would get a reward later that night. Shan Mei thought if he got the message he would get the reward, if he didn’t, he would get nothing.

As soon as they arrived home, Xiang Zhe rushed his wife upstairs, saying he was claiming the reward she had telepathically promised him. Xiang Zhe unclasped the rose pendant chain around his wife’s neck and then they went into the shower together. After the warm shower, Xiang Zhe quickly got into bed, waiting impatiently for his wife to come to bed.

“Was Xiang Jie happy about going off with You Zhen”

“Very,” came his quick reply. He didn’t want to talk about his brother. He wanted to talk about them, as he kissed her along her face, her neck, her shoulders, her breasts, wanting to know whether she missed him the way he had missed her. Could she sleep without him, etc., etc., etc? So many etc’s.

During the following weeks, both Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei were very busy with reports on their respective stations’ performances. Shan Mei had to plan for Korea as well as Asia Pacific for the next quarter. Xiang Zhe was involved in lengthy meetings highlighting shareholders’ expectations. Luckily for him, he held 40% share while Michael held 20%, so being the majority, they could implement whatever changes they felt would benefit MBS.

Another meeting at Wen Rong was more difficult for him. Shan Mei sat in on this meeting, as 45% shareholder of Wen Rong Group. Xiang Zhe was in the meeting as president of MBS. He had to explain to the board his plans for the television station for the next 12 months. His wife was quiet spending most of her time listening. He wondered what was going through her mind. At the end of the meeting, she looked contemplative although she was smiling and enjoying her talk in general with the other shareholders, namely Uncle Jin and Uncle Liu.

Over dinner, he expected Shan Mei to raise certain issues on his strategic planning for the Station, but she did not. At bed time, he couldn’t control his curiosity any more. He brought up the topic. She smiled at him then hooked her arm around his.

“Well, what did you think?” he asked, waiting for some kind of response.

“What did I think? I thought you looked too handsome for your own good, especially in that dark navy suit,” she answered softly.

He laughed, but he wanted some serious feedback. “Come on?”

“Feedback? Next time at such presentations, you are allowed to wear only your beige or grey suits, and I am serious about this. Otherwise you are too distracting.”

He ruffled her hair, asking her to be serious. Shan Mei explained, “I don’t understand too much the businesses of Wen Rong Group – way too many diversified interests, spreading out like tentacles of an octopus. But your 12 month plan for MBS sounded good. When the time comes, if it needs fine tuning, I’ll give you some suggestions, in private. But seriously, darling, what you presented today at the meeting was very good.”

Whatever her husband recommended, she believed it would be best for the Group and she would totally support him. Since she was also the custodian for Michael’s 10% share, giving her 55% majority share, she was in a position to pass any reasonable resolution.

“Husband, just relax. This is not the first time you’ve made presentation for MBS. Why so nervous? All the people in that boardroom were very happy with your performance. Before, it was only Step uncle kicking up a fuss at every turn, making mischief to demoralise you. Now Step uncle is no longer around, so peace reigns in the house again. The figures given in your presentation show what a great job you’re doing. Last year’s figures, at the end of December, showed MBS made a good profit. If this trend continues, I am certain the board would recommend you to take over presidency of Wen Rong as well.”

“I am nervous because today was the first time you sat in at the meeting as majority shareholder. Darling, did you notice the director from Wen Rong Hospital when he presented his 12-month plan? It seemed to me his eyes were focused on you as if he was talking only to you, trying to make a deep impression. All the rest of us in the room could go hang for all he cared. I never noticed before that our director from the hospital was so distinguished looking. What was his name again?”

“Funny, but I don’t seem to remember his name.” To his utter astonishment, his wife suddenly turned around and grinned impishly and put out a finger to trail it deliberately along his jaw line. “I dare to say my husband is at this very late hour trying to fish for compliments. Will you drop the matter if I vouch there was no one more distinguished-looking than you in that boardroom? After all you’ve been making such financial and strategic presentations to the Board for the last 5 years or so, and doing it very well! I should be the one seeking advice from you.” She put her other hand to her gaping mouth as she yawned dramatically. “Let’s get some sleep. I’m awfully tired, sir!”

Xiang Zhe caught her hand and pressed the palm hotly to his mouth, his eyes closing as he kissed the soft flesh slowly. While letting it go, his hand paused a minute, then continued trailing it down her arm, as he whispered beguiling, “Tired? Darling, admit you’re only teasing me. Shan Mei …….,” he began, his voice raspy.

As Shan Mei snuggled up to him, she asked testily, “What do you have in mind?” while she ran circles on his chest with a finger.

“Ehmm … depends …. whether you want a 12-minute presentation or a 12-step plan, my dearest wife.”

Chapter AW-44

Even though Xiang Zhe was unhappy with the arrangement, there was nothing he could do about it. His wife had a job to do. When he heard that Mr. Sung was flying to Tokyo with her to have meeting with Bansung’s appointed advertising agency for Japan, Xiang Zhe had said he didn’t trust that Sung guy. His wife looked at him, and asked very sweetly, “Husband, do you trust me?”

“Of course I do, need you ask? But…….,” he answered, his voice heavy with ……..

Shan Mei went up to him, stared him in the eyes, and very cleverly put an end to the going-nowhere conversation with, ‘But, I’m not Yin Xiang Zhe, and Mr. Sung is not Xu Ying Mei. Mr. Sung doesn’t like playing seductive games or speak in coy phrases nor does he like being provocative. He’s a straight forward guy who speaks exactly what his mind thinks. When I’m with him, I feel very keenly his aura of good will.”

“Ouch!” thought Xiang Zhe; that was hitting below the belt. She assured him it was just a day trip, she was not going to stay overnight in Tokyo. Her husband gave her a doubtful look. “Sure? Don’t call up from Tokyo to tell me something urgent has suddenly cropped up and you need to stay the night.”

“Hey, be reasonable. This may happen, who knows?” Shan Mei gently chided Xiang Zhe, “if we happen to meet up with someone important who may be interested in both CTN and MBS business, it’ll be necessary to stay an extra day to sort things out.”

“In that case, you phone me immediately, and I’ll be on the next flight to Tokyo, to help you out,” Xiang Zhe immediately answered, raising his brows at her at the same time. He had just finished clasping Shan Mei’s platinum chain and diamond rose pendant round her graceful neck.

As Shan Mei picked up her jacket that was lying on the bed, she turned to her husband assuring him, “I’ll not step out of line because I’ll remember I am the wife of Mr. Yin Xiang Zhe.”

“Beloved wife,” he amended, his tone serious, as he took the jacket from her and held it out while she slipped it on, and with his hand on her back he guided her out of the bedroom.

In Tokyo, at the meeting with Bansung’s advertising agency, Mr. Sung went straight to the point. “I want to see Bansung’s advertising portfolio for the 4th quarter of this year, since we are already in our 2nd quarter and you guys have planned for the 3rd. I also want to see performance charts of advertising for the past 2 quarters.”

Mr. Sung was doing all this because he wanted to see what he could do for Shan Mei in Tokyo. When he first saw Shan Mei before her marriage and indicated an interest in her, his mother was not agreeable at all, making all sorts of mortifying comments about her working class background, etc. Only when Shan Mei created such a high profile for her charity work that his mother relented a bit but had warned her son against marriage. After Shan Mei married Yin Xiang Zhe and gave birth to a baby boy, his mother blamed him for not pursuing Shan Mei seriously enough, letting her get away. Mothers!!!

He had felt protective towards her -- her childlike allure had captivated him right from the start. He wanted her to succeed in whatever she did, even in her marriage. His mother’s clique of society friends had said her marriage wouldn’t last, that Yin Xiang Zhe would soon tire of her. Mr. Sung was angry with the way these society dames dissected Shan Mei’s marriage and made snide remarks whenever the Yins’ photos appeared in the press.

Whenever he humoured his mother by attending pre-arranged meals with potential marriage partners, as soon as the girls started making discreditable remarks about Shan Mei, he would ignore them, feeling those girls were too small minded. Their thinking was so shallow, they thought their families’ money could buy them anything. He had yet to meet a girl who would be generous enough to openly praise Shan Mei for her hard-earned achievements. Even though he would love to have Shan Mei as his wife, he would not want to. When he saw how happy Shan Mei was being married to Yin Xiang Zhe, he knew he could never offer her such freedom.

That Yin Xiang Zhe was not a conformist in their staid Korean hierarchy of social system. He had been known since young for his distaste of protocol and non-adherence to family traditions. Although he was considered highly eligible and many mothers wanted to propose their daughters, all the well known local marriage contractors were reluctant to act as ‘go-between’ because he had never shown up for any pre-arranged appointments. If there was one thing Mr. Sung admired greatly about Yin Xiang Zhe, it was his guts for daring to defy tradition and protocol, even dispensing with the services of a ‘go-between’ to marry the girl of his own choice.

When MBS announced the engagement of their then-Director to CTN-KE Director Zhen Shan Mei, they made do without an engagement party. But their elaborate wedding 3 months later was the talk of the town, the bride and groom both looking simply fabulous.

Mr. Sung realised if Shan Mei married him, she might end up being stifled like that Japanese commoner who married the Japanese prince. He wouldn’t want something like that to happen to her.

After going through the ad agency’s recommendations, Mr. Sung did feel the ad agency was not pushing their brand through the proper channels and some of the advertisements placed were not garnering the results per advertising dollar spent. He wanted to take out a once-a-month mini series with CTN. Bansung’s Headquarters in Seoul would arrange this directly with CTN-Asia/Pac. The ad agency only had to be responsible for the local press build-up and space buying.

After all was settled, the general manager, Mr. Kawasaki, took them to lunch, after which they visited CTN Tokyo office. Shan Mei told Mr. Kawasaki that the CTN Asia Pacific head office was now located in Seoul to more efficiently service the region, and he was most welcomed to visit her in Seoul if there was anything else CTN could do for their other accounts. She took them around the studio to inspect the local network’s facilities. Mr. Kawasaki found Shan Mei easy to talk to, not one of those types of aggressive business women who liked to exert their power or demean the men once they were holding such powerful positions.

Mr. Kawasaki then drove them to airport for them to catch their return flight for Seoul. Mr. Sung and Shan Mei talked a lot over coffee in the departure lounge. To Mr. Sung, the naturalness of Shan Mei was like a breath of fresh air, after the affected manners of his sisters and the daughters of his mother’s friends.

Xiang Zhe as usual arrived at the airport well before the plane’s arrival time. He saw Mr. Sung and Shan Mei walking straight through Customs because they didn’t have any luggage. Mr. Sung was talking and laughing, Shan Mei smiling and seemed to be agreeing to what he was saying. Xiang Zhe decided to wait in a secluded spot. At the main gate of the Arrival Hall, it seemed Mr. Sung wanted to offer Shan Mei a lift, when they didn’t see Xiang Zhe; then it seemed like Mr. Sung wanted to wait with Shan Mei until the arrival of her husband. Soon, Shan Mei gave Mr. Sung a polite bow; she must have managed to convince him that she would be alright waiting on her own.

Xiang Zhe smiled sweetly to himself, then walked up quietly behind his wife, taking her hand into his with a firm hand grip. He was going to give her a quick peck at her ear, when she spun around so fast her hair belled out around her face into his, his lips landed on her mouth. He laughed. This was better than what he had expected. She was embarrassed, with so many people watching. She gave her husband a reproachful look, yet at the same time shyly admitted she liked it. She had missed him. She gave him a soft, sweet smile. Actually, no one cared. Wasn’t kissing and hugging the accepted norm at the airport? Everyone kissing one another either on greeting or on departing, that was what her husband said.

He took her briefcase from her, then they walked off hand in hand, Xiang Zhe felt the imprint of her hand burn all the way to his nerve endings.

On the way, Xiang Zhe stopped by a roadside food stall for some noodles, just in case his wife was hungry, the hour being late.

He didn’t stop by their house, instead drove straight to their cabin. When they were opening up the roof and skylight, Shan Mei looked up and saw the beautiful starry sky. She went into her husband’s embrace and sighed blissfully, “Husband, what a beautiful thought, coming here tonight.”

He kissed her back and told her, “It’s a spur of the moment decision. While we were having noodles, I noticed the starry sky. Tired?” She was, but felt tons better being at their cabin. Her husband rushed them into the shower room for a hot shower. They rubbed and massaged each other’s back, until they felt totally refreshed.

Lying there on their quilted mat, Shan Mei told her husband, “Darling, the trip went very well. Bansung is going to sign a one-year sponsorship deal with CTN for once-a-month mini series for Japan. If this goes well, Bansung may want to consider a MBS drama series. Mr. Ang will be so busy having to arrange more Korean to Japanese dubbing. I’m sure that Mr. Kawasaki will visit our Korean office, after he realises CTN-Asia holds the key to CTN’s extensive library for Asia/Pacific. And all series can be pre-dubbed in Japanese language too. It will be so easy to give his other clients anything they want.”

Xiang Zhe smiled as he caressed her face. He dropped a light kiss across her lips and whispered into her mouth, “I didn’t bring you here to talk about work and about other men. I want all your attention to focus on me tonight. Understand?”

They woke very early the next morning. Xiang Zhe went out to the courtyard to stretch around. The fresh air made him realised how much they missed the cabin. His rose bush was doing very well. He cut the largest, about-to-bloom bud for Shan Mei. His vegetables were growing very well too. He plucked a few big chillis for Shan Mei, knowing how much she loved their big fat fresh chilli pods. So all his gardening efforts were not in vain, he thought happily. Maintaining the small garden patch was very easy after his ID people installed an automatic water sprinkler with timer, just like the one they had in their greenhouse.

As soon as Shan Mei cleaned up the place, they locked up and returned home. Baby was already awake and up to his many antics. He was getting to the age where it was not easy to leave him with nanny and then run out.

He knew when his parents were ready to leave the house in the morning, or when they would be staying in. In the mornings, he wanted to go with them. It got to the stage where he rode in the car with them, until the front gate. As soon as nanny alighted from the car with baby, daddy and mummy drove off closing the electronic gate behind them. They knew before long, he wouldn’t be appeased so easily. They were discussing about this in the car.

“Xue Zhang, I’ve decided I’ll stay back in the mornings and leave for work when BB is having his mid morning nap, what do you think?”

“I think you’re neglecting your husband. You now know the reason why I didn’t fancy babies, in the first place? Even if I had decided to eventually marry, I realized children would be a big responsibility. After my miserable growing up years, I didn’t ever again want to fight for love and affection. I wanted to be the only apple of your eye. You stay home to keep that imp company, who’s going to keep me company on the ride to the office?” He inclined his head toward her; his expression meant he wanted an answer from her.

“Aiya, imagine fighting with your son over something so trivial. It’s only for 2 or 3 mornings a week anyway. I’m usually out of Seoul on Mondays. On Fridays, we leave the house together, to drop baby and nanny off at Father’s place. For the mornings I don’t leave with you, the company car comes to collect me later in the morning. For the time being, this looks like the most sensible arrangement. He’d outgrow this when he becomes interested in something else.” She looked at Xiang Zhe; her eyes letting him know she was going to miss him terribly on the mornings they wouldn’t be traveling together.

Xiang Zhe shrugged one shoulder in surrender. “What to do? BB is now top priority with you?”

Shan Mei pinched his cheek gently. “Not true, you know you’re always my No. 1 priority.”

He turned to cock a doubtful eye at her.

“Tell you what, husband. On the mornings I don’t leave with you, as soon as I arrive at the office, I’ll make a point of calling on you if you are not busy, and give you a special treat.”

“I want to know what kind of treat, to prove your sincerity.”

“When we reach the office afterwards, I’ll show you, okay?” The way her mischievous eyes sparkled, Xiang Zhe knew his wife was up to something.

He gave his wife an eager boyish grin, and stepped on the accelerator. Actually, Shan Mei was still figuring out a way on how to make this grown-up baby accept little baby’s needs sometimes had to come first.

“Hey, please, don’t drive so fast!” Shan Mei squealed, but her husband ignored her.

This morning, Xiang Zhe didn’t stop his car at the entrance of CTN to let his wife off, but drove straight into the MBS car park. Hand in hand, they went straight up in the elevator to his office.

In his office, leaning back in his comfortable leather chair, he wondered lazily what Shan Mei had up her sleeve this time. He turned to look at his wife – his eyes grew big and expectant on her – as he asked, “Well?”

“Aiya, why be such an eager Beaver? Get some work done, first.”

Arms folded across his chest, he boldly stated, “No. I’m waiting to be pacified.”

Shan Mei went into the pantry and made a hot, steaming cup of coffee for her husband. She brought it out and placed it on his desk. Xiang Zhe stared at his wife with an improbable glint and complained, laughing softly, “You call this usual cup of coffee a special treat?”

Shan Mei went to her handbag and took a small packet out of it. Xiang Zhe was getting highly excited as his eyes followed his wife’s train of action.

She returned to sit down on his lap and took a small plastic container of coffee creamer from the packet, broke the special-shaped perforated seal and poured the creamer slowly into the steaming hot coffee. Magically, the blob of cream slowly spread out to form a heart. He looked at her and asked, “Whose heart is that?” pointing a finger at the cream.

“Mine of course.” When Shan Mei said that she very carefully took something else still left in the small packet, and placed it delicately on top of the creamy heart. Xiang Zhe’s grin became as toothy as Garfield’s silly grin. He saw a ‘Z’ cut from thin chocolate-coated wafer floating in the middle of the creamy heart. Shan Mei then asked, “Pacified? Like the way this coffee is being served?”

Xiang Zhe was at first quite surprised, his little darling was beginning to come up with very innovative ideas for ‘treats’. Then he chuckled, facing the coffee, leaning his head back, he ran a hand lightly over his hair. After a minute he turned back to face her. “Darling, you’ve got something there. But I can only SEE the heart; I would love to taste it too.”

“Hey, you’re getting quite difficult to please. Some brainwave cooking up in your head?”

“Well, I want to savour properly both flavours – coffee and heart, like a kiss then a sip,” he grinned impishly.

Shan Mei chewed over her lips before deciding to kiss her husband lightly on his lips, then asked him to start on his coffee. Xiang Zhe was by this time delirious with excitement. He took a gulp of the coffee, big enough to swallow up the whole creamy heart, then he pulled Shan Mei closer to give her a deeper kiss. “Hmm, the coffee does taste extra good and special this way,” he cooed, wanting another kiss and sip.

At that point, Shan Mei stopped him. “Enough for today. Time to get some work done, Mr. President,” she reminded him.

Xiang Zhe laughed, caught his darling wife back in his arms and gave her a sweet kiss, and asked whether she got that creamer from Tokyo. “Yes, and there’s a whole box of it in my briefcase.” On hearing that, he rubbed his hands together in glee. When Shan Mei gathered her things ready to leave for her office, he walked her to the lift.

After Shan Mei was inside the lift, and the doors closed, Xiang Zhe walked slowly back to his office, his hands in his trouser pockets, he smiling sweetly to himself as he slowly swilled around his mouth the after taste of the kiss, flavoured with coffee and rich cream and a hint of chocolate straight from his wife’s mouth. “What a wonderful way to start the morning – smooth and warm and sweet.”

Back at his office desk, Xiang Zhe buzzed his secretary Miss Lee on the intercom. “Miss Lee, starting from next week, keep the hour between 11 and 12 free of appointments on Wednesday and Thursday mornings. Thank you.”

The Accounting statements for the first quarter for all the 4 regional offices arrived. Scanning through them, Shan Mei could see some improvements in their expenditures. She filed them away. This evening she would show them to her husband.

Then she began work on something else. She went through the statistic figures that Xiang Jie had prepared for her during his Easter holidays. In fact after his return to London, he was still working on this project and had been emailing her information. From this information, she surmised the Japanese liked movie themes with strong romantic lines. If they included strong family values, it would even be better. Shan Mei went through her library of titles to see which would match well. After she settled on these, she sent the list of titles together with synopses to Mr. Sung, for his review.

That afternoon, Mr. Sung phoned Shan Mei. “Shan Mei, S.D. here. I’ve got your list. Kawasaki-san doesn’t have a clue what to expect out of the titles, so I’ve invited him over to Seoul, to run through the titles you’ve recommended. He would be arriving tonight. We’ll be over to your office first thing tomorrow morning at 9. Hope this is alright with you.”

Mr. Sung, Mr. Kawasaki and Shan Mei were at MBS dubbing department watching some dubbing work in progress, Korean into Japanese.

This was the first time Mr. Sung actually went into a studio to see dubbing work being done. He was fascinated. Shan Mei checked with Mr. Ang; Han Jae Hoon was now doing voice over for one episode of NWP. Shan Mei decided to take the two gentlemen to visit Jae Hoon now working in another room. Mr. Sung immediately recognised the voice. Shan Mei signaled Jae Hoon. After completing his current sequence, he came out of the room to greet them. Shan Mei introduced him to Mr. Sung, the sponsor of the NWP series, and Mr. Kawasaki from Tokyo. Mr. Sung was floored. Wasn’t this the man who hosted Law Segment of MBS morning show? He never actually paid attention to Mr. Han’s voice on the show. He never expected such a handsome man to possess such a beautiful voice. Too bad he didn’t speak Japanese otherwise he would want Mr. Han to dub in Japanese.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kawasaki was impressed too. He wanted to push NWP for a client in Tokyo. When Mr. Sung saw his excited reaction, Mr. Sung wanted to know whether it would be a wiser choice to take NWP and not the mini series. Mr. Kawasaki professed, “S.D-san, the mini series will definitely reach a wider catchment of viewers, if the right titles are shown.” They then proceeded to the small film studio to view the series that Shan Mei has recommended. After viewing, Mr. Kawasaki wondered how she could pin-point so well the current trend of the Japanese preference in television viewing. He actually chose 8 out the ten titles she suggested. After lunch, Shan Mei arranged for another 10 titles to be shown. Mr. Kawasaki indicated interest in 5 of the titles, after only 8 were screened.

When they were about to wrap up the viewing in the screening room, she received a call from her husband. He was just back in his office after a long meeting at Wen Rong. “Darling, how about giving your poor husband a special coffee treat? I’m so tired, I need your heart to revive mine.” Shan Mei laughed softly and told him she would be going up to his private reception area with her two guests.

When Yin Xiang Zhe greeted them at his reception room, Mr. Sung introduced his visitor from Japan, “Kawasaki-san, this is Yin Xiang Zhe the President and DoP of MBS. He is also the husband of Shan Mei.”

Mr. Kawasaki had assumed Shan Mei was single, Mr. Sung had a thing for her that was why he went out of his way to ensure CTN figured well in the Bansung account. After this afternoon, he changed his mind. That Shan Mei really knew how to do her job well, judging by the list of titles she had selected, and making that Mr. Han in charge of dubbing for the mini series and NWP. And she was so professional by not mentioning that Mr. Yin was her husband.

Xiang Zhe was in good mood, seeing how Mr. Sung had introduced him as the husband of Shan Mei. They went to Westin’s Korean restaurant for dinner. All the time throughout dinner, while they were engaged in small talk, Mr. Sung’s eyes were alert and fugitively shifting about. He wanted to know whether the Yins really held hands under the table, like what he had read somewhere in some guy’s interview in the newspapers.

Chapter AW-45

Zian Da phoned Xiang Zhe’s extension. “Xiang Zhe, the Human Resource Department has encountered some problems. It seems about 20 employees want to change their weekly off-days. They want to work on Sundays.”

Xiang Zhe was surprised. “Are these employees trying to cause dissent in the company? Why is H.R. unable to resolve this matter? Normal employees want to take Sundays off. Is there a problem somewhere? Which department are these employees from?”

“They are from different departments and their department heads cannot understand their decision!”

Xiang Zhe didn’t hesitate to take action. If these employees were trying to cause dissent, he’d better nip it in the bud before the situation escalated. “Zian Da, arrange a meeting at the big function room with H.R., the department heads and the employees. I’ll be there in 30 minutes.”

When Xiang Zhe arrived, he walked briskly to the elevated platform at the head of the room and took a seat by the table next to Zian Da. The employees who were talking excitedly suddenly became very still and quiet. When he gave them an overall stern look, the employees wished they hadn’t come to the meeting and should have kept their mouths shut.

Xiang Zhe took the microphone on the table and began, “Good afternoon. Any one here ready to tell me what the problem is?”

No one answered. The room was very quiet, 30 pairs of eyes staring back at him blankly.

Xiang Zhe continued talking into the mic, his voice firm and resonant. “It is a serious matter to me, if my employees are not happy. Most employees ask for Sundays off. It’s strange to me that you are asking to work on Sundays? If it is only 2 or 3 employees, I would put it down to personal preference or a recent change in home situation. But with 20 employees, from different departments, wanting the same thing, there must be a problem somewhere. If you won’t tell me, how am I able to help you?”

Sensing the sincerity in their President’s voice, one employee finally stood up to explain the situation.

“Mr. President, actually, we are thankful that management has organised a Junior Game Club for our children. Our children want to participate too, but we have transportation problems. MBS provide company bus to pick us up from our homes for work. So we think if we work on Sundays, our children can travel with us to work, the bus for Sundays are usually not that full. After the first quarter when the Junior Game Club was started, the other children have been telling our children the club is a lot of fun. Since then, our children have been begging us to take them with us to work so they can enjoy the club privileges too.”

Xiang Zhe nodded in silent acknowledgement and looked at Zian Da to see what solutions he had to this problem. As expected, he kept quiet and wanted to look down on his note pad. Xiang Zhe wouldn’t let him. He held his stare. Finally, he gave up. He realised even if he stared all day, Zian Da wouldn’t voice an opinion. The other department heads were quiet too.

Taking the microphone again, Xiang Zhe told his employees to value Sunday as ‘family day’. “Apart from coming to work on Sundays, what other suggestions do you have? I don’t care how ridiculous your suggestions may sound, I want to hear them all. I want also for you to write down where you live, how many children you have and their ages. I want all your notes on my table by this evening before I leave the office at 6. Let me sit on the matter for one night. I will definitely come back to you tomorrow with a solution, even if it’s temporary. I promise.”

That night when they were at his father’s place for dinner, Xiang Zhe brought out the notes to show to the others, explaining what happened that afternoon at MBS. He had scanned over the notes and it seemed there would be 36 children wanting to go.

Yin Snr said, “It’s imperative that all these children should have equal opportunity to learn. May be, one day, one of them will have potential to become a champion, who knows.” It was decided MBS would be responsible for the transportation of the 12 children living in the same area and their parents didn’t have to change their work schedules. But if they wanted to accompany their children to the club, that would be okay. Tomorrow Zian Da was to find from Junior Club records whether the remaining 24 could join a car pool. After that, they would see how many children were left out before finding another solution.

Again, after dinner, Grandfather wouldn’t let BB go home with his parents that night. He doted on his grandson so much, Shan Mei was afraid BB would be spoilt rotten. Later on, when Xiang Zhe was having tea with his father in his private sitting room, he asked his father whether Step mother would be returning to Seoul this summer with Xiang Jie.

“Father, we’re planning on having another baby next year. Shan Mei wants to give up her job when the second baby arrives. I feel that this is so unfair to her. I’ve thought of asking Auntie Lee to come over to our place and help us look after BB. She is well educated and will know how to teach the boy properly in good manners and other things.”

Father gave his son a long stare and finally said, “That’s not a good idea. I’m so used to having Auntie Lee and Patrick around, they are now like family. I keep telling you to leave BB over here with us. Anyway, Son, you don’t have to worry a thing. You go ahead and give me another grandchild. I already have a solution. I’m only waiting for the right chance. Of course Shan Mei shouldn’t resign. When I was in London the first time with her, I already noticed how hard and reliable she worked. If she resigns, it will be a great loss to CTN.”

As promised by the President and DoP, the Junior Club problem was easily resolved. Many parents already sending their children to the club volunteered to provide car pool service. For company bus service, the driver on duty on Sundays would take MBS mini bus to collect and send the children back, since the timing didn’t clash with other MBS bus schedules, the club hours being 2 – 5 p.m. Xiang Zhe advised Zian Da to approach the winners from last year who were supposed to give coaching to the kids to find out whether any one of them could provide transportation to any children living near their area or be picked up conveniently on the way to MBS.

A few weeks later, Father phoned Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei one afternoon after lunch, asking them to meet him in front of MBS front entrance in 20 minutes’ time. When they arrived, Father was already there waiting.

“Come, get into the car. Old Kang will drive us.”

“Father, isn’t this the way to our house?” Shan Mei asked, after 10 minutes on the road. Father smiled, giving Shan Mei a pat on her hand. The car soon stopped in front a grand mansion situated at the back of Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei’s house on slightly higher ground.

Father was beaming. “I have been waiting for this property to go on the market ever since I bought the first property, the one that is now your home. This morning, the ownership papers for this property were signed.”

Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei looked at each other excitedly. That would mean no need to travel back and forth for BB with Auntie Lee living just next door. They went in to look at the house. It was very well laid out and very spacious with lots of room. The grounds outside were very extensive.

“Xiang Zhe, we’ll break down the surrounding wall at some point so the two properties can be connected. This way, the babies can treat the property as one. I’ll ask Patrick to sell his apartment. On the grounds of the new mansion, I’ll build a unit for Xiang Jie and another for Patrick, so they can have their own privacy when entertaining their friends.”

Xiang Zhe laughed softly to himself. So the old fox had planned this a long time, slowly taking their babies over to his side of the property while the two innocents would be left in peace making babies on their side of the property.

That night when they were discussing the mansion, Shan Mei asked her husband how he looked at the situation – the possibility of stepmother returning to Seoul? Xiang Zhe leaned against the love seat, rubbed at his frown and let off a long sigh. “I have asked Father about stepmother returning with Xiang Jie this summer; he didn’t give me any answer. The situation doesn’t look good at all. I wonder how Xiang Jie would take it, if Father really decides to divorce his mother. After Step uncle’s dirty scheme was exposed, Father must have sent a private investigator on his trail and uncovered a lot of unsavoury evidence.”

“Wouldn’t it be wonderful, if Father married Auntie Lee and adopted Patrick as his son?” Shan Mei mused. Xiang Zhe was smoothing his wife’s hair, while listening to this. What surprised him was he didn’t feel a bit angry, or jealous. He had come to regard Auntie Lee and Patrick as family. In fact he felt more comfortable talking to Patrick than to Xiang Jie, may be due to the age difference, maybe something else. And Father did say he was used to having Auntie Lee around the house. It would be an easy and harmonious transition for them.

Shan Mei had just this morning arrived back in Seoul, and at once went to rest a bit at home before going to the office.

They had an early dinner, and were now enjoying a night snack before bedtime. Xiang Zhe raised his glass of white wine to her lips, for her to take a sip. They were sitting in their living room, enjoying deep fried breaded crabmeat sticks that Shan Mei had prepared, with a delicious white wine that she had brought back from Sydney.

She always gave him a special treat every time she came home from some place. He was now getting used to her travel routine. A few more months, he would be able to put Baby Princess Plan into action. After a few more glasses of wine, he was hoping his wife would give him some hot cuddles in bed tonight.

Even the regional offices now realised Shan Mei was nobody’s fool.

Since her monthly visits, she had managed to cut down expenses by at least 20% in each of the offices. Even if they didn’t get new businesses, it meant the offices were making 20% more money. Xiang Zhe had been following the financial statements given to him by Shan Mei, and each time he had told her where she could cut further, from his experience as Director of Planning. If only they knew she had such a qualified financial advisor behind her, they wouldn’t dare to play their games any more. Thinking about this made Shan Mei giggled freely, and at one time pressing her face to her husband’s cheek, she trailed her lips slowly to his mouth, then licked around it for any left over taste of the wine, then affirmed that tasted great. Was it he or the wine? Xiang Zhe wondered, excitement was slowly heating up his body.

What was she trying to do? Did she know she was slowly killing him with her love? He guessed his wife had had enough wine for one night. He’d better get her up to the bedroom for her bath, before she passed out. He slowly walked her up the stairs; she was hanging on to his arms. He put her on the bed then quickly went to the bathroom to run a bath. He laughed as he helped her undress. She wanted to bathe in her clothes. He had to do the same too. He hoped the warm water would wake her up. She wanted him to take off one piece of clothing after another in the bath, one for her and one for him. He was really laughing hard this time thinking what their housekeeper’s reaction would be like when she came in the morning, seeing their pile of wet clothes on the floor.

She sat on his lap, waiting for him to wash her. He was grinning as he was washing her. Suddenly, she told him, “Xue Zhang, I love your grin. Love it so much.”

Xiang Zhe stilled and looked at his wife with surprise, unconcealed delirium all over his face. This was the first he heard it.

“Xue Zhang’s grin always makes me want to say something that will keep you smiling.” Very slowly, his lips nuzzled the hollow of her throat where he could feel her pulse beating as wildly as his.

Wrapping her with a large bath towel he carried her off to bed. As he eased her onto their bed, his breath was hot against her ear as he whispered, “Darling, don’t simply say things to keep me smiling. I’d smile even more if you do things to me – nice things, I mean.” And he rubbed his lips suggestively against hers.

===

The next morning, Xiang Zhe heard his wife moving about their room. Then silence! It was still very early. He was reluctant to leave the bed. He rolled over to her side of the bed, to lie on her pillow, sniffing in her scent. He so loved the way she smelled, so soft and delicate like the feel of her skin.

He felt a light kiss on his forehead; he pretended to be still asleep. His wife moved her hand under the quilt to stroke him ever so gently. He opened his eyes, to look straight into her smiling face. “Wake up, husband. We have to go some place as soon as you’ve showered and changed.”

Today was another MBS Founding Day Anniversary. Why was his wife waking him up early? So heartless when he was enjoying his lie-in. Didn’t she know he was going to have a full day ahead of him?

Shan Mei had already changed and was waiting for him downstairs. All she had left out for him on the kitchen table was a cup of hot coffee. When he got into the car, before he saw the roses, he was assailed by their scent. Shan Mei gave him a sweet smile and a good morning kiss, and very simply said, “To Mother’s.”

The drive was very pleasant, there was almost no traffic being so early in the morning. Very soon they reached their destination. Shan Mei put the flowers in the vase in one corner of the plot. Xiang Zhe looked at his wife tenderly. It was 26 years since his grandfather founded the business and left it to Xiang Zhe’s mother. He sat somewhere close by and began rambling to his mother. “MBS is currently enjoying much popularity with viewers. Mother, please continue to bless and guide us. Baby is growing well. You would have been so proud of him. Father is at some kind of crossroad in his life. Mother, please help him in making the right decision.”

Shan Mei took a small food container from the car. She poured her husband a cup of hot coffee, then handed him some sandwiches she had prepared. As he was sipping his coffee, he smiled at her. She smiled back and looked at him shyly, her face slowly turning rosy.

“Husband, why are you smiling like that? Do you want me to kidnap you home and make you miss today’s function?”

He put down his sandwich and coffee, tilted her face up to his, and kissed her deeply, hoping with that kiss, he managed to convey his deep love for her to her innermost self. Shan Mei’s arms circled his waist under his jacket bringing him close to her. His tongue remained in her mouth, working its magic. After what seemed like ages, they drew apart, their eyes dark with passion, their faces so full of love for one another. Xiang Zhe never took his eyes off his wife, as they continued with their breakfast, his face spotting a soft grin.

It was time to leave. They packed up everything, after which they walked slowly back to their car, Xiang Zhe’s arms wrapped protectively around Shan Mei’s shoulders. Before he started the car, he said slowly “Darling,” his gaze measuring as he took her chin gently in his hand. “We have unfinished business. If there is a ‘start’ there should be an ‘end’ too. I thank you for today’s beautiful ‘start.’ I’ll reckon with you later tonight. I promise.” Then he winked at her. His heart was singing. His Shan Mei was truly his special angel sent from up above.

He then bent and kissed her deeply and Shan Mei shivered at the sensations his kiss aroused in her. Unfinished business, indeed. He knew it, she knew it. But it was barely 8 o’clock in the morning.

“Xue Zhang,” Shan Mei stammered, not quite knowing what to say when she noticed the hungry look in his eyes. “Shouldn’t we be getting on our way? Today is going to be a busy day for you with MBS Anniversary lunch and meetings with your BBS visitors.”

Xiang Zhe reluctantly set his wife back in her seat. “Yes,” he slowly sighed. “Today is another MBS anniversary function.” At today’s function he would look at it more seriously. With Shan Mei by his side, MBS had reached another year with glowing results. They would continue to do their best to keep his mother’s legacy alive for posterity.

Chapter AW-46

Shan Mei and Xiang Zhe were both so busy with their work he didn’t even have time to discuss with his wife how she would like to spend her birthday.

The day before her birthday, when Xiang Zhe asked his wife what she would like, Shan Mei told him she wanted to go to their cabin.

The next day, they left work at 5 then drove directly to their cabin. Xiang Zhe took a food hamper from his car and stored the whole thing in the fridge. Shan Mei prepared the Jacuzzi. They changed out of their work clothes into their Ts and shorts. The weather was so beautiful, they simply lay in each other’s arms, on their mat in the cabin to enjoy the airy, relaxing atmosphere. Since last month’s MBS anniversary celebration, both of them had not had a chance to relax properly.

After a while, they moved over to the Jacuzzi. Today, Xiang Zhe promised to give his wife a body massage, but first a back rub. Shan Mei enjoyed the warm water and back rub so much, she didn’t want to come out of the water although her husband told her it had been almost an hour they were in the water; he wanted to eat.

Xiang Zhe took the whole hamper from the fridge, and laid out the food on their table. They had steamed prawns, lobsters and crabs, and a bottle of the best champagne. Xiang Zhe was enjoying the lobsters while his wife was shelling the prawns and crabs for him. After they finished the food, husband and wife shared washing up duties. Next on the menu were the juiciest strawberries. By this time, Shan Mei was on her husband’s lap and he was feeding her the strawberries. They tasted especially good with champagne. Xiang Zhe told his wife, “Darling, don’t be such a scrooge! Be generous and give me some birthday kisses.”

She looked at him and giggled. He looked so adorable, with his dark hair soft and windblown with several locks loose across his forehead – she didn’t want to kiss him, she wanted to eat him. She ran her fingers slowly through his hair again and again until he got so impatient for her kisses, he pulled her hands away, caught her face between his hands, and then pressed his hot lips against hers. When he finally broke away, his eyes were dark with desire. He laughed, and lifting his wife into his arms, carried her off to their cabin.

The next day when Xiang Zhe arrived at the CTN Executive Dining Room; he saw his wife talking to the Master Chef. The service staff on seeing him, showed him to the table Miss Zhen occupied. His wife had invited him to lunch because Master Chef had phoned her letting her know his supplier had delivered a very fresh yellow croaker in the morning. He wanted to make special fish soup for her. Mr. President was invited too if he was free. Xiang Zhe came not so much for the food, but for the sight of his beautiful wife, still thinking of the wonderful night they shared in the cabin last night and the birthday treats his wife doled out, one after another, so much so he didn’t think he would be able to make it for work this morning. It was now lunch time only and he was missing her already.

After lunch, he invited his wife back to his office. “Darling, I feel like having some of your special coffee.” As soon as he locked his office door behind him, he pulled Shan Mei into his arms and started kissing and caressing her, murmuring into her ears he wanted to take her back to the cabin tonight.

He didn’t understand the logic but that cabin seemed to be magical. Whenever they were there, they felt so free, no social taboo, especially his wife, as if her veil of shyness just dropped away. Even if they did nothing but simply lie down there, with his wife next to him holding her in his hands, he felt fulfilled and totally loved by her. He told his wife, “I’d be at your office to collect you at 6 this evening.”

To Shan Mei, their cabin was so special and totally cut off from their normal life, they could behave without constraints of any sort. They felt so free.

With all the travelling around visiting the regional offices, her husband being so considerate and acquiescent, Shan Mei was beginning to miss him and baby more and more with each passing month – she wanted to indulge him whenever possible. Travelling on planes gave her plenty of time to think. The most heart-rending thing for her, whenever she thought of her husband, was his growing up years. There was no one he could open up to, not like Xiang Jie who had her, his dad, Patrick, Auntie Lee and You Zhen Ge to give support on the sidelines. Her Xue Zhang had to tackle his problems, his fears, his sufferings and his loneliness all by himself. At that time, he would be 15 years or so, about the same age as Xiang Jie when she first saw him in London at Arirang. Gugu told her Xue Zhang always ate alone all those years at her restaurant except for one time, when he came in with a girl, that news anchor at MBS, Liu Yong Xi when she was in London to cover the Korean presidential visit.

If a situation was within her control, she would ensure her husband never suffered any unhappiness again. She would make sure she and their children would be his pride and joy forever. She still remembered Xue Zhang’s excitement when BB had his first tooth. Many times during the night he had crept into the nursery, to check on the tooth; or his emotional state with tears rolling down his cheeks, when BB’s first word was ‘Daddy.’ Shan Mei had never seen him looked so proud.

She wanted to give him another baby. She didn’t want to wait till next year. As soon as she became pregnant, she would tell Michael she didn’t want that director’s job. All that travelling was tiring her. She couldn’t bear being away from her husband. He needed her.

Her secretary buzzed her on the intercom that Mr. Yin had arrived. “Show him in please.” Shan Mei pulled her husband into her office when she saw him hovering at the entrance. Her husband went around her desk, pointed to his photo on her table and asked her who that was. She gave him a mischievous look and answered, “My Xue Zhang.” Switching on her mobile phone, showing him the photo of the screensaver, she said, “My secret lover.” He was amused because that was him, and opening her wallet, she showed him another photo, “My husband.”

He was curious and couldn’t help asking. “Hey, why is the Husband in wallet, and not on mobile phone screensaver?”

She smiled softly at him then told him, “I’ll call my secret lover every time I feel like having some fun. Every time I open my wallet, I would be reminded I have a husband somewhere. This husband pays the bills, so I’d better entertain him once in a while!”

He threw his head back and roared with uninhibited laughter. “So, what is it going to be tonight? Are you going to show me some fun, or simply entertain me for entertainment’s sake?” he asked, tweaking her nose at the same time for her mischievousness.

“Ugh – ugh,” Shan Mei replied, shaking her head. He arched a brow at her. “Tonight I’m going with my Xue Zhang to our secret hideout, for serious work.”

“Like?” he asked wanting to know more.

She raised herself on tiptoe up to his ear and softly whispered into it. He became highly excited as he gushed, “Really?” He picked up his wife’s jacket and handbag and hurried her out of her office, giving an apologetic nod to Shan Me’s secretary.

They stopped by the house to change out of their work clothes. Shan Mei got some food from the fridge; then they drove off to their cabin. While Xiang Zhe opened up the cabin, his wife was in the kitchen getting ready to prepare dinner, and getting out some drinks for them.

Xiang Zhe went up quietly behind his wife’s back, circled her waist loosely with his arms, and asked softly into her ear, “Now or later?”

His wife looked at him indulgently. “Don’t you need food to make healthy babies?” She asked him to set the table, saying, “Xue Zhang, I’m giving you beef noodles with 3 fried eggs. Are you okay with this?”

He scratched his head and laughed softly, then looked at his wife amused, asking her, “Are we aiming for triplets?”

It was another night of partying at the Yin’s family home, welcoming back Xiang Jie for his summer holidays. By now, BB was making quite intelligent conversation. He was talking all night to his uncle, mentioning by name Grandpa, Grandma Lee, Daddy, Mummy, Uncle, and Uncle Pat. They did hear him say “Daddy naughty.” When Daddy said he was going to smack his little bottom, he ran whimpering to his uncle.

Shan Mei laughed at that and reminded her husband, “Darling, we’d better watch what we say at home. The brat is picking up words from us.”

Xiang Zhe commented, “Not just us, but our gardener too. He comes to tend the garden 6 afternoons a week. I’ve noticed he likes to curse a bit.”

The following week, Xiang Jie was busy at CTN and MBS. Every one wanted a bit of him. He couldn’t entertain them all. He decided to treat all his friends to a simple meal at MBS canteen on a Friday when they didn’t have the Game Club in session. When Shan Mei heard this, she told Master Chef to arrange for a few varieties of finger food. For quantity, please liaise with Xiang Jie. That would be the contribution from CTN.

On Friday, when Shan Mei finished Musical Postcard, she phoned her husband telling him she was going to drop in on Xiang Jie’s party at the canteen. She asked him along. When they arrived, Xiang Zhe was surprised at the number of staff members at the canteen. “Did Xiang Jie make so many friends during his brief holiday working stints here?” he quietly asked his wife.

Li Qing Xi came in carrying a large pot of beef stew. Shan Mei’s three secretaries brought finger sandwiches. Soon Yin Snr arrived, nanny tagging behind carrying BB. There was great excitement in the canteen when they saw the baby.

Xiang Zhe knew it was going to happen sooner or later, when he heard the news being passed around, “Zhen Shan Mei’s baby is here.” The other humiliating part was baby trying to brush him off, wanting to sit with his uncle.

Shan Mei, seeing this, went over to BB telling him not to disturb uncle entertaining his friends, then brought BB to daddy, quietly asking Xue Zhang to give him a stick of potato French fry as bribe. When BB was in his arms, sucking on the French fry, Xiang Zhe quietly chided him, “Traitor.”

BB looked up at his daddy, a tiny little frown appeared on his small forehead guessing what his daddy just said, by the tone, was not complimentary. The staff commented on the baby’s uncanny likeness to their president, right down pat to the frown.

“Of course” said Shan Mei with a laugh, “he’s Yin Xiang Zhe’s son.” Xiang Zhe looked at his wife gratefully. He was beginning to think every one of them had overlooked that so very important fact, that he was baby’s father.

The adults were ready to leave, while the younger ones wanted to stay longer. Patrick promised to give Xiang Jie a lift home. Shan Mei told Patrick if he wanted to stay with Xiang Jie, which she preferred, they would drop Father home. Nanny had a hard time trying to catch on to BB’s little hand to wipe off the oil from the fries. Father was very happy to see that Xiang Jie had made so many friends at both CTN and MBS.

From the back seat of the car Father gave Shan Mei a gentle squeeze on her shoulder. He asked them whether they had time tomorrow to go with the ID people to look over the mansion to see what needed to be done. Shan Mei looked a bit embarrassed and asked, “Father, wouldn’t it be better if all of us, including Younger Brother and Patrick, should go and pool our ideas together?”

Father answered, “It’s not necessary, since the mansion will eventually go to you and Xiang Zhe.”

Shan Mei looked shocked. “What about Xiang Jie?”

“Don’t worry, he will get a property somewhere around the same area. I intend to sell the present house, so we can all live in the same area.”

Shan Mei looked at her husband who was quietly driving along. When they reached Father’s place, Xiang Zhe told his father to call them when he arrived at the mansion since they practically live on its doorstep. So it was thus decided.

In bed that night, husband and wife were having their bedroom meeting as usual. Shan Mei asked her husband whether the situation looked bad for Stepmother.

Xiang Zhe told her, “Darling, please be patient. We’ll know when we go over the house. If Father says he doesn’t need such a big room, it will mean he doesn’t intend to have her back. Then, you’ve got to insist he takes the suite, giving some story like when stepmother returns, they will need the larger room, save trouble moving from room to room since there are plenty of rooms available. If he agrees, that will mean he is seriously considering Auntie Lee. Then you have to go ask Ma to delicately broach the subject matter with Auntie Lee to see where her feelings lie.”

Shan Mei kissed her husband and professed, “You’re so clever,” but was still worried. “After Father and Auntie Lee’s problem is settled, there is still Patrick and Xiang Jie’s position to consider. It may be difficult for Xiang Jie to accept that Father will divorce his mother. And Patrick is comfortable with the present situation where he is already being treated as indulgent brother. If Auntie Lee marries Father and he becomes Father’s stepson officially, will Patrick’s current relationship with Xiang Jie change?”

“Yes, my darling, they shall in time discover for themselves what they will mean to one another. However,” Xiang Zhe murmured with a whimsical shrug as he traced her lips with his fingertip, “I’m weary of talking about Father, Auntie Lee, Xiang Jie and Patrick. Let’s just hope everything works out well. Que sera, sera! Whatever will be, will be! The future’s not ours to see!”

“As you wish, Husband,” Shan Mei agreed, toying with a lock of his hair. “It has been a long day, so no doubt you wish to sleep.”

“Yes, I do.” His eyes gleamed with seductive mischief. “But not right away.” And he moved to cover her mouth with a sizzling kiss.[

Chapter AW-47

Husband and wife were strolling in the park. From afar, they could see Pa and Ma busy serving customers. The shop was packed. They made their way to the shop via the back. Pa was surprised to see them. Shan Mei put on an apron, and began to help prepare bowls of noodles for the kimchi, giving the first bowl to her husband who slurped it up ravenously. He handed the empty bowl back to his wife.

Smiling at her sheepishly, Xiang Zhe said, “I want another bowl.”

Pouting at him, she complained, “Eating so much? You finished lunch not so long ago. You’re getting fat.”

He smiled back at her. “No, that isn’t true, you’re simply too stingy to give me another free bowl. I want a second bowl, prepared by my wife, and I’m willing to pay big time for it.”

She handed him another bowl, then put out a palm asking him for payment. He looked at her smilingly from under his lashes, then teased, “Go ask Miss Park how much she is prepared to pay for a kiss from your husband.”

Shan Mei looked at him and smirked, “I’d make it better, how about an evening out, wining, dining and dancing, sending her home, giving her goodnight kiss. May be, Yin Xiang Zhe would spend the night if he fancied her!” she then stuck her tongue out at him and poked him in his chest.

After most of the customers had gone, they sat down for some of Ma’s special cooling tea. Xiang Zhe’s mobile phone rang. On looking, he recognised the caller’s number, he passed his mobile phone to his wife, quietly mouthing ‘Miss Park.’

Shan Mei answered, “Mr. Yin Xiang Zhe’s office. Oh, you’re looking for Mr. Yin? Is it urgent? It is? He isn’t in now but he’s going to have dinner at Westin Chosun Korean restaurant this evening. Bye.”

His wife handed his mobile phone back to him, then looked at him amused. She asked him to hurry home and change, she had set up a date for him at Westin Chosun. Xiang Zhe turned around to look at Pa. He went up to Pa, helping him pack up, telling them to hurry up, go home and change. “Shan Mei and I want to take you out to dinner tonight at the Westin Chosun.” Ma was excited, saying she would wear the new dress You Zhen had gifted her at Christmas.

Xiang Zhe gave his wife a triumphant look. Xiang Zhe told his in-laws he would collect them at 7.30. After he bundled her into the car, he planted a big kiss on his unsuspecting wife, then with a “I love you” and an indulgent smile, they drove off towards home.

On the way, he told Shan Mei that Miss Park was trouble. “When CTN-KE held their anniversary party on the 1st of July, Miss Park was there and was trying to chat me up. I’ve tried to ignore her. I thought she came for Michael, but seeing Michael was not there, she hit on me instead. She calls the office almost every day. I don’t know how she got hold of my mobile phone number. Even my secretary knows by now how to brush her off.” Shan Mei simply laughed at her husband, seeing his flustered look.

Shan Mei wore a gorgeous figure hugging dress with a somewhat plunging neckline by a new designer that Madam Kim had recommended to her. Her necklace of peridot and pearl teardrop went very well with it. Once look at the dress with its plunging neckline, Xiang Zhe was not happy, but he let it go. His wife was in frisky mood today, he had better watch his mouth. If that crazy Miss Park showed up at the restaurant, he would have more to hear tonight in bed.

By the time they arrived at the restaurant, it was full. Luckily, Xiang Zhe had called in for his reservation when they got home earlier. All eyes were on them when they waited to be shown to their table. The diners not only recognised Zhen Shan Mei, but were excited seeing her in her other clothes apart from the ‘uniform’ she wore on the chat show. She wasn’t big boned, and her figure was perfect for her size. Her smile not only lit up the whole restaurant but the entire city.

The service staff was very understanding, reserving for them table for four in a quiet corner, so they could enjoy their meal in peace. As the food came, Ma was very interested saying she was going to make this or make that for their noodle stall. Many of the side dishes gave her many ideas for kimchi varieties.

Shan Mei saw Miss Park, as she got up from her table making her way to the ladies’ rest room. She was sure her husband also noticed her. After a while, Miss Park went back to her table after making one round of the dining room.

When Ma tasted the fish to determine the recipe, she suddenly remembered today was Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei’s 3rd wedding anniversary. At the dinner she threw for them three days before their wedding day, she had specially selected this fish which was supposed to bring happiness to the married couple.

Xiang Zhe smiled secretly to himself and tried to reach for Shan Mei’s hand under the table. Shan Mei smiled too, her husband was now getting too clever in planning his games. She placed her hands on the table. Xiang Zhe waved to the waiter, telling him he could now uncork and serve the champagne he had reserved to be chilled.

Shan Mei covered her husband’s hand and gave it a squeeze and said quietly to him, “Darling, thank you for the lovely surprise.” The seniors’ eyes misted seeing how loving the young couple was. When the champagne arrived, they toasted one another, with Pa having the final word, that it was time to have baby No. 2. Xiang Zhe gave him an unabashed look, confirming they were working hard at it, never once taking his eyes away from his wife who was now blushing profusely. Pa laughed out happily.

Xiang Zhe then toasted his father-in-law, thanking him for having such a beautiful daughter and entrusting her to him, and to his mother-in-law, for teaching her so well, his wife was not the least spoilt, and possessing such a lovable character. Since their marriage, she had enriched his life beyond recognition.

Soon, word got around the restaurant that tonight was the Yins’ third wedding anniversary. The diners wanted to give the happy couple their blessings. The Banquet Director came to offer their congratulations and invited the couple up to the podium to accept a ‘blessing’ toast from the diners. After which Xiang Zhe gave a short ‘thank you’ speech. They were indeed a very popular couple. Before they left the podium, the Banquet Director gave them a gift from the hotel – a complimentary overnight stay at their hotel in one of the honeymoon suites. It was a well-known fact the Westin Chosun was the Yins’ hotel of choice. Especially after the court case a few years ago when Chosoon tried to slander Shan Mei’s reputation by implying she spent a night there with a secret lover, when in fact it was husband and wife enjoying some quiet, romantic time together in Westin’s honeymoon suite. After that time, all the honeymoon suites at Westin were always fully booked out for weekends.

At home, Xiang Zhe wouldn’t let his wife go off to change. “Darling, now that we are home, you can leave your lovely dress on, since I’m the only one feasting my eyes on you.” He bent his head and planted a lingering kiss in the valley between her breasts. “Ehmm, you smell heavenly,” he sighed blissfully.

He put on some slow romantic music and invited his wife to dance. Xiang Zhe was giddy with happiness. He didn’t set out to plan the occasion. It was this Miss Park calling him almost every day harassing him – that her name came to mind out of the blue at the park. His wife had herself set it all up by telling Miss Park that Mr. Yin was going to have dinner at Westin when she called, that he decided to play it from there and it turned out perfectly. That was the secret allure of his Shan Mei, turning every imperfection into attraction, or every distraction into perfection.

After that they enjoyed a long warm bath. Husband carried wife to bed where they towel-dried one another. Xiang Zhe then threw the towels off their bed. As he murmured sweet nothings into her ear, he ran his fingers along her silky smooth skin, caressing his wife in such a sensual way, and nibbling her all over, that she responded by throwing her arms around his neck trying to draw him closer to her soft, warm, pliant body. Xiang Zhe’s eyes got suspiciously glisteny. He held them wide, careful not to blink; he did not want to miss seeing any one of Shan Mei’s ardent responses flitting across her transparent face. Soon they were lost in each other!

During the next few weeks, Shan Mei was very busy, with reports, financial statements, trips here, and trips there. Also holding meetings with the PIR team as some parts of the show needed updating.

Luckily for her, the two new secretaries were intelligent and responsible and working very hard. One’s working hours were according to Zone 1, Tokyo and Sydney. The other’s working hours were according to Zone 2, Singapore and Hong Kong, so nothing was missed. They were encouraged to work as independently as possible. The girls loved working for Shan Mei, and very soon her 3 secretaries were running the CTN office very efficiently. They were also involved with PIR follow up. Whatever they couldn’t handle they passed on to Shan Mei.

After the initial look-over of the new mansion by the ID people, they now came back with some plans and recommendations. According to them, there was no need to build two separate units on the grounds. “Mr. Chairman, we can easily transform the back rooms of the mansion into two separate units – the entrances to these two units would be at the rear of the mansion. We’ll widen the access road around the back of the house, and landscape the area attractively. The area downstairs can be divided into 6 large bedrooms, or 4 suites, one with cathedral ceiling.”

Husband and wife were alert when taking note of Father’s choice of the smaller room. It worked out the way Xiang Zhe had foreseen. Xiang Zhe nudged Shan Mei reminding her not to forget her part.

Shan Mei cleared her throat and suggested in a persuasive tone, “Father, why take the smaller room and not the suite when there are so many rooms available?”

“The smaller room is large enough for my personal needs.”

“But Father, we’re suggesting the larger suite, in case little Bao Bao wants to spend time with you in your room, you won’t be cramped for space. You know how he likes to have his toys around. You can keep a special corner for him where he can store some of his toys,” Shan Mei coaxed.

Yin Senior relented. He then began to let ID director know which suite he wanted and how it was to be set up. Husband and wife passed one another a knowing look. After the walk through, the ID director told Yin Senior a client of his was interested to buy his current home. A day was confirmed for viewing.

After that, Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei took Father for lunch. Halfway through lunch, Shan Mei was aghast. “Oh dear, we have forgotten to ask Auntie Lee which suite she would like,” she said, giving Father an apologetic look.

Yin Senior smiled benignly and said, “Don’t worry, Shan Mei. She’s a very simple lady. She never complains at all, she’ll accept anything.”

“But, Father, because she’s our special aunt, we want to give her something special.” She thought for a while, and continued, “Father, what about the suite next to yours, the one with the large balcony opening out to the garden? I think that will be perfect. We can install a small greenhouse and plant our special roses for her. When she walks out to the garden through her private balcony, the roses will be waiting for her.” Turning to her husband, she asked, “Xue Zhang, what do you think?”

“I think it’s a brilliant idea. I’ll ask Uncle Jin to send one of his men to the mansion to measure out the area for a custom-built greenhouse. I’ll ask the gardener to start preparing some potted rose bushes.”

Yin Senior didn’t say a word but he looked pleased. He was thinking this Shan Mei always knew what was in his heart.

Seeing his father’s satisfied smile, Xiang Zhe suggested to him, “After the ID director comes back with drawn-up plans in a week’s time, we’ll all sit down for family meeting. From there, we’ll gauge Xiang Jie’s reaction to having his own private apartment before deciding what further plans to take.”

Yin Senior nodded and continued silently with his lunch.

===

Later that afternoon, after he had cleared all paperwork from his desk, Xiang Zhe leant back against his chair in his office, his hand rubbing his forehead. He wondered whether his Father and stepmother were legally married. As far as he knew, before his mother died, even though they lived in separate households, his mother had always been considered the First Lady of MBS and Wen Rong. He never saw his stepmother accompanying his Father to any social or public functions. After he decided to remain in London and seldom returned to Seoul, he didn’t know whether that was still the case, as his mother had died. Stepmother’s existence was never acknowledged by the outside world. That was one of the reasons his step uncle was so envious of him, knowing he was the legitimate heir of Wen Rong and MBS. Of course his step uncle had thought if he came into majority ownership of Wen Rong and MBS, he could kick Xiang Zhe out of the Group, or if the other shareholders insisted he stayed, he would give him the worst position possible, that Xiang Zhe would automatically leave the Group of his own accord. Wasn’t that his step uncle’s plan? His Father must be still smarting over this, after he gave him so many chances in the company, in spite of his unpopularity with Uncle Jin and Uncle Liu.

If the marriage was not legally solemnised, what would Xiang Jie’s position be in the eyes of the law, and the public gossip-mongers? He must protect the boy at all costs. Even if one strand of Xiang Jie’s hair was harmed, his wife would surely never speak to him again. She had always maintained she would never again let any harm come to the two innocent parties of this tragic marriage triangle: one part was him, the other part Xiang Jie. He couldn’t seek legal advice with a legal firm, those gossip-mongers would easily guess it was his family background he was checking on. He would talk to Michael, and ask him to seek legal understanding of the situation via his personal connections.

This mess was giving him a massive headache. He needed a massage from his angel. Picking up his phone, he called her. On hearing her sweet voice he immediately felt better. “Hi, it’s me. Are you ready to go home? I’m missing you.”

“Aren’t we supposed to go see BB this evening?”

“We can go tomorrow. I’m having a splitting headache. How about a head massage later on at home?”

“If it’s hurting really bad, I’ll come right down to try and ease the pain.”

“Really, you will?”

“Of course, you’re my top priority.”

“It’s okay, I’ll wait in my office till you’re ready to leave.”

In 5 minutes, Shan Mei was at his office, all packed and ready to go. Seeing her husband’s tired face and deep, frown furrows along his forehead and around his tight-looking mouth, she asked tepidly, “Something worrying you?”

Xiang Zhe gave a sigh, but said nothing and prepared to rise from his chair. Shan Mei pushed him back down and gently reminded him, “Xue Zhang, I’m your wife and I want to share your worries. You don’t have to bear them all by yourself anymore.”

“It’s a habit hard to break,” Xiang Zhe grudgingly admitted, sighing again.

“Stay a minute while I try to ease the pain a bit.” And she began to massage his scalp with relieving strokes.

“Hmm, this feels good. And after this, how about a cup of your special coffee? I no longer get any kick out of ‘heartless’ coffee,” he murmured as he closed his eyes and gave himself over to the pleasure of her touch.

Chapter AW-48

The Yins and the Zhens were preparing to celebrate the birthday of Yin Bao Bao, now two years old. In the morning, the entire family gathered together for a late breakfast.

Besides the birthday boy getting all the attention, You Zhen and Minnie were getting flake from all who were present for their ‘non productivity’.

Shan Mei took out from her handbag the gift voucher from Westin Chosun and handed it to You Zhen saying. “Both Xiang Zhe and I would like you to have this. Go and enjoy an overnight stay there. I remembered the night we spent there was so romantic and enjoyable.” Shan Mei ruffled the headful of hair of Xiang Jie who was sitting near You Zhen, and then she went to sit next to her husband, giving him such a look, he instantly drew in his breath, his eyes never leaving hers.

Then the attention was focused on Xiang Jie. “Hey, what about you? Did you meet any eligible English girls? Did you date?”

He immediately replied, “I’m not going to marry. Girls are trouble makers.” Xiang Zhe laughed. Michael must be giving Xiang Jie more than just public speaking lessons.

“Hey, little brother, look at me, your Elder brother. I used to feel the same, now look at what I have sitting beside me!” His arms went round his wife’s shoulders giving her a tight hug, pulling her closer to him.

Xiang Jie looked at his brother then at his sister and remarked, “That’s not the same. Sister is not a girl, she’s an angel.”

Everybody laughed and nodded their heads in agreement. BB seeing that, also laughed and nodded his head. The proud daddy scooped him into his arms and gave baby a big slurpy kiss saying, “You know what, son? You’re a smart kid.” BB clung on to daddy’s neck and gave his daddy a kiss in return; he looked around waiting for compliments. Daddy ruffled his little head.

Xiang Jie tried to divert attention from himself to Patrick. “If there is one person who should be giving out information about girl friends, it should be Patrick. Shouldn’t he be the next in line, going by seniority, or Brother Jae Hoon?”

Auntie Lee laughed, seeing Patrick’s bashful face. “Patrick? bah! It will be easier to get a bull up a tree than to get Patrick to talk about girls.” Turning to Patrick, his mother smilingly asked, “Hey, what about the girls in Seoul? You should be spoilt for choice. No one has caught your fancy yet?” Auntie Lee shook her head in surrender when Patrick refused to rise up to the bait.

Patrick had seen too many marriages gone sour. His friends always told him it was the women’s fault. After marriage, they seemed to become another person so different from courting days, and made living with them hell. Better to go back being living alone – single and free and happy!

You Zhen on thanking Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei for the gift voucher, teasingly asked, “What about you guys? When is No. 2 coming?”

Xiang Zhe giving his wife a swift kiss and told them, “It will definitely be sooner than your No. 1.”

Xiang Jie on hearing this immediately cheered. “Ha, with a new baby coming, I can now have BB all to myself. Hurrah!”

His elder brother told him off immediately. “If you want a baby all to yourself, you’d better go make one yourself.”

Xiang Jie became quiet. He then looked at BB, asking him sweetly, “Do you want Uncle?” BB nodded his little head vigorously and ran into his uncle’s arms, burrowing into him and laughing up at him happily.

Yin Senior was getting really excited, hearing all this baby talk. He felt it was good omen and pronounced proudly, “You Zhen and Minnie will have baby soon. Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei will have baby sooner.”

Just thinking of the babies going to come, he wanted to tell the ID people to make more bedrooms. Xiang Zhe immediately shot down the idea. “Father, we now have 5 bedrooms in our own house, plenty enough for the number of babies we intend to have.”

Soon, those who had to go to office left, leaving nanny, Auntie Lee and baby in the house, promising to be back early this evening for another feast. The caterer would be delivering the food at about 6. Xiang Zhe took his younger brother aside and told him, “Why don’t you invite Jae Hoon along this evening for dinner? Just don’t mention anything about BB’s birthday.”

This afternoon BB didn’t want to sleep, so he sat next to nanny and Auntie Lee when they watched Two Sides to a Coin. He suddenly recognised his mother on the screen, became excited, pointing to the screen and saying ‘Mummy, mummy’. When the co-host next appeared, he started laughing, pointing to the screen again squealing at the top of his voice, “Uncle Pat.”

That night he kept pointing to the television screen out to his daddy yelling ‘Mummy, Uncle Pat’, and clapping his hands, like what the audience at the show was doing. He looked simply too adorable, Shan Mei’s smile plastered on his round little face. Xiang Zhe sat him on his lap, taking hold of his little fingers, pointing to his nose: “Daddy, Daddy.” BB laughed and started clapping his chubby little hands. Shan Mei was so reluctant to let him go. Tomorrow being Friday she wouldn’t have time to come and see him. She was missing him already.

These few days Xiang Zhe had plenty of meetings to attend. Actually, he wanted to clear his desk, hoping he would have some time off, to travel down to Sydney with Shan Mei. He was still worried about her frame of mind after that Xu Ying Mei episode. They would leave Saturday evening, arriving Sydney early morning Sunday. He was sure they would be able to return to Seoul by Tuesday night’s flight. On the flight out, he would go over Sydney office’s financial statements with her.

Right now he was going through yesterday’s reports from Zian Da, the Planning department and the Dubbing department. From Mr. Ang’s report, he could see Mr. Kawasaki was giving them a lot of dubbing work, apart from Bansung Japan account, his business came from his other Japanese clients. Mr. Masuda was sending clips over for translation and dubbing.

Shan Mei had slowly overhauled the Dubbing department following the lines of the CTN operation in London, but giving the credit mostly to Mr. Ang – that guy wouldn’t do anything without first discussing with her. In this way, quality control was assured. No wonder Mr. Kawasaki was happy with the end results. Besides, the costs would be much, much lower in Seoul than in Japan. May be on Shan Mei’s next trip to Tokyo, he would accompany her. He would drop in to see Mr. Kawasaki. MBS could offer some of their award winning drama series at special discounted screening rates.

MBS used to offer their dramas at non-negotiable rates. But Shan Mei had a different pricing strategy for CTN. Her staggered pricing policy had proved to be very successful throughout the region. They were selling many titles from CTN master library. She also managed to coordinate screening times across the region, the time difference being one hour or two hours, that TV stations agreed to accept the concept of one master screening coming out of Seoul. This meant the costs, no matter how exorbitant for special programmes, became easily affordable when shared among the stations across the Asian/Pacific region. No wonder Michael was so happy with her, Xiang Zhe thought.

Chapter AW-49

Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei returning from Sydney were met at the airport by Xiang Zhe’s assistant. After his assistant dropped them off at home, Xiang Zhe asked him to come back at 1 p.m. to collect them for office.

Xiang Zhe could never sleep well on the plane due to his long frame. They had a quick warm shower, and went off straight to bed.

Shan Mei was unpacking when Xiang Zhe awoke. She set aside the clothes for washing, for dry cleaning. ‘What did that Xue Zhang buy?’ Shan Mei had wondered. His own suitcase was stuffed full with his shopping, he had said. That was why he needed to borrow space in his wife’s suitcase.

She went to her husband as soon as he called out for her. She crept under the quilt and cuddled up to him. He kissed her saying it was so good to be back in their own bed. He asked her, “Darling, anything special you want to do today?”

“I’ll want to go back to office with you. There is simply too much to do.” Looking up to him she asked, “Do you want some food now or wait till you have had your shower?” When he didn’t answer, she made a pretext of wanting to bite him. He quickly eased out of bed, and laughingly said, “Save that for tonight.” Still laughing, he walked off to the bathroom.

During lunch he took extra portions of everything, commenting his wife’s cooking was the best. Soon they were in the sitting room waiting for his assistant to arrive with his car. While waiting, he took Shan Mei into his arms and gave her several kisses, telling her how much he loved her, but it was heart wrenching for him to watch her work so hard.

He wanted to know whether she really enjoyed the job. If not, tell Michael to send someone else. “It is tiring yet challenging, but I cannot let go of it completely, not yet anyway. CTN-KE is my baby. MBS is yours. I’ll wait it out. Xiang Jie will be back next summer to stay full time. We just need a little extra bit of time till he returns and everything will work out fine.” He began kissing her all over her face, her hair, thanking her with each kiss after hearing what his wife had just said.

Back in their offices, they had a lot of work to catch up with. Shan Mei received a fax reply that she had been waiting for from Mr. Kawasaki. She had asked him to recommend a reputable image consultant in Tokyo. She wanted to bring her brother-in-law over during mid-December for an image make over.

“The young man is presently studying at Cambridge and will be ready for work next year after he graduates in the summer. He’ll be 20 years old soon and is extremely presentable.”

In his fax reply, Mr. Kawasaki said he had contacted his good friend Mr. Masuda, one of the best image-makers in Japan, and he had agreed to do what he could for the boy. “Shan Mei, when you are ready to arrive in Tokyo, simply let me know and I’ll meet your plane. Leave everything else to me.”

Shan Mei met up with Patrick reviewing their Two Sides To A Coin, going over the topics he was supposed to propose after her Sydney trip. As soon as they decided on the topics, the list had to be handed over to the MBS team to get the logistics going. Leaning back against his chair, and running his hand along the back of his neck, Patrick complained, “Shan Mei, I find the MBS staff working with us most times frustrating. They just don’t seem to understand CTN wanted real people from the streets to be guests, and not some of the TV stars they want to recommend. How can we inject credibility into the shows if only famous faces sit on the discussion panels?”

Shan Mei smiled. “Patrick, have a little patience. It’s not entirely their fault. Xiang Zhe has been telling me their station are being bombarded by calls and personal visits from these stars insisting on being given spots on the chat show. Anyway, if these TV stars want to appear so badly on our show, we’ll let them, after we come up with a suitable theme that will have them and the movie directors and the media bashing one another. It will make an interesting topic.” And they both laughed imagining the verbal fights and mud-slinging expected from such head-butting.

While they were going over the list, Shan Mei felt a little unwell. Patrick got her a warm drink, and wanted to phone Xiang Zhe. Shan Mei stopped him. “I’ve kept him away from his work already too much, especially with the trip to Sydney. I’ll take a short rest in my office. I should feel alright in a little while. Okay if you handle the fort for the remainder of the day? By the way, how is Xiang Jie doing?”

“Brilliantly,” came Patrick’s reply.

“Patrick, how would you feel, if I send you to visit the CTN offices of Singapore and Hong Kong once a month? I’ve been doing this and it’s getting to be very tiring for me. The girls in these offices have been very cooperative. If you go, I’m sure they’ll be even more cooperative. It’s always nice to work with a good looking chap.”

Patrick gave Shan Mei his special, dimpled smile that had first captivated her. Yes, the girls would definitely love him dearly, Shan Mei thought. “There’s nothing special for you to follow up. In the beginning, it’s simply to ensure they keep their spending within budget. Now, that this issue has been taken care of, it’s a matter of being aware what needs to be done in their territories, then making the necessary recommendations. Right now, they make their profit from selling titles from CTN’s library to the local TV stations.”

And on that note, the meeting ended.

“Shan Mei, will you be alright getting back to your office on your own? I’ll go off and get some instructions on paper to circulate around.”

She smiled and waved Patrick off. After Patrick left the staff conference room, Shan Mei put both hands on the arms of the chair and heaved herself to her feet, then returned to her office for a rest.

Father called Xiang Zhe on the phone, “Xiang Zhe, there’s a meeting on this Sunday afternoon at home. The ID director has come back with the plans and they want all to sit down to go over the plans and give inputs. Remind Shan Mei that selecting that suite for Auntie Lee was her idea and not mine. I’ve also asked Jin about the greenhouse. His man wants to have a look at the greenhouse in your garden before he can build anything. An American family has come to look at our present house, and they like it. It’s exactly what they have in mind. They also have an elder son who insisted he wanted his own privacy, so your private apartment is just perfect. Their US Corporation will buy the property in their company’s name as investment, so settlement of the property should be concluded fairly quickly.”

When Xiang Zhe repeated the story to Shan Mei, she was ecstatic. It was not easy to let go of such an expensive property, in so short a time. They laughed softly to themselves, thinking what father said about Auntie Lee’s suite. “That father,” Xiang Zhe laughed playfully. Shan Mei understood; it was now a very sensitive issue, especially with Xiang Jie there.

On Sunday afternoon when everyone of the family sat down for meeting with the ID people, Xiang Jie and Patrick were excited when they saw the plans. It would be nice to have their private apartments. They proceeded to let the ID director know what they would like for their units and the colours they preferred. Xiang Jie placed his little nephew on his lap and asked, “BB, do you want to stay with Uncle?” Baby nodded his little head, and then ran off to his room which was now situated next to Auntie Lee’s, bringing his little pillow back with him and placed it on his uncle’s lap.

“Don’t you want your own room in your own house anymore?” his daddy asked. Little BB nodded his little head, again running off to his room, and this time brought out his other little pillow and handed it to his mummy. So it was decided both the apartments would have spare bedrooms.

The suites were beautifully laid out and designed. The ID plans also showed where the greenhouse would be located. When Auntie Lee was told this greenhouse would house special roses, she was excited. Smilingly she informed Shan Mei, “I used to have a whole garden chockfull of roses in our house in America. When I came to Seoul to stay with Patrick, I gave them all away to my neighbours. It would be nice to start a little rose garden again.”

ID director said he had planned a parking shed big enough for 10 cars. Although Auntie Lee drove her own car while she was in America, they all didn’t think it was a good idea here in Seoul. The roads were too congested, and security was another issue. So it was suggested part of the parking shed could be used as a storage area.

After the interior of the mansion was decided, they discussed landscaping for the extensive grounds. Shan Mei suggested may be Auntie Lee’s part of the garden could be landscaped in such a way to give her some privacy from the rest of the grounds. Patrick immediately agreed. “Shan Mei, you’ve got a very good point there. When my mother was in the States, she liked lounging around in the garden and reading.”

Xiang Zhe thought maybe he should ask his gardener to take early retirement from his daytime job, and work full time for them. His wife was their housekeeper. If they built a little house for them on the grounds, they should have no problem coming to work full time. The mansion would be too big for just one maid to clean. Their housekeeper could work the two households, helping Father’s current maid.

After every one agreed to the plans, Father told the ID director to go ahead with the renovations and have the house ready in a month’s time.

The day a BBQ at Elder Brother’s place was planned for Xiang Jie since he would be returning to London soon, heavy rain came pouring down. The party was then moved indoors. They decided to have a cooking competition. They would group into teams, each team preparing some food, and that would be their dinner. Choosing the teams was the most difficult part of the competition. First they suggested a Male and Female team. The aunties laughed. Surely they would have nothing worth eating from the Men’s side. How about the Seniors against the Juniors? Shan Mei didn’t agree. Surely the seniors would win, with both aunties in that team.

Shan Mei suggested a simple solution: pairing off with their own buddies, fair and square. Pa w/Ma, Father w/Auntie Lee, Xiang Zhe w/Shan Mei, You Zhen w/Minnie, Jae Hoon w/Patrick and finally – they all laughed shaking their heads in hopeless mirth – Xiang Jie w/BB. In total they would have 6 food dishes, enough for a good party. Xiang Jie told BB to follow him up the stairs into his nursery to have very important meeting. The two went off, and came back in a little while, BB strutting around, his hands clasped behind his back, looking very important. Xiang Jie went into the larder to see what they had stored in there. Nothing he wanted, so he decided to go back to his own house to prepare. As Patrick was preparing to drive Xiang Jie and BB back home, Shan Mei called out to them, “Hey you two boys, no cheating by asking the maid to help.”

Xiang Zhe was not worried. His wife’s super delicious sushi rolls would be in contention. If she decided to add some other special ingredients, it would definitely be the winner. His job would be to prepare Shan Mei’s favourite drink, except this time, he would dilute the drinks with more peach juice so Xiang Jie could take it. Diluted plain peach juice for the little brat too?

Patrick looked at Jae Hoon, and asked, “What about your special Russian meals?”

Jae Hoon gave him a wave of his hand. “Don’t worry. I’ll come up with something special, quick and delicious. All you have to do is help cut up some vegetables.”

You Zhen and Minnie would make special dish with the meat they brought over for the BBQ. With Minnie’s family recipe for barbeque sauce, the meat should taste delicious and juicy.

Father and Pa sat down for their tea. Let the women prepare the dishes. They would wash up afterwards. Good cooperation work, no? They laughed heartily to themselves.

When Patrick finished the task allocated to him by Jae Hoon, he phoned Xiang Jie asking them how they were getting along and whether they needed help. With easy confidence, Xiang Jie told him, “You don’t have to worry. Everything is under control over here. In fact we are now watching television. Come and get us when dinner is ready at your end.” When Patrick repeated what he was told, the others all wondered what the two young ones were dishing up for dinner, with everything ‘ready’ already? They would have to wait and see.

Soon it was almost 7; Patrick again phoned Xiang Jie asking whether they were ready, he wanted to drive over to collect them. “Okay, all ready.” By the time they returned to the party venue, it was past 7. Xiang Jie had a big cardboard box with him, and BB was holding a small Tupperware container in his hand. He wouldn’t hand that over to anybody, telling them he was the chef. Laughingly, they let him follow Xiang Jie into the kitchen. The boys came back out from the kitchen with nothing. No one said anything.

Dinner began buffet style. All the food on the table tasted good. Xiang Jie loved the champagne cocktail, and BB his peach juice. As for food, BB didn’t want anything, except some bit of a sushi roll. He was sitting down excitedly waiting for something. He couldn’t keep still, fidgeting about and kept looking at his uncle, as if waiting for some sign.

Two and half hours later when it looked like the people were almost full with the delicious food, Xiang Jie announced it was time for dessert. BB followed his uncle to the kitchen. Returning to the table, he was again holding on to his small plastic container. Xiang Jie brought out from his box little jelly cups, with small dollops of ice cream on top. No one was to touch, until little Master Chef had put on the finishing touches. He placed BB up on a chair, pulled out a little paper chef hat he had made that afternoon and put it on BB’s head. This caused hysterics among the adults. Xiang Jie opened the small container that contained little cut-up pieces of strawberries. BB was to place one piece of strawberry on each jelly cup atop the ice cream, and dessert would be ready! Xiang Zhe was excited, watching his son concentrating on his task, looking so serious and important! You Zhen was busily photographing away. As the last piece of strawberry was put into place, everybody applauded his good work. Mummy ran forward to give BB a big kiss, saying he was such a clever cook. His daddy did the same and highly praised BB’s efforts being the best. After he was given kisses by everyone, his team was declared the winner of the night! He looked up to his uncle, clung onto him and gave his uncle a big hug and kiss, but he wouldn’t let anybody take his chef’s hat away. “I’m Little Master Chef,” he proclaimed very seriously and with great importance.

That night in bed, husband and wife kept looking again and again at the photos taken by You Zhen on their digicam. Xiang Zhe kept shaking his head, laughing delightedly at every photo. That brat looked so adorable, just like his mum. He cuddled his wife up to him, giving her a deep kiss, thanking her for their lovely baby. A loud, contented ‘haahh’ escaped his mouth.

“Darling, is something wrong?” Shan Mei asked as she gave her husband a worried frown.

Hugging her closer to him, he tweaked her nose and softly purred, “What can be wrong? Everything is simply too blissful.”

Chapter AW-50

MBS staff members around the conference table looked up from their notes when they heard the President’s mobile phone ringing.

Xiang Zhe picked up his mobile phone. A wide smile immediately appeared on his face as soon as he heard his angel’s voice.

“Yes, Shan Mei?” he answered, his voice was soft and gentle.

“Xue Zhang, I need a lift to go some place. Are you free now or are you presiding over some meeting?”

“I’ll meet you in front of the CTN main lobby in 5 minutes.”

The people around the conference table heard that and were so relieved. They needed a short coffee break but no one had dared make any suggestion.

President Yin looked up at them, telling them the meeting would be adjourned to 2 in the afternoon.

When he drove his car up to the CTN main lobby, Shan Mei was there waiting for him. She got into the car and gave her husband a swift kiss. She told him she had an appointment with Dr. Kim. He sped off immediately, thinking his wife was suffering from fatigue or something with her heavy work load.

Dr. Kim told the young couple to go have some tea, then to return to his clinic in about an hour’s time for test results.

Xiang Zhe wouldn’t let go of her hands, even when they were sitting down for some sandwiches. In fact he insisted on feeding her until she softly informed him she felt too embarrassed in such a public dining spot.

After tea, they window shopped, when Xiang Zhe happened to espy some Peter Rabbit items in a small specialty shop. They went in and bought some Peter Rabbit pillow cases. They were made from the softest and finest Egyptian cotton, good enough for their BB’s head.

When they went back to see Dr. Kim, the doctor was beaming and immediately ushered them into his private office. “Well, Shan Mei is 6 weeks pregnant. Like the previous time, she has to take it easy, no coffee and no cigarettes.”

During one of her father-in-law’s physical check-ups at his clinic a few weeks ago, he had told the good doctor Shan Mei was busy flying frequently around the region doing her job. “Shan Mei, it’s best if you do not fly during your first trimester.”

After congratulating them, the good doctor then left the young couple in his private office, telling them he would go get health supplements for Shan Mei. When they were alone, Xiang Zhe immediately drew his wife into his arms, hugging her tight, and kissing her like crazy. Shan Mei’s eyes were brimming with unshed tears.

On the way to the car park to collect their car, he phoned Zian Da. “Zian Da, it’s me. Something very urgent has cropped up. I won’t be back in the office this afternoon. I’d like you to chair the meeting this afternoon. If you feel it’s necessary, why don’t you invite Li Qing Xi to sit in on this meeting too? The other person you should have in the meeting is Han Jae Hoon. After all, more heads are always better than one,” Xiang Zhe laughingly joked before he ended the conversation. Shan Mei looked at her husband surprised.

Xiang Zhe returned her look and said, “Darling, you’re so right all along. Han Jae Hoon is indeed very knowledgeable about most things, seeing the way he goes about his work on PIR. He may come up with some good ideas.”

Anyway, the meeting was the furthest thing from Xiang Zhe’s mind. Visions of baby princesses were swimming in his mind. He laughed and told his wife may be now the whole suitcase of baby clothes and toys he bought in Sydney and which his wife had stored away would come into use.

Shan Mei reminded him only if the baby was a girl. Everything in that case was in shades of pink, or white with pink, or pink on pink.

They drove to their cabin. Xiang Zhe made his wife lie down. Lifting up his wife’s blouse, loosening her pants, he ran his fingers ever so lightly over her stomach. He planted feathery kisses all over it. He put his ears to it. He murmured sweet nothings into it. He kissed his wife deep and long, and then lay down next to her.

He closed his eyes, still savouring the feeling of joy of being expectant parents. He turned on his side to look at his wife, his face broken up into smiles. He gave her a look of such profound love, she began to cry. He gathered her up close, stroking her hair, her face, thanking her and telling her how much he loved her. “Darling, don’t you think you should start wearing looser garments and pants. You would feel more comfortable.”

“Husband, what’s the matter with you? My stomach is not showing anything just yet. You want me to walk around like some half-blown up balloon?”

“Nothing of that sort! Your comfort is foremost in my mind.”

Without another word, Xiang Zhe unbuttoned his wife’s blouse, slipped one hand in to cup her breast, and they then went to sleep.

When they woke up it was 4 p.m. Shan Mei hurriedly sat up, aghast at the late hour, at the same time trying to smooth down her tousled hair, and button up her blouse.

“Hey, what’s the big hurry?” Xiang Zhe asked, not happy at being disturbed from his nap.

“I want to return to the office to do some work. I’ve been away for most of the morning and the day.”

Xiang Zhe was angry and snapped, “Forget the office. Don’t you remember what Dr. Kim had said? You are to take it easy during your first 3 months.”

“That’s why I have to go back to office. I want to sort my things out, then phone Michael to see how he intends to reorganise the workload?”

Xiang Zhe and his wife returned to MBS building. While Shan Mei was at her office, Xiang Zhe went back to his. He phoned Zian Da to see whether they were still at meeting. He said he would be along shortly, just to sit in, not to preside, they to carry on. Xiang Zhe wanted to be with Shan Mei when she called Michael, so she said to be at her office in about an hour.

When he dropped by the conference room and sat quietly in a corner, Jae Hoon was at that time in his seat stressing some points. Looking at him, Xiang Zhe thought he could pass off easily as the CEO of some corporation. His voice put his listeners at ease and in an agreeable mood even if there was nothing to agree with. How about asking him to be Shan Mei’s assistant? Just as the idea flashed through his mind, Xiang Zhe thought he was going crazy. This was the very person he wanted to keep away from his wife!

Michael was laughing heartily when he heard the news from Shan Mei.

“Hey proud Mama! Don’t say you haven’t been warned. I’m definitely kidnapping BB back to London with me when he’s a little older.” Before Shan Mei could tell him she didn’t want to travel anymore, Michael immediately told her they should sit down and reorganise the whole work schedule. “You’ve been doing such a wonderful job since you took over Asia/Pac, no one needs to visit the other offices next month. All things can be handled from the Seoul office. And you should work from home. By the way, do you want to continue with Two Sides To A Coin as host?”

“I wouldn’t dream of giving up of being co-host. I think the idea of working from home is fine. Co-hosting 2STAC will mean that I’ll only need to be at the station 2 afternoons a week. I think Junior will be happy with such an arrangement.”

“Fine, so that’s how we’ll have things stand for the time being. When I fly in, in two weeks’ time, we’ll work things out in greater detail then. Shan Mei, listen, everything can be worked out. The only thing non-negotiable is you telling me you want to resign.”

When Michael had Junior on the phone, he was laughing and all excited. “You know what, Daddy? I’ve won another bet with David. Cassie didn’t want to be tied down so young. She told David after that Camilla Fox incident, she felt she had to be able to trust him completely before she would start a family. Mother was so disappointed. Now, at least I can cheer her up, telling her my second godchild is on the way.”

That night after they arrived home, Xiang Zhe scratched his head several times as he walked through the house. He knew it would eventually boil down to this, Shan Mei working from home. He thought their present dining room area could be transformed into a sizeable office. It had French doors opening out to the garden. They could easily build an extension from the dining area for extra space if necessary. With father’s house next door, the entire family would be meeting there anyway for meals. They would wait for Michael’s arrival to make final decision. Of course, he knew Michael would not want to let Shan Mei go. Not only did he groom her personally, it would be difficult to find another Shan Mei. Michael was always telling him that!

Before taking bath, they sat down in their love seat, Shan Mei cuddling up to her husband, both wondering whether they would have a baby girl this time. Shan Mei was giggling with excitement. Xiang Zhe rained kisses on her, his hands stroking her stomach over and over again. How could she be so lucky? She was not showing any pregnancy symptoms. “Or are you hiding these from me, not wanting me to worry?” he asked hurriedly when such a thought crossed his mind.

Shan Mei smiled sweetly saying, “Husband, having your baby makes all the discomfort worthwhile.”

That Sunday at Father’s house, after dinner, with his arms around Shan Mei’s shoulders, Xiang Zhe announced the good news. “Dr. Kim has advised Shan Mei to take it easy for her first 3 months, so there’ll be no flying, no running around. Everybody in this room, please cooperate by making sure she stays home. We’re going to set up a home office for her.”

Father, on hearing of Dr. Kim’s advice became worried. “Xiang Zhe, may be Shan Mei should set up her office in the hospital. I’m sure we can turn some rooms into a small self-contained apartment for you two. This will ensure there’s a doctor on call 24 hours, and she’ll not be able to run around.” Xiang Zhe laughed, saying the situation wasn’t as serious as that.

The truth was he couldn’t bear to have someone, apart from himself, hovering over his Shan Mei. And he was sure his wife wouldn’t feel comfortable spending that much time in a hospital. Xiang Zhe looked around and suddenly asked, “Where are You Zhen and Minnie?”

“They are spending the weekend at Westin Chosun with the complimentary voucher you gave them,” Ma answered.

When You Zhen and Minnie dropped by later that night to see Ma and Pa, they were told Shan Mei and Xiang Zhe were expecting their second baby. His sister was 6 weeks pregnant. Pa was so excited and Ma was dropping hints about wanting to be made Grandma by You Zhen and Minnie.

Upon arriving back in their apartment, that night Minnie was at him again. “You Zhen, shouldn’t we be starting a family ourselves. I want to have a baby just as adorable as BB. Sometime, I feel so alone, so far away from home. I want something that I can call my own. Mum and Dad have been asking when we’re going to give them a grandchild.”

When You Zhen continued watching the television without responding, she continued, “Not that I’m complaining. But we’ve been together 4 years. I’ve never been on the pill, and you’ve never used protection, I’m wondering why I never managed to get pregnant. May be there’s something wrong with me. May be I should see a specialist or something. Sister’s doctor seems okay. Do you think we should go and consult with him?”

You Zhen rubbed at his forehead and gave a tired answer. “I’m presently busy working on a project. Once it’s completed in a month’s time, we’ll go see a specialist, okay?” He drew his wife into his arms and assured her that even if they never had a child, he would still love her. She must not let such niggling thoughts worry her unnecessarily. “Honey, you’re more important to me than any baby in the world.”

Thereafter, he dreaded going over to visit Ma and Pa. Many nights he stayed back at the office just working on the internet, exhausting all leads to stories on folklore and legends for the series he was responsible for. By the time he was home and they had dinner, he again stayed in his study. Minnie being the ever patient and loyal wife, said nothing. In fact it hurt her deeply to see her husband work so hard. Most days she went to the noodle shop not only to help out, but she craved the company and support offered by Ma.

You Zhen sat back in his chair in his study, thinking several years back after he first arrived in New Zealand. Ma had phoned, saying they just returned from the Broadcasting Industry Award Ceremony. His sister had won 7 top awards on her first outing. That night, he couldn’t sleep. He had always looked upon Shan Mei as a baby. At MBS, at first he was shocked when told the girl Xiang Zhe loved was Shan Mei. How could that be? Who could resist the charm and beauty of Ying Mei? That was before he found out about her devious nature. You Zhen became to disillusioned, he found sleep evading him. He took his sleeping bag, went to a quiet spot around the grounds of the homestead where he had been helping out in between filming assignments, to sleep under the stars.

Soon he heard some noise that he thought came from some stray wild animal. He crept away noiselessly, and bumped into Minnie who happened to be spending the night outdoors in her sleeping bag too. She had also heard noises and thought a stray animal was nearby, when in fact it was them making the noises. You Zhen was surprised Minnie liked sleeping at night under the stars. Thereafter, they usually went off together somewhere to sleep in the open air. They had been together since.

Shan Mei, when she returned to Seoul to join CTN, had asked him several times to return to Seoul to assist her at CTN. He had refused. He was not ready to return home. He had been too badly scarred by Ying Mei. If he had been honest with himself, he would have acknowledged Ying Mei had used him as a stepping stone to bigger things at MBS. And he had been a fool – how could he have doubted his little sister whom he grew up with and believed someone he had just met? He realised what he felt for Ying Mei was not love but fatal attraction. Minnie was the one who showed him what real love was!

Minnie was later awarded a scholarship to one of the most prestigious universities in Sydney to study Farm Management, yet she rejected without hesitation because she didn’t want to leave him in New Zealand. Her parents told her it would only be for 3 years, but she stood firm. What was the point of studying when she had no intention to stay on the farm? She wanted to go wherever You Zhen went. It would be better for her sister, Callie, to take over the farm eventually.

Minnie had asked him a long time ago, “Don’t you love me enough to want to start a family with me? Just seeing Sister and her husband so happy with their baby, makes me yearn for a little baby of my own, someone I can cuddle in my arms and spoil rotten every day.” How was he to answer that? Would she believe him if he told her she was the love of his life? Nothing else mattered. So what if they never had babies?

“But honey, I’m bored. I want to go to work. I’m sure if I ask, Sister will not hesitate to offer me a job at CTN.”

“No, that’s not a good idea at all. I like having you at home, making a home for us.” You Zhen couldn’t let that happen. He didn’t want to live with another ambitious, career-minded woman again. It was like a trip to hell, thinking of his time with Ying Mei. “If you feel bored, you can always visit your parents. Better still, why don’t you invite them to visit with us? If I’m busy, I’m sure Pa and Ma will only be too happy to show them around. Yes, you do that. Invite them to Seoul. Once they agree, send them the money for their air tickets.”

“I don’t want to do that. I have got nothing to show to them. Callie only married last year and already she and her husband are expecting a baby.” Minnie then silently walked away.

You Zhen finally emerged from his reverie. It had been 3 hours since he had begun mulling over his situation. He was tired and confused. He’d try to think up of something to stall Minnie for as long as possible. Better still, tomorrow he would pay Shan Mei a secret visit at her house and hear what she had for advice.

Chapter AW-51

As Xiang Zhe drove his car into the driveway of their house, he saw You Zhen’s Land rover parked at their front door. He drove his car straight into the garage.

He went to Shan Mei’s office by way of the garden through the French windows, but they were not in the office. They were not in the TV room, or in the kitchen either. He went upstairs to their bedroom, to change. He heard voices coming from upstairs. He didn’t want to walk in on them, so he decided to go over to Father’s place to see what BB was up to.

His son could feel daddy’s mind was distracted. Each time, he had to call out to him several times, before daddy’s attention went back to him. He thought daddy was not feeling well. He did what the adults usually do to him. He put his hand to his daddy’s forehead to check whether he was well. After that he asked his daddy, “Daddy, are you feeling well?” He then put his tiny arms as far around his daddy’s neck as possible and gave him several kisses.

Xiang Zhe was gratified. It seemed he was getting more attention from his son than from his wife. He wondered what You Zhen and Shan Mei were up to, that they needed to go to her private office area to have their private talk.

He went out to the garden with BB to play some ball game. His intention was to see whether You Zhen’s Land rover was still there. It had gone. He told BB to go have his bath. He went immediately home. Shan Mei was not in her office. He ran up to the bedroom. She was lying in bed resting. On hearing him, Shan Mei called out to him. He went over to the bed, trying to keep her down as she was trying to get up. Her eyes looked swollen. He asked her whether she was alright. He didn’t mention anything about You Zhen’s visit. She managed to raise herself up. She clung on to Xiang Zhe, burying her face into his chest, and began sobbing away wildly. Xiang Zhe was thinking to himself: “Oh no, don’t tell me that You Zhen wants to resign? He can’t do this to his little sister – not now, especially when Shan Mei needs him so badly at the CTN production unit?” He was not certain but he had felt something was bothering You Zhen this past month.

He soothed his wife’s back with calming strokes, begging her not to cry. It was too heart-wrenching for him to see her in this state. “Darling, do you want our baby to be born a cry-baby? Is something bothering you? If you don’t let me know how am I going to help you? Didn’t you tell me all the time that two heads are always better than one in solving problems?”

An uncertain smile wavered on her lips as she lifted up one hand to softly caress his cheek. She looked up to him. She was so grief-stricken, he couldn’t bear it. He began kissing away the salty tears. He tilted her face up to his, again asking her what the matter was? He went to the bathroom to get a hot face towel to wipe at her tear-stained face. He arched a brow at her.

“You Zhen Ge….he..erh….he…” After several hiccups, she suddenly thought of something. “Darling, this is top secret.”

“You don’t trust me enough to tell?”

“Of course not! If I don’t trust you, who else can I trust? But, Xue Zhang, this is very serious. Not a word to Pa and Ma especially!”

Seeing her genuine concern, Xiang Zhe assured his wife he would not tell a soul unless she agreed. Shan Mei tried to relate the story to him, but didn’t know how to start. Her husband told her, “Simple. Just start from the very beginning.”

She began, haltingly. “Many years ago, shortly after I returned to Seoul from London after taking English language course at Cambridge, Ying Mei got You Zhen Ge drunk one night and took him to a motel – they spent the night there. After that they became a couple. Shortly afterwards, he found out she went for an abortion when he saw some medication from a gynaecologist in her apartment. He was very hurt she had the abortion without first discussing it with him. Another time, when it suited her ends, she would say she never had an abortion. He didn’t know what to believe, realising later her devious character. He was so confused he didn’t know which was truth and which were lies any more.

Later on, due to several unhappy incidents, i.e.. Ying Mei wanted to pursue another man, abandoning him that he decided to make a clean break so he went off to New Zealand. He didn’t want to stay and be reminded how foolish he had been.

He was so deeply scarred, he was afraid to father another baby; he had a vasectomy in New Zealand. Minnie didn’t know about this. All along she thought if she became pregnant, they would marry. After spending some years with Minnie, he realised she was the kind of wife he wanted, not some one aggressively ambitious like Ying Mei. That was why he never allowed Minnie to work. The only work she was allowed was helping out at the noodle shop. Since we announced we were expecting our second baby, Ma has been nagging him about giving her a grandchild. And Minnie has been urging him to see a specialist doctor.

You Zhen Ge was here this afternoon. He said any one of these days he would crack under pressure and most probably confess to her. He is afraid Minnie will want to divorce him. He loves her too much to want to lose her. What to do? She is the best thing to have happened to him. That is why he never regretted ever going to New Zealand.

Xue Zhang, is there any way to reverse that kind of procedure? Can you please check? I spent all afternoon consoling him. I feel he needs to talk over the issue with a professional. It is not just the operation. To me, it seems he felt responsible for the death of an innocent life, that he is afraid to bring another life into this world.”

Xiang Zhe was totally shocked. He hugged his wife to him, resting her head in the crook of his neck, kissing her lightly on the head. Was You Zhen absolutely sure there was a baby or the baby was his? Why not check with Mr. Pei? “Darling, Han Jae Hoon is a man who can be trusted. Since it’ll be inconvenient for you to travel to Busan, maybe we’ll leave it to Jae Hoon to handle Mr. Pei, and I myself will check with Dr. Kim, asking him to find the best specialist doctor for You Zhen. I’ve read somewhere this kind of procedure can be reversed. Shan Mei, please don’t worry. Just leave this matter to Jae Hoon and me. Your main and only responsibility now is to ensure you’ll reach your first trimester safe and sound, and our baby healthy. Two weeks more and you’ll be there. Tell You Zhen to hang in there until we come up with some solutions.” Xiang Zhe sighed as he held on to his wife. That Xu Ying Mei was more trouble than he had first imagined.

“Good evening Dr. Kim, this is Yin Xiang Zhe. No, no. Shan Mei is fine. Do you have time to come over to our house tonight? I need some very specialised information from you, too complicated to discuss over the phone. Will 9 p.m. be convenient? Thank you very much. See you tonight”

Then he called Han Jae Hoon asking him whether he was free to come to his house for a very special meeting at 9 in the evening. The meeting was very confidential. He was not to let Patrick or any of the others know. When he hung up the phone, he took out a bottle of red wine from his small cellar for decanting. When he told Shan Mei about the meeting, she wanted to make some snacks for them.

Shan Mei told her husband the more she thought about You Zhen, the more worried she was of the consequences. “Husband, it won’t be just You Zhen and Minnie. If Ma knows about this and that she can never have the grandchild she craves, it may also be the end for my Pa, because he was the one who brought Ying Mei to Seoul. Imagine 2 divorces in the family! Oh dear, this is too dreadful.” She covered her face with her hands, trying to swallow down sobs and ran up to their bedroom.

Husband quickly followed. He cradled his wife in his arms, promising they would come up with a solution. “Darling, look at me. No matter what, we’ll investigate all possibilities. The last resort will be for You Zhen and Minnie to go see Dr. Kim, to stall for time. I promise to get this matter resolved as best and as fast as I can.”

That night Xiang Zhe served decanted red wine accompanied by Shan Mei’s delicious deep fried crab meat sticks. The three men sat down in the living room, deep in discussion. Shan Mei was up in her bedroom. Dr. Kim had heard of some doctors doing reversals, but whether the reversals were successful, he did not really know. He would check with his associates from the Medical Association. He wanted to talk with the patient to see what kind of procedure his doctor performed and at which hospital, name of doctor. Only then could they see whether the procedure could be reversed. Xiang Zhe went up to his bedroom, asking Shan Mei to call You Zhen, showing her a list of questions they needed answers to. Whatever answers he able to supply, he was to email straight away the information to her.

Xiang Zhe wanted to know from Dr. Kim whether a gynaecologist would see a female patient who was not pregnant but had flu or some other complaint, usually stomach cramp as a result of eating the wrong food? If it was normal cold, or headache the doctor would see and prescribe medication accordingly. If he suspected the patient was suffering from something serious, he would send her along to a specialist.

Seeing Dr. Kim to the door, Xiang Zhe stressed the matter was very urgent. No matter where that specialist was, he would send the patient there. “Dr. Kim, again I’ve to remind you to please treat the matter as highly confidential. It is not my secret to tell.”

After Dr. Kim left, Xiang Zhe told Jae Hoon about You Zhen’s case. He wanted to try to remove the psychological barrier from You Zhen’s mind, if in fact that Xu Ying Mei did not have the abortion. She was very devious. “Do you think you can arrange for Mr. Pei to visit Seoul, to meet Shan Mei? Maybe Mr. Pei can throw some light on the matter, because he was also in Seoul at that time? I do not have to stress again this matter is highly confidential.”

The red wine had put Xiang Zhe in a revealing mood. He began to tell Jae Hoon about the things he overheard in Shan Mei’s Gugu’s house in London. “Jae Hoon, you are never to repeat the things I’ve just revealed to you to Shan Mei. She still doesn’t know I know everything. And Shan Mei’s parents are not to know too. Her Pa was so kind hearted he brought this Xu Ying Mei to Seoul to give her a chance at university and see what she ended up doing to his family? Before I heard of all this, I never knew people could be so cold blooded.”

When Jae Hoon left the Yins’ house for home that night, his admiration and secret love for Shan Mei increased at least 10 fold. He was so happy for Shan Mei that she’s now had such a loving, understanding and supportive husband. He would try his best to help You Zhen. First thing tomorrow morning, he would put in a request to his university network to find out all about that kind of operation and recommended specialists. Then he would call Mr. Pei.

Xiang Zhe drove up with You Zhen to an old of part of town he had never been to before. This part of town was inhabited by Russians who had long ago emigrated from the northern peninsula. The houses along this tree lined avenue were huge and built in Russian architectural style. Jae Hoon’s apartment was located on the top floor of the low rise building in front of them. Looking at the address, Xiang Zhe realised it was the entire top floor, meaning 2 units had been converted into one, as each of the lower floors comprised of 2 units per floor. They went up by a heavy duty beautiful old style elevator with manual sliding door.

On entering Jae Hoon’s apartment, it seemed like they were transported to one wing of a grand Russian palace. The apartment was huge, about 800 square meters at a rough guess. It had a big hall, just right for Jae Hoon’s dancing, and was sparsely furnished, but whatever furniture there was, it was the best and of Russian style. The ceiling was very impressive and ornately decorated with paintings and several chandeliers. Jae Hoon showed them into a private sitting room. The walls were lined with books and books and more books. It was obvious Jae Hoon was a hard-core Russophile.

You Zhen was surprised to see Shan Mei and Mr. Pei there. He thought Xiang Zhe was taking him to see a very low key specialist practising very discreetly from this part of town. Xiang Zhe explained, “It’s not convenient to meet Mr. Pei in public due to his background, so Jae Hoon has very kindly offered the use of his home as the meeting point.”

After greeting one another, they all sat down; Jae Hoon and Shan Mei went to the kitchen to prepare tea. Jae Hoon took out a special tea set, telling Shan Mei since it was her first visit to his home, and he wanted her to have tea out of the tea-set rumored to belong to the last tsarina of Russia. Shan Mei was tickled pink with excitement, in handling the cups and saucers, running her fingers ever so gently over the teapot. She then put them away, saying she wouldn’t dare use such an exquisite set. Instead she took out a Chinese tea set which she said was just as beautiful.

Back in the sitting room, Mr. Pei was trying to convince You Zhen that the story that Ying Mei gave him about the abortion was probably a pack of lies. “Mr. Han, believe me, that was one of her favourite gambits. The others being fainting spells, dust in the eye, feeling drunk.”

Xiang Zhe, sitting next to You Zhen, felt uneasy and tried to stop himself from fidgeting about when he was overcome with guilt. Didn’t that Xu Ying Mei try those on him? He silently thanked his mother for saving him in the nick of time, otherwise he would have been thrown the ‘pregnant’ line if she managed to get him drunk.

Mr. Pei continued, “Ying Mei’s father was an odd job man. He did many odd jobs for me when he was still alive. He had told Ying Mei if she was so crazy about money, she should work as a G.R.O at a karaoke lounge. If the G.R.O. was popular with the patrons, she could earn lots of money a night in tips. She came to me one day asking for work at my karaoke. After two weeks on the job, she wanted to rule over all the other girls, so she seduced me.” Mr. Pei grinned sheepishly but continued, “A month later, she told me she was pregnant. I married her and she was happy being the boss lady. Of course I found out later there was in fact no baby. Then one day she left me for a rich Japanese fish trader. After a while she too told him she was pregnant and wanted him to take her back to Japan. The man refused, telling her he already had a wife in Japan, but she could be his official mistress in Korea. The man kept her in comfort with plenty of money to spend. When the man later asked her about the baby, she told him she had an abortion. The man was so incensed when he found out from the doctor that Ying Mei went to see him for a stomach cramp complaint and not abortion, he wanted to kill her. She ran back to me for my protection. To ensure she would stay, I asked her to have my baby. She refused saying she hated children! I followed her to Seoul because she told me Contractor Zhen had promised to give her a university education. I thought this Contractor Zhen was some sleazy old man. In fact, his family turned out to be such innocents – they were easily tricked by Ying Mei at every turn.”

You Zhen found it quite difficult to believe all he had been told. “How could Ying Mei have done all those things? When she came to Seoul, she was the same age as Shan Mei? About 20?”

“20? More like 24 years old! I see, Mr. Han, you’re still under her spell! When she first came to me, she was already 17. She had always looked more mature than her age. When she decided to go to Seoul with Mr. Zhen, my contacts helped her fiddle her birth dates around to make her younger by a few years, because she had complained she might be too old for admittance into university.”

He patted You Zhen understandingly on the shoulders, saying that time when Ying Mei told him she had an abortion; most probably she wanted something really bad. Otherwise, she wouldn’t bother putting up with the act. You Zhen started thinking; it was that time she wanted him to leave his mother, after causing ferocious row between mother and son. You Zhen looked remorseful. Mr. Pei advised You Zhen to carry on with his life, there was never any abortion, and he shouldn’t let someone like Ying Mei ruin his life. To Ying Mei, power and money were the most important things.

“Sticking with Ying Mei was different for me. I’ve been with her so long, we were the same kind of people. Also it was a gas every time I told my friends my wife was a university graduate! In some instances I gained special prestige because of that. She stuck with me because I could give her plenty of money to spend. Yep, she needed a lot of money to spend on keeping herself looking young and pretty with the help of a cosmetic surgeon – she had always spent unstintingly at beauty salons even when she was a student in Seoul. She would rather go without food but not her beauty treatments! I’ve always known she was too self-centred and obsessed with her looks, and liked putting on the act of diva because she had not achieved the perfection in her personal life and career that she had craved even though she lived her life with one eye on the mirror’s reflection.”

Depressing or not, they still had to eat. Jae Hoon invited them to stay for a Russian salad lunch that he had prepared. After lunch, he would take Mr. Pei to the airport.

During lunch, Shan Mei was afraid to touch anything. It seemed everything in Jae Hoon’s apartment had a history, including the chair she was sitting on.

But she had to admit the salad tasted delicious. She wanted the recipe.

Chapter AW-52

On the drive back to the city, Xiang Zhe, Shan Mei and You Zhen were quiet. At a traffic light stop, Xiang Zhe stole a look at his wife in the rear mirror. She looked confused and her brows were knitted with dread.

When they were back in the city, Xiang Zhe dropped You Zhen off in front of his house to pick up his car, telling him they would talk later. Xiang Zhe then continued on until they came to a car park when he drove into it and parked the car. “Darling, are you feeling alright?” he asked his wife, his voice full of concern.

Shan Mei looked at him blankly, then suddenly told him she wanted to go to Mother’s. He didn’t argue, but drove on.

They were sitting by Mother’s plot. Shan Mei appeared shaken. She held tightly to her Xue Zhang. Soon she felt his hands on her shoulders, gently kneading the taut muscles. “Feeling better?” he murmured against her ear, and then leaned forward to lightly kiss her temple. He slowly turned her to face him and asked gently, “How do you now feel?” He saw tears and shadows of horror in her eyes. After a while, Xiang Zhe tilted her face up to his, and searched for more signs of pain in her eyes. He knew why she was thus affected but he was too afraid to be the one to bring up the distasteful subject he thought had long been buried. He looked so apologetic for causing her such hurt.

Shan Mei laid her face against his chest. Since their marriage he had treated her as if she was the most precious, fragile woman. He was gentle and caring as always. She couldn’t fault him. She was thankful her dead mother-in-law did not give Ying Mei the chance to spike any of Xue Zhang’s drinks otherwise he would have been trapped, like You Zhen Ge. She shivered at the thought.

Xiang Zhe held her closer to him. The same thought had crossed his mind when he was sitting in Jae Hoon’s sitting room listening to Mr. Pei. Cold sweat had broken out all over his body at that time. He had to blame someone, and he cursed that Zian Da silently, for always praising Xu Ying Mei’s beauty and sophistication – which seemed to be more like ‘street-smart’ ways and conceit.

Sitting there in silence, they rested for a while. As Xiang Zhe tenderly smoothed a few loose tendrils of hair away from Shan Mei’s forehead, he bent close to her ear and whispered ever so softly, so tenderly, “I love you so much. Never ever doubt it.” His smile warmed her as much as his embrace.

The information that both Dr. Kim and Jae Hoon gave to Xiang Zhe was the same. Even if the procedure could be reversed, success was not guaranteed. Dr. Kim was still investigating. Jae Hoon suggested over the phone that You Zhen, Xiang Zhe and himself meet that evening.

At the Yins’ residence that night, Jae Hoon came right out and asked You Zhen whether he would consider adoption, if Minnie agreed. You Zhen didn’t hesitate when he answered, “As long as Minnie is happy with it, and any thing will be okay with me.”

On hearing that, Jae Hoon rose from his seat and stood next to You Zhen. Looking at Xiang Zhe he said, “President Yin, take a good look at us. Do you think we look alike?”

Xiang Zhe looked carefully and nodded his head. They did look somewhat alike. They could pass off as brothers although Jae Hoon was taller and more handsome of the two. He had never paid that close notice of their looks.

Jae Hoon then took a family album from his briefcase. “You Zhen, in cases of adoption, one never knows where the children come from. But in your situation, I’m willing to donate my sperm. For the past week, I have thought over your case carefully. If worse comes to worst, it may not only mean divorce for you and Minnie, but also Shan Mei’s Pa and Ma. Auntie Zhen will surely blame Uncle Zhen for bringing that Xu Ying Mei to Seoul.” Xiang Zhe looked at Jae Hoon in surprise. He thought exactly as Shan Mei did.

Jae Hoon explained a little of his family background. “My great grandfather was a big landowner in the eastern part of Russia. After the Bolshevik revolution, the family made their way down south along with other emigrants and settled first in Manchuria then later in Southern Korea. My father had 4 wives, my mother was the fourth wife, and I am the only son of my mother. All in all, my father has 10 children, 6 boys and 4 girls, I being the youngest. I don’t intend to have any children. I have enough nephews and nieces to last me a life time. I have no financial worries. After my father died, the family business is being taken care of by the offsprings from the first and second wives; I’ve got an annual income from the family trust. I own the building where my apartment is housed. The building generates good rental income. I enjoy my work at MBS very much. I’m very happy and contented with my life at this stage. If I can help you I will. If you agree to the plan, President Yin can arrange for Dr. Kim to do a check-up on Minnie, he then gives her some story about the IVF method to ensure pregnancy. Hopefully, good news would ensue. Meanwhile, we’ll continue to pursue the ‘reversal’ matter. If a successful reversal can be done, I’ll bless you and your wife with more children. If not, I won’t mind donating again. At least the children will come from the same donor.”

Xiang Zhe looked at You Zhen. Actually, this solution sounded a lot better than adoption. At least Minnie would be the natural mother. And Jae Hoon came from very good stock. Again, Xiang Zhe smiled silently to himself. His wife always knew how to pick her men. What about Patrick? Judging by his wife’s luck, he must be another ace. Xiang Zhe then said he would offer them his wife’s favourite drink. He went to the kitchen to get the champagne and peach juice. He looked inside the fridge and saw that his wife had prepared a tray of her super delicious sushi rolls. When he offered them the sushi, he told them, “Try these. The first time Shan Mei made these for me at her Gugu’s restaurant in London, one bite of it, and I knew I would willingly be her slave for the rest of my life.”

While they were sipping champagne cocktail and enjoying Shan Mei’s sushi, they looked over Jae Hoon’s family album. Every one in his family looked good. In fact, Xiang Zhe thought some faces looked familiar in Seoul’s business community, but he was too polite to probe. No wonder Jae Hoon was interested in history. He had a room full of relics and antiques displayed and labeled meticulously. When Jae Hoon noticed Xiang Zhe’s interest, he said, “I’ll bring you one day to view my ‘pieces de resistance’ in my private museum. It’s located on one of the floors of my building. In fact, if Shan Mei wins ‘most popular TV personality’ for the 5th year running, I’m going to present to her the tea set that I had asked her to use for tea when we met Mr. Pei, but she refused. It is a tea set from the collection of the last tsarina of Russia.”

Xiang Zhe suddenly felt so small. The first time when Jae Hoon brought Patrick over to their house for tea, he was not happy with Shan Mei bringing out her best English china tea set, and here was Jae Hoon, telling them he wanted to serve them tea in his priceless tea set.

After a few glasses of champagne cocktail, Xiang Zhe suggested they should form a brotherhood. “It’s strange but we do have one thing in common – being the only child in our natural family. I’ll rank first being the oldest, followed by you Jae Hoon, then You Zhen, Patrick and Xiang Jie in that order. If female members are accepted, my wife will rank No.1 by default.” Turning to You Zhen, Xiang Zhe asked, “Hey, You Zhen, what about Minnie? Is she the only child in her family too?”

You Zhen suddenly looked up from the photo album. “Oh, Minnie is the elder of two daughters.”

Jae Hoon commented, “No wonder Minnie wanted children. May be she’s hoping for a son.” This innocent comment set You Zhen thinking. Xiang Zhe and Jae Hoon stole brief glances at one another.

Soon, You Zhen cleared his throat. “Brother Jae Hoon, you’re right. If I was willing to try adoption, I should consider sperm donor. At least Minnie will get to go through the motions of pregnancy, and she will be the natural mother. Brother, thank you for your generous offer.”

The air cleared. Xiang Zhe got up and went over to where You Zhen was sitting, giving him a gentle pat on his back. “Tomorrow I’ll talk with Dr. Kim to work out some kind of plan. Minnie will not suspect the sperm came from Jae Hoon, thinking it’s yours, You Zhen.”

“What about Shan Mei?” Jae Hoon asked.

“Don’t worry, she will not spill. She’d rather die than let her most beloved Pa suffer.” You Zhen and Xiang Zhe grinned, imagining how Shan Mei would surely shoot them down, if Ma got so mad with Pa, she decided to leave him. With that scenario in mind, You Zhen let off an audible sign of relief. At least that part was settled. Now they would have to wait and see how Dr. Kim could help them pull through with their plan. The three of them put their hands, one on top of the other, to seal the pact.

When Xiang Zhe went to bed after Jae Hoon and You Zhen had left, his wife was already fast asleep. He smoothed her hair away from her forehead, and planted a kiss ever so gently on her pouty lips. His wife stirred murmuring, “Xue Zhang” then turned over to his side of the bed. He eased himself quietly on his back, and cuddled up to her. Tomorrow, Shan Mei had an appointment with Dr. Kim. How perfect!

Minnie and You Zhen visited Shan Mei at her home. They brought her a freshly-baked special butter cake stuffed full with her favourite peaches, now in season. Shan Mei was so happy. She invited them to stay for tea. You Zhen asked Minnie to go make the tea, while Shan Mei rested. Shan Mei laughed. She had rested enough for the past 3 months. Dr. Kim had confirmed everything was just going great. The way they were treating her, she appeared more like an invalid rather than a happy expectant mother.

Minnie looked happy and relaxed when she brought out the tea. Then she became curious and asked, “Sister Shan Mei, did you feel unwell at the start of your first trimester?”

“Minnie dear, each pregnancy feels different. Why do you want to know? Are you two here to give me good news?”

You Zhen very excitedly replied, “Dr. Kim managed to rectify the problems we had with conceiving. If all goes well, Dr. Kim said that within 6 months or may be less, we should have good news to announce.”

Shan Mei was so ecstatic, she told them to start on the cake. “This information is too good to keep to myself. I’ve got to let my husband know.” And she dialed Xiang Zhe’s number.

Xiang Zhe was just coming out of a directors’ meeting, when he received his angel’s call. “Yes? Really? I’m so happy for them. What? The cake tastes very good? Remember to save some for me. I should be home soon. I love you.” Putting his mobile phone back into the pocket of his jacket, he smiled to himself. It was so good to be able to tell his wife he loved her. He wanted to let her know every second, minute, hour of the day how much he loved her.

By the time Xiang Zhe arrived home, You Zhen and Minnie had left. Shan Mei made him coffee and gave him a slice of the delicious cake and couldn’t help but kept harping on the good news. “Husband, it seems everything is now solved with You Zhen. He looked very relaxed. And Minnie was very excited. But they made me promise not to let Pa and Ma on to their secret yet.”

Husband and wife went for shower together. Afterwards, Xiang Zhe showed her some of the financial statements that had arrived from the CTN regional offices that her secretary had passed on to him. “Darling, the reports are looking good. The offices should by now realise Miss Zhen Shan Mei holds a tighter rein than Michael, right?”

They took the remainder of the cake over to Father’s place. BB wanted to hang on to mummy. When Daddy said he was too heavy for mummy, he brought over his teddy and put it in mummy’s arms. He then snuggled up to Daddy’s arms. From there, he carried on a conversation with Teddy, asking Teddy whether he saw Daddy bringing in a cake and putting it in the kitchen. “Daddy is so stingy, not giving little BB and little Teddy cake.” Xiang Zhe looked at his wife, trying to suppress his laughter.

Shan Mei asked her husband innocently, “Daddy, why are you not giving little BB some cake?”

Daddy answered just as innocently, “If I give, I will give only a tiny little piece. But if BB waits for Grandpa and Uncle Patrick to come home, they will give him a large piece.” BB smiled, and then he pouted, holding up his chin with a fisted knuckle.

Shan Mei noticed it and asked, “Sweetheart, won’t you like that?”

BB bit at his lower lip, about to cry and said grudgingly, “Grandpa’s toy box is not on the shelf, he will be home late tonight. I’ll already be asleep so I won’t have cake anyway.”

Xiang Zhe looked at his son. The little brat wasn’t stupid after all, knowing tonight was Games night at MBS. Okay, he decided he would give BB a small piece as treat. BB quickly finished eating that, and asked his Daddy for another small piece. “What, why are you so greedy?”

BB told his daddy it was for Teddy. He then looked at his mummy telling her, “Mummy, Teddy needs a treat too, because he has been sitting quietly in your arms being good boy!” When he got the piece of cake, he went to Teddy telling him to eat his cake. After a while, looking very innocent, he said to his mummy, “Teddy doesn’t want the cake and has given it to me.” Husband and wife looked at one another, their eyes and silent looks blaming the other for falling for their son’s little trick again. Daddy laughed, and wagged a finger at the little brat. When BB finished eating his cake, he looked at his daddy with his big round innocent eyes, smiling sweetly at him.

Xiang Zhe couldn’t help but pull the brat into his arms, giving him a big fat kiss on his cheeks, then carried him off to wash his little hands. “Remember, if you get sick in the stomach, it isn’t my fault. It’s because you were too greedy. The cake is much too rich for you. Now, how about taking a drive to see what Grandpa is doing?”

BB began screaming with excitement as he ran around the room. Xiang Zhe stopped him and told him, “Go tell Grandma Lee and nanny we’re going to visit Grandpa. Get ready. Daddy and mummy will come and collect you after we’ve changed.” Little BB zoomed off as best as he could on his unsteady little feet to Grandma Lee’s room.

It was the first time Auntie Lee was in MBS canteen, and the first time she saw what the seniors were up to when they said Game night. Father was excited when he noticed Xiang Zhe had brought Auntie Lee to watch them at play. Shan Mei went to check whether Master Chef was still in the kitchen. He was still in, getting ready tomorrow’s food list, for the special guests coming for Two Sides to A Coin. When he saw Shan Mei, he immediately wanted to prepare some food, especially when Shan Mei introduced him to her Auntie Lee who was also her son’s Grandma Lee. Master Chef didn’t understand the connection, but felt she was someone important. Very soon delicious food was on the table. He even made special clear soup noodles for Shan Mei’s little son, and prime sirloin steak with spaghetti for Shan Mei’s husband.

Chapter AW-53

Two days after Xiang Jie arrived home for his Christmas and New Year holidays, he left for Tokyo for a day trip with Shan Mei and Xiang Zhe. Mr. Kawasaki was at the airport to collect them, and accompanied them to Mr. Masuda, the image-maker he had highly recommended to Shan Mei.

Mr. Masuda on seeing Xiang Jie was very pleased. The boy had the basic goods so it would be easy to give him the look now in vogue. Mr. Masuda’s team spent the morning working on Xiang Jie and the final result was amazing. Even Xiang Zhe was astonished. His brother looked like he had just stepped out of one of the latest Japanese youth fashion magazines – smart, trendy but not outrageous. He looked like every young girl’s dreamboat. Xiang Zhe now understood why Shan Mei wouldn’t be able to tell who was the better looking when both were at the age of 20. This was his wife, always talking straight. Mr. Masuda then explained to Xiang Jie some of the basic rules he must adhere to, to maintain the look. Certain styles of clothings, certain colours, for day wear, casual wear, and formal wear, all given written down for him in a manual.

After lunch, it was shopping time. Shan Mei went to CTN Tokyo office, while Xiang Zhe and Mr. Kawasaki accompanied Xiang Jie. Mr. Masuda was so pleased with Xiang Jie, he went personally with them on their shopping spree. They shopped so much, they were ready to drop. They sat down for some tea at a coffee shop in Seibu Department Store. Mr. Kawasaki had a brief private talk with Mr. Masuda, when he kept eyeing Xiang Jie up and down. Mr. Kawasaki then told Xiang Zhe his advertising and management company was interested to sign up Xiang Jie as their main model to headline an advertising campaign being prepared for the largest department chain store in Japan. Xiang Zhe was amused. He told Mr. Kawasaki Xiang Jie was his brother, but Shan Mei was his manager, so they should talk to her.

After tea, they dropped by Mr. Kawasaki’s office, KAK Nippon Agency. Xiang Zhe was impressed. Their portfolio consisted of large-scale projects and their client list read like a ‘Who’s Who’ of a trade magazine. Seeing this, Xiang Zhe took this opportunity to discuss with Mr. Kawasaki KAK’s possibility of buying some of MBS drama series for their clients. Mr. Kawasaki nodded in agreement and said there were plenty of opportunities for cooperation.

Mr. Masuda kept repeating ‘ichi-ban’ whenever he laid interested eyes on Xiang Jie. Later on when the men met up with Shan Mei, Mr. Masuda refused to accept payment for the make-over job, although the price had originally been agreed upon. In lieu, Mr. Masuda wanted Xiang Jie to appear on the cover of a forthcoming sales brochure he was sending out to the big corporations to advertise their company’s services. Shan Mei, out of goodwill, agreed to this arrangement.

After all businesses were completed for this trip, Mr. Kawasaki insisted on sending them to the airport. Xiang Jie was shy yet excited about the possibility of appearing in an advertising campaign. Shan Mei thanked Mr. Kawasaki for his kind assistance. “Mr. Kawasaki, please let me have exact details of the campaign you have in mind. Xiang Jie will be in Seoul till the first week of January, then again for 3 weeks from end March. From 1st July of next year he will be busy with a new project at MBS in Seoul when he graduates from Cambridge. So, if we agree on something, he’s only available from end of March through the first 10 days of April.”

Mr. Kawasaki was excited on hearing this. “I’ll courier the file to your office first thing tomorrow morning. We have been planning to use some new model, and the project has been delayed because we couldn’t find the right ‘face’ even though we’ve interviewed more than 1,000 young men, with or without modeling experience. On seeing Xiang Jie today, Masuda and I knew that we have found our perfect model.” They parted at the airport on that friendly note.

On the plane, Xiang Zhe told his wife to take it easy. This was the first time she was flying after her first trimester. Shan Mei was leaning against him hooking one arm around his; he was holding on to her other hand. His chin was resting on her hair. Both agreed the trip was highly successful.

She thanked him for taking the time out to travel with them. She lifted her lips to him for a kiss.

He smiled and obliged with a long, deep kiss. He whispered softly into her ear, “I missed you so much this afternoon, especially when we were walking through the boutiques, wishing I was with you in the CTN’s office helping you through their financial reports. Did they give you a hard time, darling?”

Shan Mei gave a soft laugh and shook her head slightly.

He then looked over to where his younger brother was. He shook his head again in amusement, trying hard to hold down a chuckle in his throat. He had to admit the kid did look like a teenage heartthrob.

In his seat across the aisle, Xiang Jie was quietly resting. Today’s trip was brief, and there wasn’t a free moment, and they accomplished so much. He wondered what would have happened to him, to their family, if Elder Brother hadn’t met and married Sister? Most obvious – he wouldn’t have the chance to address him as Elder brother, remembering how he always glowered at him on seeing him, even that little bit of him sticking out from behind his mother’s back. He knew Sister was the catalyst in their family’s bonding. He must never let her down. She was the one who really pulled out all the stops to make such a big difference in his mundane life. She was his idol!

Upon their return from Tokyo, Shan Mei called a short meeting with You Zhen. “You Zhen Ge, I need you to help me. Just follow Xiang Jie around for a few days to film a video of him going about his normal activities in the office and at his home. And you can film a few black traffic accident spots around the city, some pedestrian areas without road directions, certain parts of the city with poor lighting which encouraged snatch thieves etc. I’m putting together a programme as a community service and Xiang Jie will be hosting this show. You know what I mean and what I want, right? The London office would edit the video when they complete their part of filming of Xiang Jie in London.”

At this year’s company Christmas party, Xiang Jie was the centre of attention. Those who joined the company recently, especially the young trainees in News Department, wondered who that gorgeous young man was. When they found out he was the younger brother of MBS president, all wanted to be another Zhen Shan Mei. The whole night the young girls tried to catch his attention, milling around his table like moths to a flame. Some were even bold enough to invite him to their table for a drink with them. He brushed them all off politely.

At one point, he went up to the stage to make a short speech. He thanked his many colleagues, especially the young and beautiful girls present tonight, for their kind attention. He had to refuse their offer to drink, because he was not a drinker. He would like to take the opportunity to make a toast to them all, especially his friends at the Planning Department, the Dubbing Department, Brother Jae Hoon and Brother Patrick, and his family for their total support. “Thank you and Merry Christmas.” All present admired the young boy’s class. They all stood up and returned the toast.

Xiang Zhe was amazed how his younger brother had handled the situation with such aplomb. He wouldn’t get himself into any stupid situation, for sure. A few Christmases ago, wasn’t he the one who came to rescue him from a bunch of troublemakers and had chided him for going with them, instead of staying put with Shan Mei? Michael’s training was so evident. But, one had to be smart in order to absorb training. Xiang Zhe began to feel relaxed. Between Shan Mei and Xiang Jie, MBS would be in very good hands. He would be able to concentrate 100% on Wen Rong, next summer.

Thinking of his wife, he immediately looked around the room to see where she had gone. She was chatting with Mr. and Mrs. Master Chef. She looked so at ease, flitting around the room, playing the perfect hostess. She seemed to know almost everybody by name or recognise on sight. Then, she went up to the table where Patrick was seated next to Jae Hoon. She stood between the two, one arm lying on each of their shoulders. They looked up to her so adoringly, while Shan Mei was laughing at something funny they just told her. She ruffled their hair, then went off to talk to her good friends Zhao Di and Chen Sui. He marveled at his own calmness, sitting there watching his wife with such adoring eyes. Surprisingly, he didn’t feel even a tiny tinge of jealousy, only contentedness and bliss knowing this gracious and charming lady was his, and his alone.

Xiang Zhe finally accepted that he was the love of his wife, and no one could take that away from him. Especially, when she told him she wanted to have his baby desperately. When Shan Mei came back to sit beside him, his hand enveloped hers that was resting on her lap. A look passed between them. He then whispered into her, “Darling do you want to leave now? Are you tired?” She shook her head and signaled to him to watch the stage.

You Zhen was now on stage. He was selected to announce the winners of the Junior Game Club and Employees Game Club competitions. Before that, he announced how CTN Management appreciated the strong cooperation with MBS and wanted to present some Appreciative Awards. Shan Mei was then invited up to the stage to make the presentation. Several departments received awards, Master Chef’s Kitchen two, one for the kitchen and one individual for Master Chef as foreseen by Xiang Zhe. Jae Hoon received a special mention and souvenir present from CTN.

Last to receive mention was MBS President for his unwavering support not just to CTN-KE but to CTN-Asia/Pac. Miss Zhen Shan Mei would present to him an Appreciative Award – an all expenses paid 5 day 4 night trip to the beautiful island of Guam for 2. As an afterthought, You Zhen added after he made the announcement – “Now all the mice can come out and play when the cat is away on holiday in Guam – for 5 days!!!” Many employees laughed and wolf whistles came from some sections. Happiness beaming all over his face, Xiang Zhe was grinning and shaking his head as he made his way to where Shan Mei was. To be acknowledged by his wife in such a way, wow! Husband and wife looked at one another, as Shan Mei handed to him a large, pink envelope. Shan Mei extended her hand for a handshake. Her husband took his wife’s hand, gently pulled her to him, and drew her closer into his strong arms for a passionate kiss. When they drew apart, thunderous applause broke out in the room.

“Xue Zhang,” she panted when he stopped. “In front of all these people! Indeed, I don’t know what has come over you.”

“It’s love, darling. Love has come over me. My love for you has freed me and yes, loosened my tongue.” He gave her a small mischievous smile. “Or perhaps I only wanted them to know how pleased I am with my wife.”

Xiang Zhe was still smiling broadly at Shan Mei’s crimson face and was about to return to his seat, when Shan Mei held him back.

You Zhen announced the Yins wanted to make a special award to the Junior Game Club member who showed the best consistency throughout the year. A name was announced; the parents proudly accompanied the child up to stage, to collect the cash prize award from President Yin. This was such a pleasant surprise for Xiang Zhe as well as all those who were present. After that initial excitement, more was to come with the other Game Club announcements.

Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei quietly made their getaway. They went home. After his shower, Xiang Zhe emerged from the bathroom, his damp hair plastered closely to his head, his mouth in a pout as he complained, “Why was I given only one appreciative award while Master Chef received two. I want an individual appreciative award too.”

Shan Mei gave him a severe look that made him smile. “I was just about to give it to you when you started complaining. Maybe now I’ll forget about it.” Very quickly he apologised to his wife, pleading with her to forget his complaints. Shan Mei smiled sweetly to him and promised to think about it. Then she walked to her dressing room to change.

Few minutes later when Shan Mei emerged from her dressing room Xiang Zhe was nowhere to be found. Xiang Zhe’s mobile phone began to ring. It was his angel wishing him a very merry Christmas. She asked him where exactly was he? “Up in my office sulking,” came his teasing reply.

His wife told him, “Stay where you are, I’m going to be up there in 2 minutes to collect you for some fun.” After hanging up, he sat down in his chair, waiting excitedly for his angel to appear.

Sure enough, Shan Mei appeared. She had clipped onto her head, a pair of reindeer antlers, and on her nose a plastic red nose. Xiang Zhe, trying hard to suppress wild laughter, thought how adorable she looked but he wasn’t going to let her know. She took from behind her back a red hood trimmed with white fur, and a line of white beard. She sat on her husband’s lap, then in her most coaxing voice said, “Hello, this is Rudolph looking for Santa.” She put the hood on him and hooked the beard to his ears. He erupted into laughter, then pinched her cheeks with both his hands. Taking hold of his hands, Shan Mei told him to hurry up to get out his sleigh. She dragged him downstairs. A Christmas hamper was waiting for them in one corner of her office. On the way out of the house, he stopped in front of a mirror in the hall to take a good look of himself. “Hmmm,’ he mused, he didn’t look too bad. He adjusted his hood properly and grinned happily as he ran out of the house after his Rudolph.

Shan Mei told him to take the four sacks of goodies lying along the inside wall of the garage and put into their car. When he got the car out of the garage, she said, “We’ll make a detour to four orphanages marked out on this map, then continue to our cabin.” She handed her husband a piece of paper.

“Going to the cabin? But wouldn’t it be too cold for you?”

Her big, round eyes looked up to him and smilingly assuaged, “You’re always good at keeping me warm, yes?” He nodded with laughter.

At each orphanage, they left the sack by the frontage, and drove off. Xiang Zhe felt good, and as they drove along, they sang Christmas carols.

“Darling, you need practice. We’ll make time for karaoke sessions at home whenever you’re free, okay?”

Shan Mei agreed readily, “Yes, teacher” and hung on to his arm while he was driving. Soon, they reached their destination.

At the cabin, Xiang Zhe immediately turned on the insulated heating for the floor, rolled back the roofing and opened up the skylight. They had to keep the doors closed. Shan Mei spread out a picnic cloth on the floor. They very excitedly emptied the contents of the hamper. She brought along a small cassette player that continuously played her Christmas tape of carols.

Xiang Zhe was very happy and felt so blessed. He had missed being at the cabin with Shan Mei. Since Shan Mei’s pregnancy, they had been careful when Dr. Kim warned Xiang Zhe they had to be careful during her first trimester. Then they had to tackle You Zhen’s problem. For now everything was back to normal. At 4 months, Dr. Kim said Shan Mei was progressing well and advised her not to worry about You Zhen. Earlier in the evening at the party venue, You Zhen appeared totally relaxed, so they assumed things were looking good for him and Minnie.

Xiang Zhe cradled Shan Mei in his arms. He was kissing her and stroking ever so gently her stomach. Every once in a while, he bent down to whisper words of sweet-nothings to the unborn baby. He laughed in such a delighted manner, Shan Mei couldn’t help but ask, “What’s tickling you, husband?”

“You, of course, my dearest wife! Rudolph is supposed to be nimble and lithe, Santa rotund with a round belly. But who’s the one having a rise in her belly now, huh? Not this Santa, for sure!” As he said that, Xiang Zhe patted his own flat tummy proudly.

With sweet refrains from ‘Joy to The World’ coming from their cassette player, Santa sipped his wine, while Rudolph had her peach juice, nibbling at their Christmas goodies. Bliss and peace in paradise!

Chapter AW-54

After spending two glorious days at the cabin with Shan Mei, Xiang Zhe was so reluctant to leave. Christmas Eve and Christmas nights, the stars were out in full force shining bright for them. This cabin held special affinity for them. Just watching her lying so contentedly on the mat, deep in sleep, made him want to love her all the more.

Now, he felt very lovey-dovey, as he propped himself on his elbow watching his wife in sleep. His hand very gently moved to cup her swollen breast. Shan Mei stirred and called out to him. He bent down to caress her soft, sweet lips. He was aroused. He inched close to her as his hand now moved caressingly all over her body, lingering on her stomach. Instinctively, her hands circled his neck to pull him down to her………….

It was afternoon when Shan Mei decided to stir from the mat. Her husband was snuggled beside her sound asleep. She couldn’t help but run her fingers softly through his hair. She gently untangled herself from his arms, placing her pillow in his arms instead. She pulled on a pair of jeans and put on a thick sweater, then pushed open the door. Wow, brilliant sunshine outside! No snow!! Xue Zhang must have woken up earlier to close the roofing. She went to the kitchen to check through the hamper to see what food they had left over. They wouldn’t need a lot of food since they would be going to Father’s later in the evening for dinner. She had some hot coffee ready for her husband when he woke up. She emerged from the kitchen getting ready to have a shower, when she saw Xiang Zhe standing at the door of the cabin pretending to give her an accusing look. “Trying to take shower without your husband, eh?”

“I was going to make myself smell good for you when you wake up.” Hearing that, he smiled and beckoned her to him. He quickly undressed her, kissing her here and there, draped a thick robe over her, then wrapping his arm lovingly around her shoulders, they entered the shower room together.

When they arrived at Father’s place later in the day, BB wouldn’t let go of them. In his innocent mind, he simply knew his parents had gone off somewhere for a long time without him and he was beginning to miss them, after the excitement of receiving and opening up so many presents had waned. He wanted to show his daddy and mummy the many new toys he had received. And the new words grandma Lee had taught him from his new picture books.

His little arms tried to go round mummy’s tummy. He kept asking, “Mummy, are you not well?”

“Of course I am, sweetheart. Mummy is just a little bit tired.”

“If so, why has your tummy grown bigger? Are you hiding something under your sweater? Another secret present for me?” He kept insisting on pulling up mummy’s top to see what she was hiding under it.

When daddy told him not to disturb mummy, he was not happy. “Why? Mummy used to carry me a lot. Now, you tell me to leave mummy alone. Mummy doesn’t love me anymore? Is that why you haven’t been to see me so long?” Tears welled up in his big, sad eyes as he began to whimper.

Xiang Zhe felt so bad that he carried his son out to the garden, to play ball with him and apologized for neglecting him, telling him Mummy and Daddy had to work.

Soon, little BB was running around laughing. Suddenly, he stopped in his play and asked Xiang Zhe, “Daddy, do you think mummy can run too? Maybe if we make her run hard, the thing she’s hiding under her sweater will come off. Then she’ll be normal again and can carry little BB. I want Mummy to carry me.” He dragged his daddy back into the house, wanting him to ask mummy to play ball with them.

Xiang Zhe shook his head, exasperated. He had better pass the brat back to Xiang Jie and let him handle the little one and his questions.

===

The first working day after the Christmas holidays, MBS P.R. department was deluged with calls from several magazine editors who had heard of the gorgeous young man in MBS who happened to be MBS president’s younger brother. They wanted to interview him. When Zian Da approached him wanting to set up some interviews, Xiang Jie told him the only person he would talk to would be his sister Shan Mei.

Later in the morning, Zian Da reported this to Xiang Zhe. “What’s up with your younger brother Xiang Jie? He’s not being cooperative at all, telling me he’s not talking to any magazine editor. It seems he’s not even talking to you because he says the only person he’ll talk to is Shan Mei. He’s got some kind of attitude problem?”

Xiang Zhe gave a short laugh as he stretched back and threw his hands behind his head. “Zian Da, please don’t feel offended. Xiang Jie is only playing it safe. He doesn’t want to be misquoted. You yourself should know it’s not easy for a young man, new in his job, to handle the press. They can twist and turn any word around to suit their means. I don’t blame Xiang Jie at all for playing it safe.”

Giving Zian Da a steady look, he continued, “If the magazine editors want interviews, they should all talk to Shan Mei. In case you haven’t been told, Xiang Jie is Shan Mei’s protégé. Next summer Shan Mei is going to push Xiang Jie out in a new show for MBS that she has been planning for 2 years. I don’t have all the details yet, but it seems all sponsors have been lined up in the U.S by CTN. She’s now finalizing the format for the show. Shan Mei will produce this show. It’ll be another co-production between CTN-KE and MBS.

Anyway, Xiang Jie can’t pose for any photos for anybody, not even for MBS, at this time. He has an exclusive contract with a Japanese advertising company to appear in an advertising campaign for them. Only from mid-June next year, can Xiang Jie do official publicity work for MBS. You’d better get clearance from Shan Mei before you do anything with Xiang Jie because I myself am not too sure of his contractual obligations.”

To tease Zian Da a little, Xiang Zhe told him Shan Mei had been training Xiang Jie since he was 15 years old. With nothing further to discuss, Zian Da left the Director’s office with a puzzled look. When Xiang Jie was 15, wasn’t Shan Mei only 26? And she had just run off to London, herself being slow, blurry and so forgetful. How could she be training Xiang Jie? He shook his head in disbelief. In part what Xiang Zhe had just told Zian Da was true. Shan Mei was the one who suggested to Father to ensure Xiang Jie took extra tuition in English as soon as he returned to Seoul, after his first visit to London. And she was his inspiration in learning the guitar.

After Zian Da left his office, Xiang Zhe sat in his chair thinking how alike Xiang Jie and Shan Mei were. They had their principles. No one could force them to do what they didn’t want to do. All the unfortunate things that happened to them came through other people’s action, not through their own fault. Because of their kindness, bad things in their lives somehow managed to turn out good.

Thinking of his wife made him want to hear her voice. When Shan Mei answered his call, he asked tenderly, “Did you miss me today like I’ve been missing you? And has baby been giving you trouble?”

She laughed saying she was busy at a meeting in the recording studio, but to answer his questions: yes to the first, and don’t know to the second.

After finishing the call, Xiang Zhe looked at his watch. It was only 5, why was she at the recording studio so early? He decided to drop in and give her a surprise visit. When he arrived, Xiang Jie was there, and many girls were crowding around him. He had wanted to give his sister a night off, seeing that she had worked this afternoon on the chat show, so he suggested to her he wanted to host Musical Postcard that night. Shan Mei was showing him her selection of poetry, and how to work the carousel, and understand the different hand signals from the production assistants, when word got around the station that the gorgeous Yin Xiang Jie was in the recording studio.

Xiang Zhe asked Xiang Jie, “Do you want dinner?”

“Not yet. I prefer to stay around and learn how to work the carousel. And you don’t have to worry about me getting home. Brother Jae Hoon is going to give me a lift home later tonight.”

“Okay, if this is the case, ask Jae Hoon to drop by our house after Musical Postcard for supper. Since you’re so obliging in letting sister have a night off, I’ll treat to you to supper too. Thanks kid.” And Xiang Zhe gave his younger brother a soft pat on his shoulder.

Husband took his wife back to his office. He sat in his chair, and kept staring at her, remembering her with her antler hair band and red nose, and he with his Santa’s hood and beard. As he rubbed the crease between his brows, he threw back his head and laughed. Shan Mei looked back at him confounded, her big round eyes wondering what was wrong with her husband. Xiang Zhe was thinking she looked more adorable now than when she first entered his office a minute ago. He was so tempted to run his fingers along her silky smooth back. He’d better pulled himself together before he did something crazy in the office and would get scolding from her. With a soft seductive voice he asked, “What will you like for dinner? How about hamburgers? Remember, we used to have this all the time in London? Hamburgers, pizzas, soft drinks and coffee. Now, no soft drinks, except warm milk, for you.”

Instead of dropping by MacDonald’s, Xiang Zhe took her to Cream House, for their juicy, meaty burgers. They took time to enjoy their meal. Xiang Zhe ordered take-out for Jae Hoon and Xiang Jie. When the food came, they drove home. Before he started the car, he gave his wife a kiss on her cheek. They held each other’s gaze steadily and quietly, their eyes overflowing with love for the other.

Later that night in the living room, Xiang Zhe, Jae Hoon and Xiang Jie were eating and talking. Xiang Zhe wanted to know what his brother did with the girls who were waiting around the recording studio.

Xiang Jie smiled sheepishly and answered, “I sms’d Brother Jae Hoon for rescue, so when later he showed up, he told me to quickly pack up. ‘Bae Yong Jun had just arrived at the station. If we are lucky we can still catch him in the main Visitors’ Lounge.’ On hearing this, the girls quickly disappeared.” Xiang Jie laughed remembering how the girls fell over each other trying to make their way fast to the lift.

Xiang Zhe wondered aloud whether Michael was the one who taught Xiang Jie how to avoid the girls?

“Well ….. Michael didn’t actually teach me. I simply watched him and picked up a few tricks from him. In London, when the girls phoned and Michael told them he was busy at meetings, the girls would still show up at his office. Michael found them so tactless and tiresome. In fact, I’ve heard the only girl he ever asked to have coffee with, turned him down flat.” Xiang Jie gave his brother a look and secretive smile that told him there was no need to guess who that girl was.

Xiang Zhe bit his lower lip, hiding a faint smile.

Next, the three men discussed the nomination list for the forthcoming award ceremony. The highlight of the ceremony would be the Sponsors’ Choice. Secret balloting by the sponsors only. The results would be announced at the show, when the ballot box would be opened and each sponsor’s choice read out.

Xiang Zhe was wondering whether to let Shan Mei attend. “I’m afraid she would become too excited she could go into early labour. This is 3rd year for Sponsors’ Choice. Many people in the industry won’t want to see Shan Mei take the prize again. But they can put their minds to rest. Shan Mei has cut down a lot in work. She’s now involved only in Two Sides to A Coin, and Musical Postcard. It will be difficult for her to repeat last year’s success with so few works on hand. Next year may be different. After the baby’s birth, she will be doing a lot of production work.”

Talking of this, Xiang Zhe asked Jae Hoon whether he was overworked with dubbing for the mini series and PIR.

Jae Hoon assured the Boss that he was managing well. “We are working with the same good dubbers who know what we want. My segments for PIR are pretaped, making them more convenient for the guests.”

While Xiang Jie went into the kitchen to get more drinks, Xiang Zhe told Jae Hoon Shan Mei was thinking of producing 2-part mini mega movies for the weekends. She wanted to take an English version of a 2-part movie, have the plot updated and acted by local players. They would have to choose those story plots that could be produced within a small area, so the production costs would be low. “What’s your take on this?”

Jae Hoon was excited with this concept. “I can come up with several story plots similar to Romeo and Juliet for example.”

“Excellent! With your experience in the drama department, may be in the future you can assist Shan Mei in this. I don’t want to promise her anything just yet. This project will only be decided after baby’s birth.”

Jae Hoon thought it was a brilliant idea. He had always wondered whether a movie could be more detailed, so they could understand the story line better. Most of the time, the characters couldn’t be built up adequately, and due to editing, time constraints, the plot would soon be lost. He would be more than happy to assist Shan Mei in any way she considered possible!

Chapter AW-55

Before Xiang Jie returned to London, Shan Mei had a private meeting with him, giving him instructions for the video clip.

“When you return for Easter, you’ll be busy working in Tokyo for 2 days on Mr. Kawasaki’s new commercial advertisement project. I’ve promised to let Mr. Masuda have 2 shots of you, for his sales brochure. Now, you take care of yourself while you’re in London. We’re going to miss you dreadfully; at least I know little BB will. And don’t do anything you know I won’t approve of. Remember to convey my regards to your mother.”

Xiang Jie lingered around Shan Mei’s office and confided in her, “I feel that Mum and Dad will divorce. Dad hasn’t spoken to her or asked me anything about Mum in London even though I told him she enjoys working at Gugu’s restaurant. He has wondered aloud whether she has a new boyfriend. I don’t know so I didn’t give him any definite answer. I really don’t know what to think! May be this is the best if Mum finds herself a new boyfriend. I don’t want her to feel lonely but I can’t spend all my time with her.” The boy sounded forlorn and Shan Mei’s heart ached for him.

He continued ruminating, “Auntie Lee gets along well with everybody, not like Mum who doesn’t talk with any body. Auntie Lee is also more open to ideas and she’s cheerful all the time. Dad needs someone like that, not someone who has been watching out for his money. If the truth be known I too wouldn’t want a wife like that if I were in Dad’s shoes. I now know my dad did in fact marry into money, but at least he worked hard to increase the family wealth so we can all enjoy a good life.”

Shan Mei patted his shoulders. At least the boy understood that.

“Xiang Jie, don’t spend too much time mulling over something that is beyond your control, okay? If Father marries Auntie Lee, can you accept the situation?”

“Sure, why not? I’m a big boy now. I understand many things and I’ve many people behind me supporting me. Why would I want to begrudge my dad of his happiness? My situation won’t be like elder brother’s. When Dad left him, he had no one. You may not believe it but I actually feel very sorry for my elder brother. I’m just so very happy for my elder brother that he met you. Elder brother was right when he said he didn’t want to marry. What is the point of marrying, if the one is not the perfect one? In this aspect Elder brother is lucky. He found you, his perfect match.”

Shan Mei looked up from her papers and gave Xiang Jie a beautiful smile. “Such flattery …. You want us to increase your pocket money? If truth be told, I assure you I’m the lucky one. Your Elder brother is the perfect husband. He makes me feel so loved and protected. I wouldn’t want to marry any one else.” With a happy sigh, Shan Mei stressed the importance of love. “Right, every thing must be done in the name of love.”

===

Michael flew in especially to lend his support to this year’s Award Ceremony. There were many changes. Although CTN was nominated for many awards, Shan Mei only vied for four categories: Best Host of Chat Show, Best Producer Local Documentary, Most Popular TV Personality and Most Popular Radio Deejay. The other open one was Sponsors’ Choice. No one would know the nominees and winners until the actual night of the award ceremony.

At dinner the night before the event, Xiang Zhe was telling Michael how that Miss Park was at CTN’s anniversary cocktail reception looking for him. When she didn’t see Michael, she concentrated on Junior. After that she called his office almost every day. “She somehow managed to get hold of my mobile phone number and started harassing me all hours of the day, until I was afraid to pick up my mobile phone. Shan Mei thought the situation so funny. You know what? That imp even arranged a date for me with that woman at the Westin Chosun. Luckily that occasion turned into something sweet for me and my wife.”

Michael laughed, and slapped his back hard and cursed, “Lucky dog.” Michael then began commenting on Xiang Jie’s transformation. “Junior, to say I was surprised is an understatement. I was amazed when I saw the new JJ in London. The pilot video for the new JJ show was very-well received. The sponsors we approached all wanted in. The car sponsor would ship the car over after all the advertising slogans have been painted on the car. For easy import procedures, the car will be registered under CTN-KE’s name. Shan Mei is very excited about that.”

The next evening when Xiang Zhe saw his wife after her hair styling and make-up was completed, he didn’t want to go to the event, but would rather stay home with her. She looked simply radiant in a light blue chiffon gown floating about like a pregnant angel. The bodice of her gown was studded with silver and light blue flat crystal squares. The layered gown draped loosely and beautifully down her body, giving her an ethereal aura. She draped around her arms a wrap of same soft chiffon and colour.

As they sat down in the auditorium, Xiang Zhe looked around the room and then whispered into his wife’s ear, “Darling, you look the most beautiful in the whole place. No one can compare.”

She smiled sweetly at him, and then thanked him for trying to boost the morale of a pregnant lady.

As the evening progressed, CTN again won in every category they were nominated for. Their news anchor Aileen Chung, the one CTN pushed hard for nomination, had won. Some people around the hall began to whisper that Shan Mei was doing only chat show, how could she be voted the most popular? But 60% of the voting came from viewers, so it was not surprising knowing how popular Shan Mei was with viewers. MBS didn’t do too bad, taking 8 awards, with Two Sides To A Coin taking the top 5 awards.

The final was Sponsors’ Choice. The President of the Nomination Committee came to unlock the ballot box. As he pulled each vote out of the box, the name was read out. At the end 20 votes had been cast, all for Zhen Shan Mei.

Shan Mei began sobbing softly. This was something so unexpected. Her husband held her tight to his chest, trying to calm her, telling her everything was alright, knowing how emotional it was for her. No matter how envious people were of her, she was still the Sponsors’ choice. Xiang Zhe accompanied his wife up to the stage to collect her award. Michael looking up at them thought how beautiful Shan Mei looked. From the moment she collected her first award of the evening till the Sponsors’ Choice, no one in that room looked more beautiful and elegant than her. Xiang Zhe held on to her hands the whole night. She was too precious a commodity to be left on her own.

At the after-party, husband and wife stayed together, not wanting to circulate, fearing Shan Mei’s stomach might knock into something. Michael took charge, understanding Shan Mei’s delicate situation and Junior’s concern. After a while the Yins left the party venue since Shan Mei was getting tired.

At home Shan Mei was still uptight about gossip surrounding the Sponsor’s award.

Xiang Zhe remarked, “If I’m a sponsor I’ll want to work with the most bankable star, or the most bankable producer, or someone who has the most bankable name. Many of the people at the award ceremony don’t want to understand. To the sponsors, no matter what you do, they know you are the most bankable. How else did Michael manage to sell Xiang Jie’s show by showing only a pilot clip that gave very little away about the show?” He chucked her chin up and smiled indulgently down at her upturned face.

She thanked Xue Zhang for his comfort, caring and encouraging words. “Husband, I remember that time I first received a little card from you with a hamburger and a drink. You’ve always been so encouraging.”

“So, you finally worked out it was me who sent the food, huh?” he smilingly asked, winking an eye at her at the same time.

She smiled and gave him a big kiss. “Not only the food, but also the hankie. I’ve eaten the burger and finished the drink, but all the other things, I still have all them stored away. ”

“Really? I don’t believe it. You’ve moved house so many times; from your Pa’s place to London, from London to the CTN apartment in Seoul, from the city apartment to your married home.”

Shan Mei dragged him to their store room. She pointed to a metal case on an upper shelf. Xiang Zhe took it down. In it were Shan Mei’s memories from Cambridge to MBS days. Some of the clothes she wore at Cambridge, the bus tickets, her Cambridge diary, the red Cambridge cap he had gifted her, her air tickets, printed copies of emails he had sent her, her MBS diary, the cards she received from her loyal fan Y.

“What about the hankie I gave you?” He was curious.

“That hankie is too precious to leave lying around. I’ve it on me all the time to remind me of my mission – honest reporting from the heart.”

“What about the cap? I never see you wear it?”

“Xue Zhang, don’t you remember? That cap is not mine! You told me to hang on to it, until you have a girl friend.”

“Hey, what are you talking about? You are my wife right? So if you can’t use the cap, I wonder who has the right to?”

“Well, if I remember correctly, Xue Zhang has mentioned that I’m his Xue Mei, one time you even introduced me to your father as your fiancée, now you claim I’m your wife, but I never heard you say I was your girlfriend.”

He shook his head and laughed aloud and tweaked her nose. He took the cap from out of the case and patted it down snugly on her head. “I’ve wanted you to be my girlfriend from the time I bought this cap. Otherwise why did you think I returned to Seoul? I wanted to give you the chance to get to know me better. I wanted you to consider me your boyfriend. When I decided to stay in Seoul, my first consideration was you, you little imp. MBS was only my second consideration.”

He took the diaries out and said he wanted to read them. He quickly leafed through to the page where she wrote about the accident. He gave a hoot. She had blamed him for the accident. She had written: + Even if my mind is not concentrating, he should have known his traffic rules better, like looking at the traffic light, then see whether the road condition was clear, instead of simply shooting off when seeing green light.+ “What?” Xiang Zhe pretended to sound offended and rolled his big eyes at her.

What about her first impression of him? He began turning pages again. He found the entry. +He was answerable for the accident. He pretended to act kindhearted taking me to hospital but quickly tried to absolve himself of all responsibility. Such an irresponsible person!+ At another entry: + He acted like a big brother. OK, I meekly accept my little sister position, since Gugu said he has stayed in London already several years. At least he will be a reliable source of information, and I do feel protected, as if by a Mafia Big Brother, he-he. P.S. Gugu said he had been eating at her restaurant a long time, she knew him quite well, so he couldn’t be a bad person.+

What about their fun adventures? From her entries, it seemed she enjoyed open top bus rides and punting the best, followed by his playing the piano in the music conservatory. +Today is already the 3rd day we’ve been out. I seem to see sadness in his eyes. But when we are punting or riding the open top buses, he never fails to grin so happily and he is so playful all the time, he forgets about being sad. I feel strange but I do want to see him smile, and I wish I can ride the bus with him every night! I wonder what he does on the nights when I don’t see him?+

Xiang Zhe smiled at her perception and looked lovingly at her and asked. “Do you really want to know?”

She nodded her head smiling eagerly, then hung on to his arms, waiting.

“Well, I would sit out on my balcony with my glass of whisky and packet of cigarettes, watching the river and thinking of you – thinking of you doing your homework and wished I was there helping you along.”

Shan Mei gave him a look of disbelief.

Xiang Zhe didn’t want to give too much of himself away as he smiled sweetly inside himself. Many times when he was out on his balcony in London, he had simply stood there, staring into the dark waters of the Thames, slowly shaking his head, grappling with what he was feeling and what had been happening. Since ‘colliding’ into Shan Mei that fateful day at the zebra crossing, slowly but sure, something deep and sweet had begun to fill him, something new and wondrous and rich, something he’d never expected simply because he hadn’t realized there was something to be felt and he hadn’t known …..hadn’t known that he was lacking. He was so thankful that he lived along the part of Thames that was further away from Central London, away from the bright city lights, giving him plenty of time to reflect on his feelings where Shan Mei was concerned.

“It is true! Sometimes, I had to stop myself from jumping into my car and shooting off to your Gugu’s house. And do you want to know more?”

Again, Shan Mei nodded her head, this time she not only had a beautiful smile for her husband, and her eyes were gleaming eagerly too.

“After you left London, I concentrated very hard on my studies, like you told me to upon our parting at the airport. I had Peter Rabbit sitting next to my laptop. It was like having you next to me watching over me making sure I did my class assignments well.”

Her mouth half opened in awe. He gave her cheek a pinch then bent to kiss her open mouth. “Darling, I think I fell in love with you then, that first day, and it grew each time I saw you. I became a hopeless case in no time at all.”

When they began packing up, he shut the diaries, saying he would save them for reading when she was not home with him.

Right now, he must give 100% tender loving care to his beautiful wife who was again Queen for the Night walking off with the very coveted Sponsors’ Choice Award which she truly deserved.

Shan Mei hugged her husband tightly against her. He always made her feel so good. She thanked him for his unwavering support and belief in her.

Husband looked at his lovely wife, gave her a kiss and asked softly for a dance. He stood behind Shan Mei, encircling her waist from behind with his arms, then they moved slowly in step to the music, Xiang Zhe occasionally stroking lovingly across her big tummy. He was running kisses on her nape, her hair, her shoulders, and nibbling at her ears.

Chapter AW-56

The week following the Award ceremony, Mr. Sung phoned Shan Mei congratulating her on her win at the award ceremony. He also said she was the most beautiful pregnant lady he had ever seen.

Anyway, the purpose of his call was to let her know he had just given an interview to the main Korean language newspaper of Seoul when they approached him last Saturday night asking him to comment on his view regarding the Sponsors’ Choice Award.

“I think the newspaper will soon approach you if they haven’t done so. By the way, Mr. Kawasaki has also informed me that CTN will be pushing out a new show for the summer, and he advised me to take out sponsorship on the new show because you’re going to front a ‘hot’ new star. Shan Mei, why all the secrecy?”

“Mr. Sung, we’re not hiding anything at all. It was simply kept low profile because the show is going to be entirely sponsored by American corporations, and the deals arranged by Michael Dutton are big.”

“I don’t care about the amount of sponsorship money you’re talking about. I want in.”

As soon as Shan Mei finished talking with Mr. Sung, the editor from the newspaper personally phoned Shan Mei asking her to kindly grant them a short interview. Basically, it was about the 3rd year she had won the Sponsors’ Choice. She agreed to give them 30 minutes in the afternoon.

That afternoon, the reporting team came straight to the point when they were all sitting down in CTN’s Visitors’ Lounge. “When we interviewed MBS’ President Yin January last year, he said Miss Zhen’s success was due to her hard work and talent. At Sponsors’ Choice, all 20 sponsors voted for you. Many people want to know the real secret behind you phenomenal success? Surely it must be more than just hard work and talent?”

Shan Mei smiled shyly at the reporters, readily admitting, “Of course, luck does play a part but if there’s a secret then it must be my husband. Not because he is the president of MBS but because he is my Xue Zhang. He is always there for me, with his words of encouragement, his advice, his unwavering support and his caring. I remember the time I experienced my first fiasco on 7 p.m. MBS News many years ago, I was severely reprimanded by station management. If not for the support from the viewers, that would have been my last chance at reading the main news. That night I received a card from my Xue Zhang comforting me, telling me to continue to work hard and not to give up. What I’d said on television was the real me! Because of those words, I’ll always work hard and never give up, and always report honestly to my viewers. I’ll never let them down. When a person is doing honest work, the sponsors would know.”

“If that’s the secret of your professional success, what is the secret of your marriage success? Your marriage seems to be growing from strength to strength, baffling even those die-hard skeptics who had predicted the marriage wouldn’t last.”

Shan Mei smiled softly before taking a deep breath and remarked, “The secret would again be my husband. He has been very patient with me and is always confident and supportive of my ideas and decisions. We believe and care deeply about one another. But most important is love. Because there is love, no one partner would do anything to hurt or jeopardise the relationship. Each is the other’s top priority.”

The reporter tried to get Shan Mei to admit her husband loved her more. “No, I’m sorry, I cannot accept that view. If I say my husband loves me more, it will mean I love my husband less, or vice versa. Which is so totally not true! Love cannot be quantified. I am confident if each partner wants the best for the other, that will be true love, and good enough for a lifetime of happiness.”

“Miss Zhen, you keep saying ‘true love’ which is an intangible feeling. Let’s go back and talk of something more tangible, like your husband’s good looks. Did his handsome features make you love him more or to be more direct, if you don’t mind us asking, were his good looks the reason you fell in love with him?”

No, Shan Mei thought, Xue Zhang’s self-confidence stemmed from nothing so shallow as his looks; his belief in himself was rooted in the very substance of his being. In answer to the question from the interviewer, she covered her mouth as she gave out a tinkling laugh. “Definitely not his good looks, something else. On first sight, most people are attracted by President Yin’s gorgeous looks and tend to overlook the real person within, the great achievements he has chalked up, the hard times he has weathered to reach the top in his field. Let me be honest and admit – his good looks don’t rub me the wrong way. But I want to assure you the most beautiful part of my husband is NOT his outward appearance. His heart is actually the most beautiful part of him and that was what first endured him to me.”

“So, this would mean very few people would really get to understand President Yin since not every one is so lucky to have access to his heart?”

Shan Mei simply glanced down, smiled shyly and quietly admitted, “I’ve been blessed.”

By now the reporters were somewhat awed by Shan Mei’s revelations and continued with their questioning. “Last year Miss Zhen donated her cash winnings to the CTN/MBS Junior Game Club. What would you do with this year’s winnings?”

“I’ve plans to start a youth drama training class with the money. At this time, it is just a thought. Actual planning will have to wait until I’ve given birth to my baby.” On that note, Shan Mei made a point of clearing up the papers from the coffee table, signaling the end of the interview.

The 30 minutes were up. She invited the reporting team to CTN executive dining hall for afternoon tea. Just as they were having tea, who but the president of MBS happened to walk by. In fact it was an eagle-eyed photographer who spotted him, and called out to him.

Xiang Zhe was surprised to see them, and decided to sit down and join them for some refreshments. The waiter brought him his special coffee. They asked for a photograph and Xiang Zhe happily obliged, instantly moving up close to his wife. One reporter tried to see whether the Yins were holding hands under the table. Sure enough they were, and he smiled slyly to the others in his team.

After tea, Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei saw the reporting team out. At the front lobby, he thanked the reporters for their kind interest, but reminded them not to quote anything out of context, and to remember to send him a copy of the photograph they took of him and his wife! After that, taking his wife’s hand, he accompanied her back to her office!

The reporting team agreed the Yins made a lovely and friendly couple, especially that Zhen Shan Mei. No wonder she was a favourite with the sponsors. Those who were complaining on that night should look within themselves to see how they could improve their performance.

Sure enough, a few days later, an envelope containing the Yin’s photograph arrived at his office. Xiang Zhe kept looking at it from this angle, that angle, admitting they did look good together. He would surprise his wife. He was going to place this photo in their cabin.

The next day, Shan Mei’s and Mr. Sung’s interview appeared on the Entertainment page of the newspaper. Xiang Zhe was surprised yet pleased when he read through the article very carefully. “Did my words written so hastily on a card mean so much to her? Was that why that photo of me on her office table is ‘Xue Zhang’ to her? So she claims my heart is beautiful? How sweet!” He sat back, deeply relaxed in his executive chair, gently massaging his heart, letting the loving feelings expand and overflow in him, and then he smiled, a gentle smile that he could feel inside himself, and even that smile warmed him, made him realize how incredibly lucky he was and that smile of his was his acceptance of her, or what she meant to him and of what he knew he would always feel for her, his wife.

The Youth Drama training class was something his wife hadn’t mentioned to him. What was in her mind? He phoned her, inviting her for lunch. “If you don’t mind having lunch with a grouchy pregnant lady, I’d love to accept.”

“Very well. I’ll collect you in an hour’s time from your office.”

The President of MBS personally went down to the canteen, to order something appetising for a pregnant lady. As soon as Master Chef heard that, he knew exactly what to make for Miss Zhen. “Please deliver up to my office, when it’s ready.”

An hour later, when Xiang Zhe helped his wife into the car, she said he came just in time. She felt so queasy, she wanted to get out of the office for some fresh air. Before he closed the door, he gave his wife a peck on her forehead, asking her to sit tight. He drove off very slowly, to their cabin. He took out the food from the container that Master Chef had given him, got some drinks from the fridge and laid out the table in the yard. “The fresh air doing you good, darling?” She smiled at him, thanking him for his understanding.

Xiang Zhe showed her the photo the photographer had sent to him. Shan Mei smiled sweetly and acknowledged the photo turned out good. He went inside the cabin, and hung it up, standing back to admire it. Great!

“Now, tell me what’s this plan you have for the youth drama training class? If you need help in organising it, just let me know? Last time I spoke to Jae Hoon, he agreed to help you in whatever capacity you deem necessary.”

Shan Mei pinched her husband’s cheek playfully. “Husband, how come you always know what I want to do?”

Very mischievously he answered, “Because we’re telepathically connected!”

When Xiang Zhe’s birthday came around, he didn’t want to go anywhere except stay home with his beautiful, heavily pregnant wife. Master Chef packed for them a wonderful take-out dinner. Under candle light, with Shan Mei’s special flamenco cassette tape playing in the background, his darling wife by his side, another baby on the way, Xiang Zhe couldn’t ask for more.

Because Xiang Zhe didn’t want to leave Shan Mei alone in the house, Patrick was the one who collected Xiang Jie from Inchon airport when he arrived from London. As usual, BB was all excited and insisted on waiting by the door for his uncle to arrive. He had his little pillow with him. When Grandma Lee tried putting him to bed, he refused to go anywhere near his bedroom.

He didn’t want to be anywhere near his daddy and mummy too, afraid they would carry him off home to bed. Soon he recognised Patrick’s car horn blasting away as he drove into the driveway. When Xiang Jie rushed in through the door, he went straight for BB, kissing him and telling him how much Uncle had missed him.

BB told his uncle, “I want to sleep with you in your apartment tonight.”

Xiang Jie scooped him into his arms and carried him around, amid whispers and resounding laughter between Uncle and nephew.

The maid had prepared some dishes for supper. They all sat down to eat, and Xiang Jie was telling them some funny experiences at Cambridge. Vicky’s younger sister and gang had told him before he left for Seoul that they might fly out to Korea for a holiday. To discourage them, he had told them he had to go to Tokyo to work. “So Sister, please if Vicky asked, please let her know I will not be in Seoul. Those girls are trouble. They simply won’t accept the fact that I’m not interested in them.”

Little BB, sitting next to his uncle, nodded his small head echoing, “Yes, trouble.”

Uncle praised him and ruffled his hair. “BB is such a clever little boy.”

Sister reminded him it was not necessary for her to make up stories. “You are going to Tokyo, and you’ll be leaving first thing on Monday morning with Patrick and You Zhen. On legal issues, you’ve to take Patrick’s instructions; on creative matters, You Zhen will give the final okay, not the Japanese. Anything that you want to buy, Patrick will pay first. I’ll arrange for you to have your own credit card, after you graduate in the Summer.”

After they arrived in Tokyo, when Akiko Kobayashi saw Patrick Lee at CTN Tokyo office, she was utterly smitten. She wanted to be their guide during their time in Tokyo. She arranged her time with a colleague so she could have the next 3 days off, and when she saw You Zhen, she was practically drooling. She told Mr. Kawasaki she would be more than happy to chauffeur them around so he needn’t worry. Mr. Kawasaki aware of what she was up to, simply smiled.

Shooting of the TV commercial began on the second day after they arrived in Tokyo. The Japanese crew was impressed by You Zhen’s creative eye. Obviously he knew how to film Xiang Jie at his best. They agreed Shan Mei knew what she was doing. With You Zhen on the team, work finished way ahead of schedule, because he was so good with lighting and angles.

Mr. Masuda was honest too. As all terms and conditions were agreed upon prior to the visit, the contact film he gave to You Zhen after he selected 2 photos. He was to enlarge them, then send them to Shan Mei at CTN-KE. From You Zhen’s professional eye, they shot Xiang Jie at the right angles and with the correct lighting.

After that, it was shopping for Xiang Jie. Mr. Masuda took them to his young designer friend’s boutique. He gifted Xiang Jie with a range of casual wear. As presents, Xiang Jie bought boxes of chocolate and Japanese sweet cakes, especially the sweet chestnuts which Elder brother and Sister loved so much. For BB, he bought special tiny sponge cake rolls. He bought a baby layette set in white, plus several tie-over baby vests in the softest cotton for the soon-to-arrive baby. He paid for everything with a subsidiary card his dad had given him when he went to London to study.

Patrick was surprised and egged him, “Does Shan Mei know you have a subsidiary credit card?”

“You’re kidding? If she knows, she’ll most probably swipe this away. You know how she is – of the mind that young people should not have access to more money than necessary for spending. You make sure you don’t mention anything when we’re back in Seoul.”

At the airport when Akiko was seeing them off, she wanted to know when Patrick would be having his annual holiday; she wanted to visit him in Seoul. A blush appeared on Patrick’s face and he didn’t know what to say.

Xiang Jie chimed in and told Akiko, “For this year’s annual holiday, he will be going with his girl friend to America.”

“He has a girl friend?” asked Akiko bemused.

“Of course, his most favourite girl!”

Akiko kept quiet, while Xiang Jie and You Zhen laughed softly thinking of Auntie Lee. Meanwhile Mr. Kawasaki was discussing with Patrick some kind of arrangement he would like to make with Xiang Jie regarding future modeling assignments.

“Well, thank you Mr. Kawasaki for your kind interest, but I guess it’s best you discuss this issue with Shan Mei. I’ve no authority to agree to anything except the present assignment which we have just completed. Rest assured I’ll report favourably on your behalf to Shan Mei. Working with you and your team has been a joy these past 2 days.”

Chapter AW-57

This morning as Xiang Zhe was dressing for MBS anniversary day, he again asked his wife whether it was wise for her to attend the MBS Anniversary function. “I know it’s an important day, but to me you’re much more precious. You are already overdue by a week, and Dr. Kim has reminded me the baby could come any day.”

But he knew once his wife had decided on something, it was decided. She would be alone in the house anyway. He had told Zian Da a few days ago, to remember to order an ambulance on standby, just in case the baby decided to make an appearance on such an auspicious occasion. After saying this Xiang Zhe smiled secretly to himself. If the baby was truly Shan Mei’s baby in the real sense, there would certainly be surprises!

Although Shan Mei felt heavy with discomfort, she was a picture of poise and calm. Before they left the house, she asked her husband, “Xue Zhang, do you have my bag in the car?”

He answered her smoothly, “Darling, you don’t have to worry. I have everything ready and under control, even making sure your loving husband remains by your side.” She smiled at him gratefully, at his attempts to make her feel good.

The function progressed well. As usual, she was invited to present Wen Rong’s cheque to the University’s representative. Xiang Zhe accompanied his wife up to the front of the room to make the cheque presentation and cake-cutting ceremony. When they returned to their seats, on sitting down, Shan Mei whispered softly to her husband, “Darling, I think my water bag has just broken. Can you quietly help me downstairs?”

Xiang Zhe at once stood up and called out to Zian Da to ask the ambulance people to bring up a wheelchair immediately. When the people around their table were aware of what was happening, they tried to help. Xiang Zhe was like a man crazed. “Make room. No one must try to help carry my wife. If baby kicks, you may drop her. Everybody, just remain calm. We’ll wait for the wheelchair,” but he was the one pacing up and down, scratching his head, cold sweat breaking out on his face and hands, and he kept running his trembling hands over the front of his jacket, as if looking for something.

His wife, looking at him, smiled. “Husband, if you are looking for the list, it’s in the inside pocket of your jacket. But the list won’t be necessary now because we have the ambulance downstairs. If you are looking for your car keys, they are in your right-side trouser pocket.”

Xiang Zhe fumbled inside his right-side trouser pocket. When he felt a bunch of keys, he gave Shan Mei a sheepish grin. “Oh yes, they are here.” He took the car keys out of his pocket and handed them to Patrick, telling him to drive the car to the hospital and make sure Dr. Kim was expecting them. “I’ll go with the ambulance.”

Shan Mei called after Patrick, reminding him to take her overnight bag out of the car boot when he arrived at the hospital, much to the amusement of the guests present.

When a semblance of calm returned to the room, after Shan Mei had been wheeled out under the hovering presence of her husband, Zian Da asked the guests to continue with their meal. In jest, he commented, “The interruption, though a happy one, showed very clearly our President live in action. Now, we know who is actually the one in charge,” and everybody in the function room laughed at the joke, and continued happily with their meal, waiting for the good news!

Shan Mei had assured her husband the birth was usually easier the second time around, but from the wails coming from his wife, it didn’t seem like she was having an easy time. Dr. Kim had earlier led Xiang Zhe out of the labour room – he was causing more problems, than his wife, for the nurses on duty. “Xiang Zhe, just stay calm. The baby will be ready for delivery soon,” Dr. Kim had assured Xiang Zhe several times.

Soon, soon, soon, he kept repeating to himself but he had waited a long, long, long time outside the delivery room. What was going on? What were they doing to his wife? He wanted to see her, to make sure she was alright. She needed him to be there, didn’t Dr. Kim understand? But the good doctor had refused to re-admit him into the Delivery Room. Finally, he heard a baby cry. Was it their baby? Dr. Kim emerged from the room, his face beaming. He congratulated Xiang Zhe. Their baby boy was healthy and so handsome!

Soon, they wheeled Shan Mei out. Xiang Zhe held on to the sides of her birthing cot, wiping the perspiration off her face with his hankie and smoothing back her damp hair. When they were back in her room, he lifted her hands to his lips, kissing each of her fingers fervently, murmuring words of love and thanks. He let his lips linger, wanting to keep them there for a long time, then slide his mouth toward her warm palm, continuing slowly, slowly toward her slender wrist …..

Shan Mei looked around the suite, commenting it was very roomy for a hospital room. “Darling, I’ve asked for their biggest suite; I intend to spend the nights here with you.” He pointed to another bed they had parked discreetly along the wall in the farthest corner of the suite.

“Dearest husband, thank you for always being so solicitous towards me.”

“Darling, this is nothing because to me, you’re the most important person in the world.”

After a while, she asked him whether he had informed the seniors. He smiled at her sheepishly, and then fished out his mobile phone to make the necessary calls, one to his father, and the other to Pa.

Shortly after Xiang Zhe’s call, the whole family gang descended upon them, saying what a quick and smooth labour Shan Mei had.

“Quick?” Xiang Zhe quizzed. “It seemed like ages to me.” In fact it was only 2 hours.

Yin Snr, looking at the baby from outside the Baby viewing room, said the baby looked exactly like Xiang Zhe when he was born. Didn’t that sound familiar? Xiang Zhe grinned.

Later that evening, You Zhen and Minnie came to visit. They were beaming. Minnie adored the new baby. You Zhen proudly announced, “In another 2 weeks, Minnie will have reached her first trimester. Dr. Kim has advised us to wait till then to make any announcement, but seeing how happy both of you are, we cannot keep the happy news from you.”

Shan Mei asked whether they had told Pa and Ma.

“Not yet officially but Ma has suspected something. She has been making all sorts of nutritious food for Minnie, same as what she made for you during your first few months of pregnancy.”

Shan Mei hugged both of them within the circle of her arms, tears of happiness flowing down her cheeks. You Zhen went round to give Xiang Zhe a bear hug, thanking him profusely for his help in recommending Dr. Kim. No other words were necessary. They understood each other very well.

Shan Mei and Xiang Zhe had many visitors during the next few days.

Xiang Zhe told his Father, “Father, I want to name the baby Bao Rong, after Wen Rong, since he was born on MBS Founding Day anniversary. What do you think?” Yin Senior nodded away happily; he had been considering the same idea.

When Jae Hoon came to visit, Xiang Zhe gave him the thumbs up sign. “Minnie will reach her first trimester in 2 weeks’ time.” Shan Mei gave him a big hug and a big thank-you kiss.

“Now, will you accept that Russian tea set for being auntie to my son?”

Shan Mei looked shocked. “If I accept, you must never think like that ever again. The baby is You Zhen’s baby.” They made a pinky pledge.

===

One week after Shan Mei returned home from the hospital, Ma called her wanting to hold a small informal gathering at her place. “Shan Mei, we have something important to announce. Holding it at your place is best because it will be more convenient for you. I don’t think Xiang Zhe will appreciate us moving you around.”

That night in bed, Shan Mei couldn’t praise and thank her husband enough. She always knew his brain was made of something special.

Xiang Zhe was up in 7th Heaven earning such praises from his wife, but he had to confess it was Jae Hoon who suggested it and offered his services.

“Of course I am aware of that, but it was you who immediately thought of letting Brother Jae Hoon in on the secret.” True, mused Xiang Zhe.

On the night of the gathering, Ma and Pa were beaming from ear to ear. You Zhen and Minnie were finally going to be parents. Minnie was three months pregnant.

Yin Snr, on hearing the announcement, was very happy indeed. It had been a long time since their family became so busy with so many babies. The two grandfathers sat aside eating and drinking and congratulating each other. Ma made special efforts with her food. Xiang Zhe recognised many of the side dishes from Westin’s menu.

Xiang Zhe, Jae Hoon, You Zhen and Patrick sat in a corner drinking and talking of Xiang Jie’s trip to Tokyo last March. You Zhen was there with Xiang Jie, representing Shan Mei as Creative Controller. Apart from checking on the CTN Tokyo office, Patrick was there representing Shan Mei as legal adviser.

“The Japanese were surprised; -- Xiang Jie is only just starting out but he already has his own team of expert advisers. They kept saying Shan Mei is a true professional. They found working with her easy because everything was in black and white. Mr. Kawasaki told us the average Japanese is enamoured with the fantasy of Perfect Family. Mr. Kawasaki pestered Xiang Jie to get you and Shan Mei to appear together in a commercial with family-based theme. Such a product will sell like hot cakes in Japan. He wondered whether Mr. and Mrs. Yin would agree. Xiang Jie told them to save their time. His brother wouldn’t agree to anything unless his sister agreed. But for something like what Mr. Kawasaki had suggested, his sister would definitely not agree. When Mr. Kawasaki sent us to the airport he was still trying to convince Xiang Jie to talk to Shan Mei.”

Xiang Zhe was laughing. “Well, the only product Mr. Kawasaki shouldn’t get us to sell is condom. We are now at baby No. 2. If I have my way, Baby No 3 and 4 will soon follow.”

Circulating among the crowd, BB on seeing his mummy carrying another baby was not happy, especially when baby got so much attention. He stuck to his mummy all night, and refused to go with daddy even when daddy said he would take him for a drive. Shan Mei eventually handed baby to nanny. Then BB began to complain the baby had stolen his nanny too.

In spite of much cajoling from grandpa, grandma Lee and Patrick, this night he didn’t want to spend the night at Grandpa’s place. He wanted his own bed. When he went upstairs for bath, and found baby had taken over his nursery and he had been moved to another room, he went ballistic!

Mummy tried to explain, “Sweetheart, you’re a big boy now. You need a bigger bed and a bigger room.” He bawled away and nothing could appease him, until mummy carried him off to her bedroom, and gave him bath in her big, special bathtub. He then wanted to sleep in her bed.

Big Baby Daddy was not happy with the arrangement, and started throwing his own little tantrum. “Shan Mei, have a heart. I’m so used to cuddling up to you, if that brat sleeps between us, I’m afraid I may squash him some time during the night. And with BB in bed with us, how do you expect me to able to sleep soundly? Without you next to me how can I sleep? And if I don’t get my proper sleep, how am I going to handle my so important job at the station?”

“Okay, okay. I get your message loud and clear. How about this? BB to sleep with daddy in mummy’s bed, Mummy to sleep in BB’s room, which is closer to baby anyway and easier for nursing. All happy with the arrangement?”

Xiang Zhe bit at his lower lip and gave BB an accusing look. He turned to his wife and reminded her, “I thought the only baby allowed in your bed is me?”

“Xue Zhang!” she hissed, then stepped out of the room, fed-up with the two Yins – one a grown-up, the other a mere child – still glaring at one another across the bed.

Later that night, Xiang Zhe phoned Zian Da. “Hi, it’s me. Remember you once told me that there’s a playschool near my house? Can you let me have the details of this school? I want to see whether BB will like to attend, giving him more social activities with other children.”

Zian Da cautioned Xiang Zhe, “Hey give the little guy a break, he’s not yet 3.”

“Well, he’s almost 3. You don’t know the situation we’re now having at home. He’s becoming increasingly jealous of his baby brother, making it difficult for Shan Mei to nurse the baby. Even if we can keep him occupied for 2 –3 hours a day, it will be a relief for Shan Mei. You haven’t seen her of late. She really looks tired and exhausted and is beginning to act unreasonable.”

The next morning, Xiang Zhe took BB with him to visit the playschool. About 10 other children were there playing, engaged in many different kinds of activities. The teacher in charge explained the various playschool activities for young children. Daddy asked, “BB would you like to join the other children in playing?”

BB nodded his head and ran up to some of the children. Soon he was joining in the games and was happily playing away. Daddy took BB aside and told him, “Daddy is going to get Grandma Lee so she can join in the games with you because she likes playing too. You be good while I’m gone.”

Xiang Zhe then went off to collect Auntie Lee who was very pleased on hearing that BB was now at a playschool. Auntie Lee had some experience with playschools in America. When Auntie Lee arrived at the playschool with Xiang Zhe and on being introduced to the principal, she invited Auntie Lee to help out. The arrangement turned out perfect. Xiang Zhe heaved a sigh of great relief, and went home to report to his wife, “Darling, everything is now under control.”

Chapter AW-58

After a few nights at home, daddy said, within earshot of BB, to Shan Mei, “Darling, I’m worried our son will miss playschool one of these mornings if we can’t wake up in time in the morning to give him bath or get him his breakfast ready. As it is, Nanny is already having her hands full taking care of the new baby.”

BB immediately snuggled up to Xiang Zhe and asked, “Daddy, what about Grandma Lee doing all those things for me? She always gets ready breakkie for me?”

“Only if you’re staying with her, otherwise how can she bathe you or feed you? Lucky Grandpa, he’s now getting all the attention and ice cream from Grandma Lee.”

BB thought for a while, then said, “Daddy, after school today, I want to go to Grandpa’s place. Mummy is always sleeping in the morning. You’re lazy and always like staying late in bed, not like grandma Lee who wakes up very early in the morning. And the new baby is stupid, always sleeping, not knowing how to play like my friends at playschool. No fun at all at home.” Mummy and daddy looked at one another, both hiding secret smiles.

That evening when Xiang Zhe returned home from work, he went into the greenhouse to cut some roses and place them in their bedroom. When he went to the kitchen, he saw that their housekeeper had left their dinner on the table: soup, fish and several side dishes. He lighted some scented candles around the kitchen to give it a romantic air.

Shan Mei was in the nursery feeding the baby. He sat quietly beside her. Peace reigned once again. Earlier, he had been to his father’s place to make sure BB was okay after school. Xiang Zhe could feel he was undecided about staying at grandpa’s place. Xiang Zhe complained to Auntie Lee he was so tired he didn’t think he would be able to wake up early tomorrow morning. As soon as BB heard this, he went up to Grandma Lee, tugged at her skirt, whispering, “Daddy lazy boy,” then giggled and went off to watch TV. When Xiang Zhe was ready to leave, he went up to BB, and made a big show of wanting to carry him home.

“No, no,” squealed BB as he tried to shrug off his daddy’s hands. “I want to stay with Grandpa,” and he ran off to hide in grandpa’s lap. Yin Snr laughed and waved Xiang Zhe off.

During dinner, when Xiang Zhe told Shan Mei how they successfully tricked the little brat, she laughed and accused them of being mean. “How can you think up of such mischief against our son?”

But it was all for common good, her husband assured her. She wouldn’t be disturbed by him, and Father was only too happy to have him back. “Just as I was leaving, I noticed Auntie Lee taking out ice cream from the fridge, most probably to bribe the brat. Even Old Uncle Kang was happy that he was given the important task of picking up the brat and Auntie Lee from school.”

As Shan Mei entered their room, she could smell the beautiful roses. Xiang Zhe had run a warm bath, rose petals strewn atop the water. When they were in bed that night, her husband drew her gently into his arms, giving her a deep kiss, saying how good it was to have her back. She looked up at him lovingly, saying she had missed him too. Xiang Zhe took out a jewelry box from his side table, snapped it open, to reveal a beautiful diamond choker. He put it on his wife, and whispered tenderly into her ear, “happy birthday, my beautiful wife. Also happy anniversary and thank you all rolled into one.” Shan Mei looked surprised. She had forgotten about birthdays, whatever, being so busy with baby and office affairs and BB’s jealous tantrums. She cried into her husband’s chest. Xiang Zhe wiped away the tears with his thumbs, saying he gave her the present to show his love, not to make her cry. She nodded in understanding, yet more tears came. He pulled her back into his arms and embraced her tightly. They stayed that way a long time, then Xiang Zhe eased her down onto her pillow, soothing her to sleep, before she had to get up again for baby’s next feeding. He cuddled up to her and they soon fell asleep.

Playschool was so happy to have Auntie Lee helping them out. She brought with her many new creative ideas and innovative games for the children. And the children adored her. Every school day, the children brought little gifts for her.

BB noticed this. One evening when he saw his grandpa arriving home after work, he went up to him and complained, “Grandpa, I don’t have any gifts for grandma Lee at school. All the other children have little gifts for Grandma Lee, but my hands are empty.” He kept flicking his tiny hands about and nagging at his grandpa so much that Yin Senior finally suggested they go shopping. Grandpa didn’t realise shopping was so fun. They bought a lot of small packets, like special hair shampoo, hair condition, foam body bath, tester-sized bottles of eau de toilet, facial wet towels, etc. Grandpa kept these in his room. “BB, you’re to take one packet each morning before you go off to school, so you can present grandma Lee with your small gift.” Grandpa and grandson enjoyed playing their secret game.

Auntie Lee was touched, especially when she noticed the choice. She smiled secretly to herself. That senior was aware of what scents she liked.

Because of her new network of friends, Grandma Lee participated in many home gatherings. Sometimes she went to quilting class, painting class and baking class. BB enjoyed going with Grandma Lee to these afternoon socials, so he could play with his friends.

One afternoon, Xiang Zhe came home early and walked into a tea party. BB was the host, Mummy and Grandma Lee were his assistants. Baby was not invited. BB was so excited when he saw his daddy and immediately introduced him to all his friends. “Hey, little friends, this is my daddy. He is in charge of all the children’s programmes at the MBS TV. My daddy is a very important man.”

The children crowded around BB excitedly and one asked, “Hey BB, what’s your daddy’s name?”

“Xue Zhang!”

“Hello Uncle Xue Zhang,” the children chorused together. “Can you arrange some fun games and play with us?”

Xiang Zhe looked at the children and laughed, thinking to himself that he must have a word with his wife later – their son didn’t even know the name of his father!

Half an hour in the garden was enough for Xiang Zhe. He wished he had stayed back in his comfortable air-conditioned office instead of chasing a bunch of 8 kids in the afternoon sun around the garden. Shan Mei and Auntie Lee made a show of slowly preparing tea, otherwise they too would have to help with playing in the garden. By the time the children marched back into the house for refreshments, Xiang Zhe went straight upstairs and told his wife not to disturb him. He had had enough for the day. His wife smiled and waved after him.

Later, she took a glass of iced coffee and some light sandwiches up to him. Xiang Zhe had just showered and was stretched out on the bed, relaxing. He was grateful for the iced drink, and asked, “When is that tea party going to end? Those kids and the ruckus they were making have given me a headache!”

“It had just ended. All the kids had gone home; BB too has gone off with Auntie Lee for his bath.” On hearing that, he pulled his wife into his arms, asking for a kiss from her, for all his hard work in the garden that afternoon.

“You!” Xiang Zhe snorted a short laugh at his wife. “How do you teach our son? He doesn’t even know his father’s name?” he complained after recalling an earlier incident in the garden.

“Husband, have a heart! BB is just a baby. Why give him so much pressure remembering so many things? There are more than enough honorific names for people in our combined households to keep his little mind busy. Isn’t it enough that he knows you’re his daddy and I’m his mummy? Please be patient. When he begins school, I promise he will not only know your name but how to write it. Happy?”

He nodded and smiled in understanding.

While sipping his coffee, Xiang Zhe thought aloud, “Hmm, actually the tea party is not such a bad idea at all. I never had one when I was young. How about having one to celebrate our wedding anniversary? You know, a very simple tea party just for two?” When he noticed a hesitant expression on Shan Mei’s face, he continued sweetly, “I realise July is normally a killer month for us, but surely you can arrange to have the tea party before July? One thing though, please not in the afternoon! It’ll be too hot for the kind of games I have in mind. I think a Midnight tea party will be perfect.”

Shan Mei relaxed and promised to think about it. Xiang Zhe smiled to himself. Knowing his wife, when she promised she would think about something, it was as good as done.

Xiang Zhe was getting fed up. He now understood BB’s frustration when baby BR was getting all the attention. Since Xiang Jie’s return from London 2 nights ago, every thing was Xiang Jie, Xiang Jie, Xiang Jie. His wife’s agenda revolved around Xiang Jie. He realised it was barely 10 days before July 1st CTN-KE anniversary, and the first weekday for first episode of Private Eye, which she had very high hopes for and it was also the first CTN/MBS joint programme that she was going to produce. Tomorrow, MBS film crew would be at their house to film an interview Shan Mei was going to have with Xiang Jie as a promo trailer to launch Private Eye. Shan Mei had arranged for the crew to have an informal BBQ party after the filming, in their garden. It was good idea, because their BBQ grill was actually under utilised.

Meanwhile. several unofficial meetings had been going in the Yin’s family home. After Xiang Jie returned home, Yin Senior decided he would take over some of Xiang Zhe’s responsibilities while Xiang Zhe would take over some of Wen Rong’s Chairman’s duties.

If this arrangement worked out well, Wen Rong would officially announce to the shareholders Xiang Zhe’s role as President, relieving Yin Senior of some heavy duties. Shan Mei would take charge of CTN/MBS joint productions. MBS’ share of sponsorship money from the forthcoming one show with Xiang Jie as star would earn more than their current 5 or 6 local productions put together.

Many evenings, the Seniors, enjoying after-dinner drinks in Yin Senior’s private study, were very excited about the new production coming from Shan Mei and Xiang Jie. Uncle Jin and Uncle Liu were scratching their heads in amazement. The only words they had actually ever heard from Xiang Jie uttered during his growing up years were “Uncle Jin” and “Uncle Liu”. Having meals together at the same table, with them present, he would be too shy to even address his father directly.

This morning at MBS, there was absolute chaos at the cordoned-off area of the reserved car park space where Xiang Jie’s new American car was displayed. The area was out of bounds to unauthorised personnel. The media was invited to its official unveiling by Xiang Jie this morning. Xiang Zhe didn’t join in the fracas. The evening editions of newspapers carried the news and photos of the car with a great review write-up.

Seeing Shan Mei so busy, Xiang Zhe didn’t want to remind her about her promise to think about a tea party for him. She was running around trying to get everything in order for a show that was bringing in multi-million US dollars in sponsorship deals, and creating much frenzy in the newspapers every day for CTN, Shan Mei, Xiang Jie and MBS. Apart from this, she had her Two Sides To A Coin and her Musical Postcard.

One day after work, Xiang Zhe dropped Shan Mei at Madam Kim’s to collect the dress she was going to wear to the CTN-KE anniversary cocktail.

Shan Mei didn’t want to eat out when Xiang Zhe suggested dinner at Cream House. She was too tired, so they went straight home. Their housekeeper had prepared their dinner. After early dinner and warm shower, Shan Mei went to bed. Xiang Zhe became worried. Was she overworked? He checked on her, asking her whether she was alright.

“Xue Zhang, nothing is wrong. I’m just a little tired that’s all. How about keeping me company in bed? You know I can’t sleep without you.”

“But darling, it’s too early for me. It’s only 7.” Seeing Shan Mei’s disappointed look, he didn’t protest further and lay down on the bed beside her. Soon, both of them were asleep.

Twelve midnight. Xiang Zhe was roused from sleep by alarm set off by their bedside clock. What was the matter? Where was Shan Mei, though her side of the bed was still warm?

Just as he was easing himself off the bed to go look for his wife, in she walked into their bedroom with a tray, containing a plate of heart-shaped finger sandwiches, little tiny rolls of sushi, little cakes and chestnut sweets. She told him to go to the kitchen to get the other tray with Jae Hoon’s priceless tsarina’s tea set that she was too afraid to handle. Xiang Zhe immediately became fully awake. He kissed his wife and happily went off. He was getting his midnight tea party after all. While he was gone, Shan Mei took out the vase of roses she had kept hidden upstairs in her office. When Xiang Zhe came back with the tea, light romantic music was floating softly in the background. Shan Mei had lit up some scented candles and switched off the lights. Looking at the food, he laughed. He was actually feeling quite hungry.

Sitting on their love seat, cuddled up in each other’s arms, sipping tea and eating in the semi darkness seemed like they were carrying on some kind of clandestine affair. Xiang Zhe was caught up in the excitement, especially not knowing what filling each sandwich or sushi roll contained. Shan Mei didn’t know too. She told her husband the sandwiches were prepared by Auntie Lee, the sushi by Ma, and the rest was ordered by Madam Kim from the Japanese restaurant.

“That’s why we were at her place to collect my dress – using that as an excuse to pick up these.”

“You adorable sneak!” And he brushed his lips against hers.

It did not take them long to consume the food and drain off the tea. They talked and laughed over the meal, thoroughly enjoying the unorthodox time in which it was served. Xiang Zhe was thinking how blessed he really was. If Shan Mei did not appear in his life, he would be living, yet not really living in the sense and the way that Shan Mei was showing him.

“Your tea party has turned out very well, has it not?” Shan Mei asked.

“Very well,” he murmured, nuzzling her neck, deeply gratified.

After he graduated from Cambridge, he returned to Seoul and joined MBS. It was just work, work and meetings, meetings. When he did not meet up with Shan Mei after work, often he would secretly sit outside her house, or be at home, or at the bar to drink, then went home to sleep. His lifestyle was the same in London. Apart from class assignments, his companions were Peter Rabbit, whisky and cigarettes and sometimes the piano. The only times he had fun were with Shan Mei, punting on the River Cam, riding open top buses, enjoying music from street buskers, playing the piano for her at the university’s music conservatory, enjoying ice cream and sight seeing.

Shan Mei not only indulged him, she never refused him anything. As soon as he said he never had it when he was young, she would surely make it happened for him. He was not interested in what money could buy. He was starved for those things which money couldn’t buy. Shan Mei could give these to him in heaps. Everything they did together, she made it fun.

He couldn’t imagine his life without his beautiful Shan Mei.

Chapter AW-59

Li Qing Xi had been instructed to meet together with the heads of the various departments to advise them of the imminent changes in MBS management.

From 1st July Shan Mei would take over MBS production department, only where MBS/CTN joint projects were concerned. Xiang Zhe was to be president-elect of Wen Rong while still holding the post of president of MBS.

Last night was the first screening of Private Eye, shown simultaneously on CTN and MBS, 6 – 7 pm slot. The viewers who tuned in to CTN could have English translation. This morning, Zian Da immediately confirmed to Xiang Zhe the rating for % of viewers was a record all time high for Korean 6-7 time slot TV show. MBS was flooded via all communication channels with requests to repeat the shows. CTN viewers had no problem – all they had to do was switch on their CTN internet service for replays.

After hanging up the phone, Xiang Zhe turned to look at his wife indulgently. Who would have thought his wife could engineer the whole thing, not because she was specially educated in the ways of marketing, etc. The success came simply through her eyes. Always putting herself in the position of the viewer, she constantly asked herself what types of programmes would she like to see, how the shows could be better produced, and her belief in herself and in people. She had Private Eye planned and waiting for Xiang Jie for almost 2 years.

As Xiang Zhe walked up to his wife, it would appear viewers’ rating was the last thing on her mind. She was now looking down so lovingly at their newly born son as she nursed him. Xiang Zhe knelt down beside her, one hand gently stroking the baby, the other hand tenderly smoothing his wife’s hair from her forehead. His eyes captured the beautiful picture both mother and son made.

“This seems so incredible to me,” he said.

She glanced from the tiny bundle in her arms to her husband. “You mean the baby?”

“Everything! That you are here with me, that the station is enjoying such success with Xiang Jie’s show, that we have created two beautiful, perfect children, that I’m a father. Shan Mei, I don’t know it is possible for anyone to love so much, the way I love you.”

She reached out her hand to her husband, and Xiang Zhe clasped her fingers in his, then raised them to his lips. When he finished that, he began kissing her on her bare arms, her neck, her nape, her hair and nibbling at her ear.

And as Xiang Zhe had realised a long time ago, Shan Mei’s distractions would some how become her perfections! Take for example, at the special show to introduce Xiang Jie, filmed in the living room of their house, when Shan Mei was interviewing Xiang Jie, little BB who was watching from the side lines became impatient. In one unguarded moment, he ran up to his mother. The cameramen didn’t realise it wasn’t part of the script and continued filming. BB climbed up to his mummy’s armchair and gave her a hug. Mummy smiled at him and asked tenderly, “so you’re the little helper Xiang Jie is waiting for.” With an emphatic “yes” he nodded his little head and ran to where his uncle was. He climbed onto the armchair and sat down next to Xiang Jie. Shan Mei continued the interview by asking Xiang Jie whether his little helper could really help out. Big head and little head nodded at the same time.

Xiang Zhe who was standing nearby was laughing quietly at the scene before him. When he saw the camera still rolling, he too thought this was part of the script!

Xiang Jie smilingly said, “My helper is not only very obedient but also very clever and does exactly what he is supposed to do,” and he began to demonstrate. He looked at BB and pointed to his own cheek with his finger. BB gave his uncle a kiss on his cheek. Xiang Jie told BB to give the viewers some kisses. BB started blowing kisses to the viewers and laughing cheekily at the same time.

Xiang Jie then asked, “What about Daddy at the office?” BB folded his tiny arms across his chest, his face all serious with a tiny frown on his forehead. The entire crew burst out laughing. They were all thinking the same: “give him a little suit and a tie, comb his hair back and he would be a Mini-me version of their president.” Xiang Zhe rubbed the crease between his brows promising the little brat would get a smack on his bottom later.

Xiang Jie then continued mischievously, “What about daddy at home?” BB climbed down from his seat, ran to climb up to where his mummy was, grabbed her face between his chubby little hands and started planting kisses on her lips. Shan Mei was so taken aback, she was lost for words. At Xiang Jie’s bidding, BB ran back to where his uncle was. Sitting down, he looked up to his uncle, started giggling and clapping his small hands at his own cleverness. By now, Xiang Zhe was so embarrassed he had moved to hide somewhere near the camera.

Shan Mei wanted to end the interview before the cheeky brat would surprise them with more ‘don’t-know-what’ family secrets. Reminding the viewers to tune in on 1st Monday of July for the first show, Private Eye would run 5 evenings a week, Mondays through Fridays, and to email in any of their civic complaints to CTN or MBS so Private Eye could investigate. The cast waved the viewers goodbye. BB, in Xiang Jie’s arms, was doing the same. Looking directly at his daddy who was now standing next to the camera, he shouted to him ‘I love you’ in English and blew him several kisses.

It was clearly evident the brat had inherited his mother’s dazzling smile and charismatic screen persona.

Xiang Zhe was grinning broadly shaking his head in total surrender. That cheeky brat was so like his mother, always knew when to sweeten up things to avoid punishment. He didn’t realise the whole dialogue for the show was made off the cuff, until Shan Mei told him later. The little surprising ‘helper’ part was included at the end of every Private Eye episode and it just blew the viewers away.

By the end of the week, all the sponsors were extremely satisfied with the show. Shan Mei looked well satisfied, too. She didn’t let Michael down. The only pilot they showed to the sponsors was a video clip done by CTN-UK and CTN-KE after Xiang Jie had his image make-over in Japan. It showed Xiang Jie’s student life at Cambridge, his normal lifestyle at home in London and Seoul, and a short intro, in English, from him highlighting some of the issues he would touch on for the show with community service as the central theme. CTN’s objective was to sell Xiang Jie as the new Korean TV teenage idol. The American sponsors were captivated, not only by Xiang Jie’s looks, but by the producer of the show, Zhen Shan Mei, who already had a strong reputation for winner shows behind her. The only local sponsor she considered was Bansung, because Mr. Kawasaki had advised Mr. Sung to get involved – CTN-KE had a hot new product on their hands!

After the screening of the first episode, other sponsors called up wanting sponsorship involvement on the show. Xiang Jie was getting too much publicity. His life-size cut-outs were placed in all outlets of the big American fast food chain that was the anchor sponsor for this show. Bansung sponsored their special lap top which Xiang Jie took every where with him. He was also driven around investigating viewers’ complaints in the American sponsor’s car, wearing clothes from their big American sponsor of sportswear. Mr. Sung approached Shan Mei that apart from part-sponsorship of the program, Bansung wanted to sign up Xiang Jie as their Product Ambassador for their computers. The other sponsor of sportswear wanted the same deal. NSK Bank called Shan Mei and Xiang Zhe, wanting in on the show as well as signing up Xiang Jie as their Product Ambassador for the Korean youth market.

The Japanese advertising campaign, with Xiang Jie in it, was already launched in Japan and Xiang Jie, an unknown face, garnered rave reviews. In the contract signed with Mr. Kawasaki, if the ad, print or broadcasted, appeared in any country outside of Japan, Xiang Jie would get additional payment for talent fees. With this kind of deal, Xiang Jie could easily become a multi millionaire earning talent fees alone at the rate sponsors were lining up to sign him. Shan Mei had the advice of Michael on the going rate on the international market for such modeling assignments, before naming her price for Xiang Jie.

Everything was happening too fast for Father to understand. How could Shan Mei turn a shy boy who had been cloistered at home most of his life into some teenage idol? And that Michael did a great job too. Xiang Jie appeared so at ease before the camera it was hard to believe he never liked talking.

Xiang Zhe was thinking the same thing. All he remembered of his younger brother was his timidity behind his mother’s back. Shaking his head and smiling warily to himself, he told himself he had better watch it too other wise his wife would put him in front of the camera once they ran out of talents at home. Wasn’t his wife keen to get him behind the mike for dubbing work? Always telling him his voice was perfect. ‘Perfect for what?’ he had often wondered. Maybe perfect for whispering sweet nothings into her ears? If this was the case he’d better whisper more.

The Private Eye Show, in fact, was providing the Municipal Department much assistance. Whenever Private Eye advised he had received complaints from viewers regarding clogged drainage, or uncleared rubbish, street lighting not working, the Municipal department immediately sent their men or the proper departments to take care of the problems. Xiang Jie would drive around to see if the problem was addressed to within 3 days. It became known as a show that provided effective community service.

Xiang Jie one time laughed. “I thought I lived in a beautiful city, until I received so many notices of complaints. I never realised the city of Seoul was beset by so many problems. I hope, with the viewers’ help, I’ll be able to bring awareness to the various city departments, to correct the situations as quickly as possible, to make Seoul City one of the most livable cities in the world.”

Private Eye already in its 3rd week was still the hottest topic in the media. On CTN-KE’s anniversary on 1st July, to mark their cooperation with MBS, they invited the media to an Up Close & Personal session with Xiang Jie. Since then, the media had been hounding him. He was a favourite with their younger readers, and it seemed everyone in Seoul wanted to know everything about him and his little helper.

Mr. Sung, who was at this year’s CTN anniversary cocktail, was laughing to himself with great satisfaction. Luckily he had insisted to Shan Mei Bansung wanted to part-sponsor this show, otherwise they would have missed out on a good thing. Bansung’s super new lightweight laptop was placed on the table in front of Xiang Jie when he had the interview with the press. After that, wherever he went, the lap top was slung over his shoulders. Seeing the gorgeous fellow walking around the room, S. D. Sung decided Bansung should sign him on as their Product Ambassador.

Sung was always afraid to negotiate with Shan Mei. She had the best brains behind her to give her the best advice. And whenever she named any price, he could never refuse her. He wondered what figure Shan Mei would name for her protégé? It wouldn’t be cheap, seeing the attention Xiang Jie was drawing. He shook his head. Xiang Jie wouldn’t be the end of the story for Shan Mei. There was her son. Mr. Sung’s mother Madam Sung couldn’t get enough of the little boy who really had the most beguiling smile and eyes whenever she saw him on television!

At the cocktail reception, Shan Mei was working her way round the room, coming soon to Mr. Sung. She congratulated him on making such a wise decision, with Private Eye. Mr. Sung smiled, then asked her for a favour that she must not refuse him. “This evening I come with a very serious mission. My mother wants to invite your family to afternoon tea the coming Sunday at our place. She’s a great fan of Private Eye’s little helper after catching him in your promo interview. Please bring the new baby along too.”

Shan Mei readily agreed. It would be nice for Madam Sung to see the little grandson she insisted was stolen from her.

Sunday arrived. Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei had been looking forward to the visit. It would be nice to see Madam Sung drooling over their babies. The inside of the Sungs’ palatial residence was like a grand museum. Antiques were displayed everywhere. Shan Mei was afraid BB would break something, and kept asking him to be careful. BB looked at his mother with puzzled and innocent eyes and asked, “Careful of what, mummy?”

Madam Sung wanted BB to address her as Grandma Sung. BB had her running round the room in circles. When their maid brought out tea and cakes, and ice cream for BB, the little traitor went up to give Madam Sung a kiss on the cheek when he saw the bowl of delicious ice cream in her hands. Mr. Sung was just as enchanted with the boy. At one time, Sung’s mother suggested to son that he should adopt BB as his godson. Shan Mei and Xiang Zhe pretended they didn’t get her meaning and didn’t encourage further talk on the subject.

When BB was having ice cream, Madam Sung asked to be allowed to carry the new baby. She oohed and aahed away. The baby was indeed going to be a very handsome boy and so well behaved. She wanted them to stay for dinner. Sung Snr would be home from golf later in the evening. The Yins desisted and when they were preparing to leave, Madam Sung brought out 2 presents for the boys. Two beautiful priceless jadeite medallions from part of their family heirloom, when worn on the boys, would protect the children from harm.

Shan Mei at once refused. “Madam Sung, thank you very much but we just cannot accept something so valuable.”

Mr. Sung came forward saying, “Shan Mei, please accept. It would make my mother happy.”

Shan Mei looked at her husband, flustered. Xiang Zhe gave a subtle nod of his head. He then thanked Madam Sung for the valuable gifts.

Grandma Sung insisted on carrying BB to their car. When she asked whether he would come and visit her again, he answered with his “Yes” then gave her a kiss. She was completely captivated. Once in the car, Shan Mei told her husband, “Our son is an expert at stealing hearts, just like his father.”

‘Hey, I’m not like my son at all. I don’t go around kissing just about every female in sight. I’ve only ever kissed one female and she is my wife.”

One evening, after meeting with Jae Hoon regarding the formation of the youth drama training school, and they were sitting down for cocktail coolers, Shan Mei brought out the 2 medallions Madam Sung had gifted the boys a few Sundays back. With Jae Hoon’s expertise in antiques, she wanted him to help them select the right kind of frames to bring out the beauty of the medallions. She wanted to hang them up in the boys’ rooms. One look at them, his expert eyes could tell these were no ordinary jadeite medallions.

“Shan Mei, these were made from the highest grade of jadeite and were considered priceless. Only royal family members could own something like these. I’m talking of old Korean before it was separated into North and South. These would come from the northern part of Chosun. If these came from Madam Sung’s hands, these could be treasures associated with the Imperial Court of China. In one of my history texts, it was mentioned briefly in a reference that the Sungs came from royal lineage which in turn was closely related to China’s imperial court. In fact, I’m sure I’ve seen in a reference book a medallion of the same design framed. I’ll try to trace it and have the same design frame duplicated for you. You should hold on to the medallions until I have the frames made up.”

Shan Mei looked at her husband. She was distraught. “Xue Zhang, we couldn’t accept something so valuable. Tomorrow, I’ll return these to Mr. Sung.”

Jae Hoon laughed and told her not to worry. “These medallions have long gone out of circulation, that’s why they are considered priceless to collectors. I’m sure Madam Sung has a chestful of these. To her, these would merely be trinkets to give away to very special people. If not these, they’ll have others, everything just as priceless. Mr. Sung’s family can be traced back at least 20 generations, on both his father’s and mother’s sides. Otherwise, how can Madam Sung consider herself above everyone else? It’s a known fact, Sung Snr always indulges his wife hopelessly, otherwise there’ll be no end to any argument when she drags out generation after generation of history!”

That night in bed Shan Mei asked her husband, “Why do you dote on me so much when I don’t even have one generation of history to drag out and throw in your face?”

He tweaked her nose, saying. “The problem is, my dearest wife, you have history of other kinds to drag out.”

“Where got?” Shan Mei asked, befuddled.

Xiang Zhe then started counting off on his fingers in a teasing way. “I was supposed to be interested in such and such a girl. I was supposed to be doing something with such and such a girl. Why didn’t I choose such and such a girl for my wife? Why can’t I forgive my father? Why did I have to waste money hiring an expensive broadcaster? Why…..?”

Shan Mei interrupted him at that point and took hold of his fingers with hers. “Why don’t you stop counting and start kissing your wife.” He laughed, his eyes sparkling with great mischief, then very happily and eagerly obliged.

Chapter AW-60

Although Bansung was one of the biggest sponsors of CTN-KE programmes, Mr. Sung had never actually visited their offices, except that time when he went with Mr. Kawasaki to visit MBS dubbing department.

Today, Shan Mei had invited him to her office. He had wanted to visit her many times and was just waiting to be invited. He was very happy with the viewers’ response to Private Eye, and he kept reminding Shan Mei that she must let him know every time she was planning a new show. They were prepared to pay same sponsorship rates as CTN’s international sponsors.

A short while after Mr. Sung arrived at CTN’s office and was sitting down with Shan Mei in the Visitors’ Lounge, Xiang Jie appeared. Formal introductions were made. Mr. Sung and Xiang Jie discussed about Bansung’s super lap top that Xiang Jie was using for the show. “Tell you what, young man. Whenever you can spare a morning or an afternoon, I’d like you to visit me at Bansung offices so I can introduce you to our other top of the range models. And, Bansung is interested in signing you on as our Product Ambassador.”

Xiang Jie looked toward his sister, then back to Mr. Sung saying Miss Zhen would have the final say in all his commercial signings.

Sitting across him and actually carrying on a conversation with Xiang Jie without all those crazy girls hovering around, Mr. Sung really felt Shan Mei had a gem on her hands. The Yin family was really lucky having such good genes. In fact, that Sunday when Shan Mei was visiting his mother, he felt really envious of Yin Xiang Zhe for having such a wonderful wife and two gorgeous sons. That night at dinner after the Yins had left, his mother couldn’t stop talking about the children, especially BB, to his father, so much so that Sung Snr asked her to invite them again. This time he would make sure he stayed home. That night after dinner, Sung remained in his room sulking and thinking, “What’s the point of having ‘top pedigree’ if one half of his big bed remains cold and empty at night?” He could have affairs, but he wasn’t interested.

After some major points were settled, Shan Mei invited Mr. Sung to stay for lunch. As they made their way to CTN executive dining room, Shan Mei again thanked Mr. Sung for the jadeite medallions. “Mr. Sung, if we had known they were so valuable, we wouldn’t have accepted them. We asked an expert to recommend a suitable design for a frame, when we were told these medallions were priceless.”

“Shan Mei, forget the medallions. My mother has a stash of them. Anyway, after your visit on Sunday, she couldn’t stop talking about the boys. Now, my father’s interest is piqued.”

Master Chef outdid his skills for Zhen Shan Mei’s VIP guest. Shan Mei, on receiving a call from her husband letting her know he was through with a long meeting, asked him whether he was free to join them for lunch. She was having lunch with Mr. Sung and Xiang Jie.

“Of course I am.” In less than 10 minutes Xiang Zhe joined them at the dining room.

While enjoying coffee after a great meal, Mr. Sung asked Xiang Zhe. “Would Wen Rong be bidding for some projects in China? I understand Wen Rong will be joining a government delegation going to Shanghai in October. Bansung currently has several projects going on in different areas of China, and I hope there’ll be opportunities to cooperate in the future.”

Xiang Zhe nodded politely and answered with a sincere tone, “I’m sure there’ll be opportunities.”

After a pause, Mr. Sung asked, “My mother wants to know when you’ll be bringing BB to visit her again.”

“As soon as we can spare the time. Shan Mei presently has too many things going on in her agenda.”

After lunch, Xiang Jie took Mr. Sung to look over his American car fitted with lots of gadgets. The lemon green colour of the car was so recognisable in and around Seoul, everywhere he went, he got a hoot of salute from other cars, especially from taxi drivers. Mr. Sung discovered that the more he talked with Xiang Jie, the more he was captivated with Xiang Jie’s soft cultured voice, and when he made comments in English, he spoke just like Shan Mei. In fact, he thought Xiang Jie and Shan Mei could easily pass off as blood siblings rather than he with Xiang Zhe. Xiang Jie was not at all like the youngsters one normally saw around the city; he was well mannered and exactly like when he was on screen – polite, and friendly and so natural. Although Xiang Jie had a nice smile, it was not quite as dazzling as Shan Mei’s, but enough to kill off competition.

After Mr. Sung returned to his office, he immediately phoned Shan Mei. He wanted Xiang Jie, at any price!

On the evening Bansung had a cocktail party and press conference to launch Xiang Jie as its official Product Ambassador to plug their laptops, the media was out in force. Mr. Sung was grinning broadly – seeing two of the hottest faces in town, Shan Mei and her protégé, answering the press in Korean and easily changing into English whenever necessary, made him realise the kind of coverage his products would be getting. The boy didn't come cheap, but the ZSM/YXJ combo was worth every cent.

Xiang Zhe was not interested in the cocktails. He waited until it was about time for the press conference to begin, before he showed up at the function. This was the first real press conference for Shan Mei and Xiang Jie as a team. Shan Mei was truly a natural. For most of the questions she didn’t want to answer, she simply gave her dazzling smile. The reporters were willing to let their questions go. After the main questioning was over, he didn’t want to stay. He emerged from the Bansung press conference and sat by himself in the hotel lobby, nursing a drink.

He was silently angry with that Sung guy, as if the function was purposely organised on that specific day to spoil things for him. That morning, his wife had given him a Reunion ‘treat’ knowing this evening she would be busy with Xiang Jie’s meeting with the press. Even the luncheon they shared wasn’t good enough to sweeten him up. Instead of spending half a day with Shan Mei at their cabin like he had planned, he would have to wait to see whether she would be too tired to hang out in their retreat.

The press conference was highly successful, seeing how deftly his wife had evaded questions she didn’t want to answer about Xiang Jie’s private life. Soon Bansung’s P.R. department said the session with Xiang Jie was over but they’d continue with press interview regarding information on Bansung products.

Shan Mei and Xiang Jie soon left. Shan Mei saw her husband at the hotel lobby and pretended she didn’t see him stubbing out his cigarette when he noticed them approaching. Outside, it was raining heavily. Xiang Jie didn’t want to go anywhere. He wanted to go home, he was tired.

Xiang Zhe was miserable. He had waited for an opportunity to spend some quiet romantic time with his wife – this Sung guy and the weather were out to spoil it for him. After dropping Xiang Jie off home, he was about to turn into the drive way of their house, when his wife asked him to go to the cabin. He lifted up a brow at his wife to ask, ‘In this rain?’ Luckily he had the car park and walkway to the cabin covered, so they could keep dry during rainy weather. As soon as they entered the cabin, Shan Mei took a cassette tape from her handbag and slipped it into the player. It was a tape of the most romantic tunes from the flamenco and Spanish guitars, giving a dreamy feel to the rainy weather.

Shan Mei knew her husband was sulking. She tried to lighten the mood and suggested, “Xue Zhang, since it’s our special reunion celebration, maybe you can help me undress and choose what I can change into from the closet of old clothes.”

Xiang Zhe was happy with that. He had all her clothes spread out on the floor, and began to contemplate seriously his selection. He called out to Shan Mei asking, “Shan Mei, where’s that sexy blue chiffon nightgown? I can’t find it.”

Shan Mei called back an answer to him from the kitchen. “If it isn’t there, it must be still lying around somewhere at home. I know I haven’t thrown it away.”

He made a mental note to remind her to bring some of her old fancy nightgowns over the next time they come. The way he was concentrating, you’d think he was going through some fancy designer range. Meanwhile, Shan Mei went to the freezer to take out the few slices of sirloin steak they had left and kimchi, a bottle of champagne and some peach juice from the fridge. Some beans and parsley she plucked from their vegetable patch.

Xiang Zhe was having great fun mixing and matching the clothes. When Shan Mei peeped in, he was now busy selecting his own clothes.

When dinner was prepared waiting to be served, Shan Mei wanted shower. Running back to the cabin wrapped in big towel, Shan Mei was excited to see what her husband had chosen. He had on his old pajama shorts. His kimono style short jacket he gave to Shan Mei to wear over the blue bikini top she wore 2 years ago. He gave her another of his pajama shorts to wear. It was so big and loose it kept slipping past her waist. Xiang Zhe thought her to be a picture of hilarity and couldn’t help laughing. She took a belt she had on earlier with her suit and strapped it around the shorts. Then she paraded around the room a few times catwalk style, ended up facing him, giving him a pout.

Her husband pulled her down to him, cradling her in his arms, tweaking her nose, laughingly saying she was just as bad as their little son and began kissing her all over. She was too adorable. All his earlier anger, frustration and misery washed away by the rain.

Shan Mei wondered aloud, “Xue Zhang, won’t it be too chilly for you without your top, with this rainy weather?”

With eyes glinting hungrily, he assured her, “Looking at you is already making me hot all over!”

After clearing and washing up their dinner things, they enjoyed their champagne cocktail sitting on the steps of the cabin. Shan Mei leaned against her husband, his arms warm around her – they were blissfully enjoying the rhythm of the falling rain. Xiang Zhe looked down at Shan Mei. Her eyes were closed, mesmerized by the rain.

He closed his eyes too, focusing on the rain to capture its magic. Soon his heart was very quiet, and he felt as if he was carrying a silent dialogue with Shan Mei. He could hear her telling him she loved him, the more still he kept, the louder he heard her. He was trying to send a similar message to her. Was she receiving it? Soon, she slid one arm up behind her and curled it round his neck, her fingers playing with the loose hair on his nape. He was highly aroused. He slipped his hand inside her bikini top to cup a breast, his chin resting on her hair. The fragrance of her hair mixed with the fresh earthy scent of the rain was too much for him to bear, yet he dared not move, not wanting to disturb the magic of the moment.

“Xue Zhang,” he heard her soft murmur.

He bent his head down to look into her eyes and asked gently, “Hmm?”

“Are you tired?”

“What about you?”

“I’m afraid it may be getting chilly for you. Let’s go back inside to our heated floor.”

Xiang Zhe didn’t realize the evening had gone so chilly, until they went inside the cabin and found the heated mat so comfortable when sitting down preparing for bed.

She saw the sheen of raindrops on his thick hair. His eyes, dark and rich as the colour of the coffee he usually favored, were filled with anticipation and that odd gleam of tenderness that he seemed to reserve only for her. She gulped and softly bade him a “Hello?” as she looked intensely into his eyes.

“Come here,” was all he managed to utter, his voice all husky and low.

She went to him and nestled her cheeks against his shoulders. His arms went about her, squeezing her tightly.

“I’ve missed you all day,” he whispered as his fingers lightly covered her jaw, and then cupped her chin, raising her head for a deep kiss. He could feel her tiredness.

After he eased them down on the heated mat, with Shan Mei snuggled in his arms, he pulled the quilt over them and said to her, “Darling, today has been a long day for you. Let’s go to sleep.”

For 5 minutes.

Shan Mei gave a start of surprise when Xiang Zhe rose and propped himself up on one arm to turn her on her back and began kissing her with a scorching passion that took her breath away.

“Darling ….., I’m sorry. I simply can’t settle down to sleep. I miss you.”

He continued to kiss her, teasing her with his tongue, nipping at her lower lip, stroking her as he gave himself over to her.

Chapter AW-61

It was October and autumn was here. The day was bright and crisp. When Xiang Zhe emerged from the arrival hall at Inchon, his assistant was waiting for him at the entrance. He got into the car and called Zian Da, “Hi, it’s me. Did you manage to get hold of Shan Mei?”

Zian Da informed him since this morning he had been getting no response from her mobile or their house phone. Xiang Zhe sounded very tired as he advised him he was on his way home, and wished him a good weekend.

At home his assistant offloaded his luggage. Xiang Zhe shot up to their bedroom but Shan Mei was not there. As he came down the stairs, the assistant was just about to leave. Xiang Zhe absent-mindedly waved him off. He dialed Shan Mei’s mobile phone again – a ringing tone came from her office. He walked briskly to her table, and saw her mobile phone. “Where did she go in such a hurry she even forgot her mobile phone?” Xiang Zhe asked himself as he scratched the usual spot on his head, out of habit.

He called Patrick and asked, “Patrick, it’s me. Have you seen Shan Mei?”

“Oh! She came over this morning leaving BR (Bao Rong) and nanny with us, then she asked me to drop her off in city central. She wanted to do some shopping. When I insisted on waiting for her, she told me she would get a taxi home since she didn’t know what time she was going to finish. She’s not home yet?” Patrick sounded worried.

“Erh….. she didn’t expect me home today. She must be out at some beauty salon making herself pretty for me.” Xiang Zhe gave a soft laugh before hanging up the phone – in truth he was frantic and his stomach was churning around in knots.

Where was she? He had been in Shanghai since Monday, with a Government delegation that went to look over some villages around Shanghai that the Korean Government had promised aid to. Uncle Jin and he were invited along. Wen Rong was supposed to submit bid for one part of the projects. The delegation was scheduled to leave Shanghai on Sunday evening to return to Seoul. Xiang Zhe was missing Shan Mei so much, he didn’t want to stay on an extra day. He went to Shanghai airport very early this morning to see whether he could get a seat on stand by. As soon as he had a seat confirmed on the first available flight, he called Zian Da asking him to send company car to airport to meet him, and to let Shan Mei know he was arriving home one day earlier than planned, as he was unable to get an answer from her mobile, or the house phone.

After Patrick, Xiang Zhe called Pa.

“Xiang Zhe?” Pa answered. “No, we haven’t seen Shan Mei today. She did mention to us that you were coming home tomorrow evening. We are now at You Zhen’s place trying to plan for the nursery. Did Shan Mei leave a note that she was going to visit with us?”

“Erh…, no…. According to Patrick, she went shopping and I thought she might have decided to drop by the noodle shop. Never mind, I’ll just go to rest a while. She should be home soon because she didn’t take the baby and nanny with her. And, Pa, once you have decided for the nursery, just let Shan Mei have the details. She did mention to me that she would like to gift You Zhen and Minnie with a complete set of nursery furniture.”

After a few more words with Pa, Xiang Zhe hung up the phone and went into the kitchen, wanting to make himself a cup of hot coffee. Maybe he would be able to think better then. He sat down by the table, cradled his head between his hands and closed his eyes in despair. “Shan Mei, where are you? Please don’t frighten me? Are you getting my telepathy? Please, please, talk to me!” He was crying out to the silence surrounding him. He became very quiet, closed his eyes tighter, and concentrated 100%.

Suddenly, he got up and darted out of the house to the garage. He got out his car, and sped to their cabin. All was quiet. The door leading to the out-building was opened. Shan Mei was lying on the floor of their cabin, with all their pillows strewn around her. He felt fear ripping through his entire body at the sight of her motionless body on the mat. He felt her pulse. Its beating was thready. He lightly slapped her cheeks and quickly bent down to her still body and started calling, “Shan Mei, Shan Mei,” each call becoming more distressed than the previous. “It’s me. Wake up,” and he shook her gently. He looked around the room. He saw a packet of pills and a glass of plain water on the small corner table they had recently installed, to display their family photos.

He immediately phoned Dr. Kim, asking about the pills prescribed by him this morning to Shan Mei.

“Xiang Zhe?” Dr. Kim answered. “Calm down. Shan Mei was in my clinic this morning, complaining she had been unable to sleep for the past few nights and wanted something to help her sleep. Although the tablets I’ve prescribed are very mild, I’ve told her not to take more than half a tablet each day. She was given 4.”

Xiang Zhe immediately checked the little plastic packet and saw only 2 tablets remaining.

Dr. Kim then immediately assured him, “There is no real danger of overdosing, but I’ll drop by your house in an hour’s time, just to check on Shan Mei. If she has taken two, I suggest you try to wake her up as best as you can and get as much liquid into her system as possible. We’ll try to flush out as much as we can. She is sleeping soundly, I suppose.” After the call, Xiang Zhe carried his wife to the car, then locked up the cabin and sped home.

He sat by her side and kept looking at her, now lying so still on the sofa in the TV room. What made her take two tablets when the doctor had told her not to take more than half a tablet? And why was she taking such tablets? Didn’t she understand these things could be dangerous? He kept wiping his face with his hands, at times, raking his fingers through his hair. Slowly his distress turned to anger. Luckily he returned today. If not, what would have happened? Did she want to die on him? How could she be so irresponsible? Didn’t she promise to be by his side forever? What about their babies? Did she want to leave them without a mother, and a father who would pine away for the rest of his life without his wife? Once this thought came into his mind, he thought of his own growing up years without a father, and a mother pining away. Tears welled up in his eyes. How could Shan Mei do this to them? He wanted to throttle her.

“Shan Mei, Shan Mei,” Xiang Zhe cried within himself. “Come back to me; please don’t go away from me, my beloved.” And as he stared down at his wife his heart contracted, his whole soul was filled with the most excruciating agony of desire to see her open her eyes – to hear her speak to him. He loved her; he loved her far more than he had ever loved her in the beginning of their courtship.

Dr. Kim arrived, and began to check at Shan Mei’s pulse, her heart, her breathing and her eyes. After the examination, he relaxed somewhat and assured Xiang Zhe, “Nothing serious. She is deep in slumber. Because this is the first time she has taken this kind of pills, she reacted strongly to it. Although these are light weight pills, this type of medication can induce deep sleep, depending on each patient’s reaction. I’ll make a note of this in her medical record. Xiang Zhe, just continue to give her cold face towel wipes. She should come around soon, but will remain drowsy, until the effect wears off totally.”

After Dr. Kim left, Xiang Zhe carried his wife back to their bedroom, and kept wiping her face with ice cold towels. He promised himself after she woke up he was going to give her bottom several hard smacks for putting him through such agony.

By evening, she finally stirred. She felt drowsy and when she vaguely made out Xue Zhang next to her, she closed her eyes again, thinking it was all a dream.

“Darling, wake up, it’s me.” Xiang Zhe called desperately to her and caught her lips in a bruising kiss. He wouldn’t let up until he saw her eyelashes flicker.

Shan Mei’s eyes fluttered open and she stared blankly through heavy-lidded eyes up at her husband. “Xue Zhang,” she finally called to him weakly, and tried to sit up. He drew her into his arms, his face rubbing against hers. He was sobbing and asking, “Why? Why? Don’t scare me like this ever again.”

She didn’t answer. She moaned, raising her hand to her temple, and fell back. She felt a well of blackness drawing her down. She moistened her tongue, but could manage no more words.

He kept applying ice cold towel to her face, her neck and her back. In between, he kept kissing her lightly on her forehead while his fingers sifted through her hair, easing out the tangles. After quite a while he eased down beside her and took her limp hand in his. A lady’s hand, he thought inconsequentially, studying the long, slender fingers with their immaculate buffed nails. He lifted each of her fingers to his lips and lingered on them. It was almost midnight when she opened her eyes, and on seeing Xue Zhang, she hugged on tight to him. By that time, Xiang Zhe was so tired himself, he had almost fallen asleep on her. His eyes were all red and sad and looking at her, he simply asked, “Why? What’s going on?”

She looked puzzled, and drowsily asked, “Why what?”

“Why did you take those sleeping pills?”

She didn’t answer but turned away from him.

He caught her chin between his hands and turned her back to face him. He looked intensely at her, waiting for an answer.

She sobbed into his chest saying, “Xue Zhang, I’m so sorry. I couldn’t sleep without you since Monday night, and by last night I was so tired, I didn’t think I could keep awake. Knowing you would be coming home on Sunday, I didn’t want you to worry. I thought if I slept throughout Saturday, I’d be okay on Sunday when you returned. I was afraid if you knew I couldn’t sleep, you wouldn’t want to go away on business trips again. I don’t want to be a burden to you in this way.”

Hugging her to him, wiping her tears away with the pads of his thumbs, he looked at her and softly chided, “Hey, cry baby, why should you apologise for missing your husband? It’s understandable. I should be so happy my wife misses me so much she can’t sleep whenever I’m away. How come you never ever mentioned to me you missed me in this way.” He sat her more comfortably up against the headboard. After a slight pause, he asked, “When?”

Shan Mei kept her eyes down, not wanting her husband to see her guilt as she recounted, “I started missing you about a year after we married. I didn’t want to worry you. This time, with Private Eye production, with baby, I became so easily tired I was afraid I might fall asleep and drop baby while nursing him that I sought help from Dr. Kim. Otherwise I would have remained quiet.”

“Darling, do you think I can sleep too while I’m away? Right now, I’m so tired, all I want to do is sleep.”

“Husband, do you want one of Dr. Kim’s tablets too?”

He gave her a hard stare saying, “I’ve thrown that stuff away, and I don’t want you to ever take any of that kind of medication again. Understand? And why did you take 2 tablets when you were told to take only ½ each day?”

“I didn’t. One fell away, and in my tired, blurry state, I thought it was one tablet I was supposed to take.’ She looked so guilty, Xiang Zhe didn’t have the heart to act and remain angry anymore.

“Tell you what, if you can’t sleep the next time I’m away, you are to call me – no matter where I may be or what I may be doing. I want to know. Better still, I want you to accompany me on my trips if I ever have to go away on business. Understand?”

Shan Mei looked down on the bed covers and kept quiet.

“Tell me you understand!” His fingers then caught hold of her chin and lifted her face to him.

“I understand.”

The caressing stroke of his hand on her hair lightly pressed her head to his shoulder. He said nothing further and just held her more closely to him. After a while, he eased them both back on to the bed. He cuddled up to her, and he fell asleep almost instantly.

When Xiang Zhe awoke the next morning, his wife was already up. He rolled to her side of the bed and slept on her pillow. It was so good to be back in familiar surroundings, breathing in familiar scents. He couldn’t be angry with his wife. It wasn’t her fault she couldn’t sleep without him around. He smiled secretly to himself, basking in the newly-discovered knowledge that he had her tied good and safe around him – she wouldn’t be able to run far. He had missed her so much. He got up from bed and went in search of her. She was in the kitchen.

As soon as she saw him walking in, she ran up to him, encircled her arms around him and placed her face against his chest telling him how good it was to have him back, and began planting feathery kisses all over his chest. He laughed delightfully, tilted her face up to him and kissed her with all the tenderness and passion he felt for her. Shan Mei told him she was making special breakfast for him. But first, he had to deliver 2 bottles of her milk to his father’s place. Even though he laughed and gladly did as he was told, he grudgingly complained, “The baby is already 5 months, why does he still need mother’s milk? It’s such a burden for you.”

“We’re slowly weaning him off. What to do when he doesn’t like his formula? We’re supplementing with very soft porridge which he seems to enjoy. We are hoping he can finish at least half a bowl of porridge each meal, because I’m going to stop giving him my milk by the end of this month.”

After breakfast, Shan Mei wanted to give her husband special back massage. He refused saying she was trying to put him back to sleep. “But Husband, that was the very reason I took the sleeping tablet, so that I’d be fresh and awake to give you special loving treatment after you tiring trip to Shanghai.”

To humour his wife, Xiang Zhe went back to bed. Shan Mei could feel his back and shoulder muscles all tensed. She deftly worked on his taut shoulder muscles, then his back, his neck and his head.

“Better?” she murmured, leaning over to lightly kiss his temple. He simply gave a happy grunt. Very soon, he was asleep. She continued softly kneading until she was sure he was in deep slumber, then she went off to the kitchen to prepare special nourishing soup.

She returned to bed to lie beside her husband after she was done in the kitchen, and read a book searching for a theme for this week’s Musical Postcard.

In the afternoon Xiang Zhe awoke. He found his wife fast asleep beside him, her little book on her chest. He took the book away, and began nibbling at his wife’s neck working his way slowly up to her lips. Shan Mei stirred and when she got up, she was shocked to find it was almost 5.

“Have we slept this long, Xue Zhang?”

“Of course, how else can I look so refreshed?” he laughingly answered.

She went quickly to the kitchen to get a bowl of soup for her husband. He had followed her into the kitchen, and was now standing behind her, wrapping his arms about her, tugging her gently back against his chest. He kissed the side of her neck, nuzzled the base of her nape, behind her ear, his hands were soon roaming up and down her sides.

He wanted to have bath with her first, otherwise he was not going to take the soup. Shan Mei smiled secretly to herself. This Xue Zhang was up to his old blackmailing tricks again! She turned around to face him, smiling sweetly,

“Okay, who’s going to help me undress?”

“Who do you want?” he smiled back rakishly.

“My secret lover,” she answered, and then she ran quickly up the stairs.

He soon caught up with her and wanted to know whether that meant she was in the mood for ‘some fun’ ......????

That evening, BB was so happy to see his parents. For once, he ran from his uncle’s lap up to his daddy, wanting his daddy to carry him. And when mummy went to carry baby off to his room for feeding, BB began crying that baby had taken his room. Daddy soothed him with words of love and promises, assuring him, “Sweetheart, now, now don’t cry. You are not only the apple of daddy’s eyes but mummy’s pet.”

“Then why did mummy go into the room with baby?”

“Because baby doesn’t like milk and mummy has to make sure he cannot run away when he is fed milk.”

BB calmed down and very quietly whispered to his daddy, “Keep the ice cream away from him too.”

Daddy promised no matter how much baby wanted ice cream they wouldn’t give it to him, because ice cream was treat for BB for being such a good boy, letting baby use his room.

Next day in the office, Xiang Zhe recommended to Uncle Jin when they discussed the recent trip to Shanghai that Wen Rong shouldn’t go into the project alone. They should go JV with BanCon, a subsidiary of Bansung Holdings that was already working on several Chinese projects to quote for the current project. If the bid was successful, they could ask BanCon to send their project engineer to control the project. Uncle Jin was of the same mind. Xiang Zhe told Uncle Jin he would have a talk with Mr. Sung from Bansung to discuss the matter further.

Uncle Jin understood the project was not easy to undertake. The profit margin was almost non existent, and labour intensive. Going to work in the interior of middle China was not easy. They would have to see what they would gain from other Government projects, either in Korea or overseas, before they would bid for this. The government had not given out very clear cut details on this point, when they were told to participate in the delegation to Shanghai. For Wen Rong, it was simply a matter of supplying their heavy machinery and sending some of their engineers to supervise installation and operation of their machinery.

Chapter AW-62

Xiang Zhe was making his way to Shan Mei’s office through the French windows, when he overheard Shan Mei talking to Gugu over the telephone about his stepmother, and about the man she was seeing who might or might not be Jin Enqi. Shan Mei was trying to describe to Gugu what Jin Enqi looked like. “Gugu, please let me know once you have the identity of the man confirmed.” Xiang Jie was sitting at one end of her table, looking glum, a silent participant in the conversation.

Suddenly, Xiang Zhe’s hand came over her head to snatch the ear set away from her.

“Gugu, this is Xiang Zhe. Yes, I’m fine, thank you. I’ll come straight to the point. If that man is Jin Enqi, who is supposed to be her stepbrother, there is no way we can accept them. I’m thinking of Xiang Jie. If you know of some other man who is interested in Stepmother and she feels the same for the man, then I’m agreeable to the union. This will make life easy for all.

Xiang Jie and I, we love our father very much. We can’t see him lose face again. That summer when Jin Enqi tried to slander Shan Mei, the case was in all of the local press, and rumours of stepmother and her stepbrother’s supposed-to-be affair before she married Father made our father the laughing stork of Seoul.

The situation is complicated in that when Xiang Jie marries and has children of his own, if she’s still involved with Jin Enqi, she cannot be part of his life. If her new husband is someone else, we can always accept in some kind of way and life will be less complicated and more tolerable for Xiang Jie.

Gugu, please understand the situation. If the new man can’t afford to keep a wife, we are prepared to pay them a monthly allowance, and they can continue to live in the London house. No need to talk to Shan Mei on this matter. From now onwards, since I’m aware of the situation, I’ll be responsible for this. I’ll talk to you again next week, to see what you have found out. Thank you, Gugu, and take good care. Don’t worry about us, we are all doing fine. The babies? They are simply adorable. Maybe when the younger one is a bit older, I’ll plan a holiday to London with Shan Mei. Yes, talk to you next week. Take good care, Gugu. Thank you again.”

After he hung up, he looked sternly at Shan Mei and Xiang Jie without uttering another word and made his way upstairs to his bedroom.

Shan Mei and Xiang Jie looked at one another, with silent understanding. They both agreed tacitly and Shan Mei reassured little brother, “Let Xiang Zhe handle the matter. If the man isn’t Jin, Auntie will still continue to receive allowance. If it’s Jin, I’m sure Xiang Zhe will continue to remit money but in smaller amount. Auntie doesn’t have to worry about upkeep for the house. All the necessary monthly expenses have been arranged for autopay through the bank. Let’s hope she will meet a nice man.”

Shan Mei covered Xiang Jie’s hand with a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t worry. Why don’t you wait down here while I run up to let Xiang Zhe know we are walking over to father’s place?”

Xiang Zhe was in the shower. He popped his head out from the shower room for a kiss from his wife, and said he would be come over as soon as he was dressed.

When BB saw his mummy and uncle coming through the French windows, he was so happy, he ran in between them taking their hands in his. When his mummy checked on baby, he complained that baby was a cry baby and didn’t know how to play at all. Could they exchange him for another baby? Mummy laughed and said he must get permission from daddy.

As soon as BB saw his daddy coming in through the front door, he ran up to his daddy telling him, “Daddy, I love you and I’ve missed you so much. Did you miss BB too?”

Daddy was so happy, grinning and giving him kisses all over. He then complained to his daddy baby was crying all the time. “Daddy, he is trouble, and he doesn’t know how to play. Can we exchange him for another baby?”

Daddy looked over to Shan Mei, then back to BB. “But when we brought you home, you were that small, you didn’t know how to play and was crying even more. We didn’t exchange you for another baby, and see how much your uncle loves you?”

Being reminded of his uncle, he ran up to Xiang Jie, to get assurance that his uncle would love only him and not the naughty baby.

Uncle carried him up in his arms and kissed him. “If Uncle promises to love only you, will you let baby stay and be friends with him?”

BB thought for a while, then nodded his head. After that he ran to sit on his little armchair to watch Daddy’s Children's programmes on TV.

Xiang Zhe moved Shan Mei and baby to a quiet corner. Shan Mei signaled Xiang Zhe to be quiet, as she pulled down baby’s lower lip to show him a little white spot now visible on baby’s lower gum.

Xiang Zhe looked at his wife with excitement. “Baby’s first tooth is already trying to come through? Come, let me carry him.”

Father walked into the living room from his study. Seeing the couple sitting in the corner sofa, Xiang Zhe carrying the baby in the crook of one arm, his other arm wrapped lovingly around Shan Mei’s shoulders, BB happily watching television, his eyes misted. He never imagined he would live to see this day.

Xiang Zhe had been so adamant he would never marry and have children, rejecting Yong Xi and a few other girls outright. During school vacations whenever he was home, and knew some match makers were trying to set up some dates for him, he left on the first plane back to London. Eventually he got so fed up, he didn’t even want to spend his vacations in Seoul any more. In London, when Yin Senior’s friends tried to invite him to their houses for meals, Xiang Zhe knew the main purpose was match making, so he refused to attend any of those functions and preferred to stay at home by himself. Whenever these uncles or aunties personally called with an invitation, his famous line was he had to finish off some important reports for class assignments.

Now, Xiang Zhe was not only blissfully married, he had given him two beautiful grandsons, and indirectly brought Auntie Lee and Patrick into his life. Who would have guessed Xiang Zhe who professed he didn’t like girls and didn’t want to have anything to do with them, would make such a brilliant choice for wife? Shan Mei was not only the perfect wife, but also the perfect everything. When Xiang Zhe first introduced Shan Mei as his fiancée to Father and Uncle Jin who, later in private, congratulated Yin Snr saying Xiang Zhe had chosen very well.

Yin Senior went to Auntie Lee’s room to see how she was coming along with her patchwork quilting. He praised her workmanship and creativity. He thought of ordering take-out for the nearby Korean restaurant and asked whether there was anything special she wanted.

She gave him a warm smile and said radish stew would be nice.

He told the maid to only prepare steamed rice and soup. They would order main courses from outside catering.

Xiang Jie was up in his own apartment, and when his Dad phoned up, he said he would do the ordering.

Yin Snr smiled contentedly and quietly to himself, then went to sit on the big leather sofa in front of the TV. BB seeing this, quickly climbed on to the sofa and curled up against grandpa.

That night in bed, Shan Mei didn’t dare remind her husband about the telcon with Gugu. Instead, she wanted to ask Xue Zhang to plan an investment portfolio for Xiang Jie and their two boys. Her husband arched a brow at her like ‘What has that got to do with our children?’

“I have a management contract with Xiang Jie that I would receive 30% of his fees, according to Michael’s advice. With all the signings so far, Xiang Jie should be receiving about US$1.3 million. His income would be about $1 million, while my share would be about $300,000 which I want to put aside for BB and BR.”

Xiang Zhe was shocked. He didn’t know they were talking of such large sums of money. He never knew so much money could be made, just posing and walking around in front of a camera?

Shan Mei laughed. “I didn’t know too, until Michael taught me how to negotiate and sent me drafts of two contracts prepared by his lawyer – one between Xiang Jie and myself; the other between Xiang Jie and the advertising sponsors. But Xiang Jie’s job with Bansung isn’t that simple. He has to spend at least 2 Sundays a month for 12 months attending their on-site promotions. For NSK Bank, he would appear once a month for 6 months at their branches for promotion.”

He looked at his wife. Just out of curiosity, he wanted to know how much he would get in modeling fees?

Shan Mei laughed briefly and said, “Not a lot, unless you are modeling men’s underwear.”

Xiang Zhe was not happy, asking how could he be losing out so much to his younger brother?

“Darling, the buying power is now in the hands of the younger generation or the little bit older generation. Wait a few more years, and when I push you out as one of my Magnificent Seven, the figure in fees alone would be mind boggling.”

“What Magnificent Seven?”

“Xue Zhang, your brotherhood of 5, plus Michael and Mr. Sung. Mr. Sung is not as handsome as you and the other 5, but he has a powerful physique that some women find very attractive.”

He smiled, surprised. His wife had thought of them collectively as models. So funny!

“Okay, since you are now such an expert in rating, how about my performance in bed? How would you rate it?”

Shan Mei began giggling hysterically and her face blushing, she hit his chest playfully with her fists, but she didn’t reply.

“Well, I’m serious. Come on, I want an answer.”

She stole a shy glance at him. “Aiyoo, you’re terrible and so shameless! You know I’ve never been with another man except you so how can I rate? To me, as long as I’m my husband’s one and only love, I’m totally satisfied and happy. In my eyes, even without comparing you with any man, anyone or anything, you’re perfect and worth full marks!”

Xiang Zhe laughed, very pleased with her answer. He wrapped her in his arms, his eyes so full of love for her, saying, “Darling, you know something? You are sooo perfect for me too.” He stuck out his lips to Shan Mei for a kiss.

Xiang Zhe was on the phone with Gugu who told him one of her regular customers, Mr. Park had indicated an interest in Xiang Jie’s mother. They had been out on a couple of dates. If Xiang Jie’s mother really liked him, it would be a good match. Mr. Park was very influential in Soho’s Korean town. So even if that Jin Enqi showed up in London, Mr. Park would make sure he would never be able to get near to Xiang Jie’s mother.

Xiang Zhe thought this was good. He would talk to Xiang Jie.

When Xiang Zhe repeated the story to Shan Mei, she was worried and voiced her concerns. “Darling, I wonder whether Auntie really likes this man, or she simply wants to resolve the outstanding issues as easily as possible – you know hers and Father’s. I think I’ll go to London to see her.”

Xiang Zhe didn’t even try to stop her because once she had made up her mind to do something, that was that!

Shan Mei flew off late Friday night. As soon as she arrived in London, she went straight to see Auntie. She was so happy to see Shan Mei, she being the first one from Seoul she saw since she came to London with Xiang Jie 3 years ago. She apologised profusely for the lies fabricated by Jin Enqi. “Shan Mei, those lies must have caused you and Xiang Zhe so much distress.”

Taking Auntie’s hands into hers, Shan Mei told her, “Auntie, forget the past, I made this trip expressively to London to see you to discuss about your future.” By afternoon, after a good heart to heart talk, Shan Mei was convinced Auntie had feelings for this Mr. Park and she would marry him if he asked her. That night gugu invited Mr. Park to the restaurant for dinner so Shan Mei could meet him. He seemed a decent enough guy. He was sincere about Auntie. He was relatively well off, and they wouldn’t need the house in Cambridge. Once Auntie became his wife, he would provide for her everything. In fact to ensure his wife wouldn’t become bored with life in quiet Cambridge, he would allow her to continue working the lunch shift in Arirang. Gugu was very happy with this arrangement, because Auntie had been a great help to her.

“Auntie, please don’t worry a thing. When I return to Seoul, I’ll have a good talk with Xiang Jie. The boy has matured so much since his return to Seoul, you wouldn’t be able to recognize him. And you don’t have to worry about him. He’s doing very well at MBS and is assisting Xiang Zhe very nicely. Xiang Jie and I will definitely be in London to attend your marriage ceremony. As soon as the details are finalized let us know immediately.”

Xiang Zhe and Xiang Jie were at the airport to meet Shan Mei when she flew in. They went straight home. Over coffee, Shan Mei showed them the photos she had taken at their small dinner party with her digicam, and explained the situation.

From the photos, Xiang Jie could see his mother was very happy, and Mr. Park seemed sincere. The important thing was this man accepted her past. Son was happy for mother. At least now she would have a life. And Dad could move forward with his.

Later that night, Xiang Zhe voiced his reservations. “Darling, if Mr. Park is in control of the fruit wholesale business in the Korean part of London’s fruit market, it means in all likelihood that he is connected in some way with underworld activities.”

“Husband, every one had a past, no? May be because he is thus connected, he can understand Auntie’s predicament and can so easily accept her past. Anyway, one thing is assured. Jin Enqi will not be able to lay his clutches on her again. If he does, Mr. Park will ensure he is finished off in no time.

Anyway, it’s not necessary to worry too much. From my observation of the situation, I don’t think Auntie will want to return to Seoul. She was remorseful for causing so much trouble for Father and for us. She prefers to start afresh in London, where most people won’t know of her past. If the Yins keep away, nobody will associate her with the Yins of MBS. And she is sure Xiang Jie is mature enough to understand her situation. If he wants to see his mother, he can always catch up with her in London. The main thing now is to decide what to do with the house in Cambridge. Mr. Park has a beautiful house in Brentwood just outside of London and he has assured me that he will provide for Auntie and he has easily accepted Xiang Jie as a stepson. He doesn’t want anything from us.”

Xiang Zhe looked at Shan Mei with crossed brows wondering whether his innocent wife could really tell the difference from a good and a bad person.

Chapter AW-63

First week of November, Shan Mei and Xiang Jie worked till late almost every night. They were busy pre-recording 3 episodes of their shows, and Shan Mei one Musical Postcard, since they would be flying off to London on Thursday night, and return only on Monday morning in Seoul, after attending the Park’s marriage.

Stepmother’s wedding to Mr. Park, although a small ceremony, was a happy occasion on the groom’s side. His many workers were very happy for Mr. Park. The wedding lunch was held at Gugu’s restaurant. Mr. Park booked out the entire restaurant, and all those he knew in the fresh fruit market were invited to drop in for some food between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. His workers were happiest saying that now that he had a wife his temper was not as ferocious as before, and the new Mrs. Park was a good influence on him. Xiang Jie visited the newly-weds in their new house. Mr. Park was considerate enough to have a room ready for Xiang Jie furnished with computer, etc.

Xiang Jie packed a lot of things from his house to bring back to Seoul. His mother had assured him, “Son, you don’t have to worry about the house. I’ll come and clean the house once a week, until you decide what you want to do with it. Your stepfather says that if you want to put it on the market, he has many friends who may be interested.”

“I’ll want to discuss the matter with Elder Brother. After all, this house was bought with his money.”

Mrs. Park felt comforted knowing the two brothers were now enjoying close relationship. Mr. Park gifted them 4 fruit cartons of the biggest, juiciest dark cherries just imported from America when he heard that Shan Mei enjoyed cherries and peaches the most. He thanked her for blessing the union.

Back in Seoul, Shan Mei invited her father-in-law over to their house for dinner. After dinner, Xiang Jie and Shan Mei told Father gently where they went over the weekend, and showed him the wedding photos. Yin Snr didn’t say anything, but quietly looked over the photos. Maybe many memories were going through his mind. It was just over 21 years he had spent together with the woman. These things didn’t simple vanish into thin air just like that. Shan Mei could see and understand the many emotions crossing through Father’s eyes. Xiang Jie could feel the suffering his dad was going through. Xiang Jie and Shan Mei were hugging onto each other, sobbing quietly. Soon Father was enveloping them in his arms. He was crying too. Shan Mei took a paper tissue to dry Father’s eyes.

Xiang Zhe had, by this time, planted the flat of his hands on the window sill, his shoulders slumped forward and he rested his forehead against the window pane. He finally raised his head from the glass; he had had enough of their hugging and crying. He couldn’t take it anymore. He turned and walked toward them, dragged his wife out of the house through the French window, and deposited her in the back seat of his car. He got in himself too. “What was all that about?” And before she could answer, he gave her a punishing kiss. “Hugging and hugging?”

Shan Mei broke away from him – her tear stained face surprised and shocked at his outburst. “That, my dearest husband, was all about you!” she answered him tersely.

“Oh yeah, using me as an excuse to hug my wife? Leaving me out in the cold! I don’t see the connection.”

Staring coldly at her husband, she burst out, “Yin Xiang Zhe,” using the term she instinctively did when she wanted to make her point strongly. “If you saw the connection, you wouldn’t have acted stupid like this. Instead, you would have comforted your father and not running out on him, dragging me out with you.”

He stared at his wife blankly. What was she blabbering about?

“Xiang Jie’s heart is breaking, just like yours was when you realised your father married your mother for her money. His mother married his dad for money. Now she did an about-face and went off with another man. He was sorry his mother took your father away from you. In spite of what his mother did, you protected him by sending him to London. Your father had guilt written all over his face. Auntie did to him what he did to your mother. Do you see the similarity? He was breaking up, because you were so young and didn’t have a supporting team behind you to help you through. Yet we are here to help them through. The other side of the coin is now so clear to him. He couldn’t forgive himself for hurting you and your mother so much. It’s killing him. Do you now understand?”

Shan Mei was sobbing her heart out. She flung herself on to Xiang Zhe, her arms wound loosely around his waist. As his hands were stroking his wife’s back, Xiang Zhe wondered about his insensitivity. He was standing inside the room watching them, how come he couldn’t feel what they were going through. Yet his wife understood so very well all that had remained unsaid? He tilted her face, his eyes reflecting his shame for his outburst. He bent down to kiss her, kiss away her tears.

“Xue Zhang, you must believe your father loves you the most. The love he had no chance to give to you, he is now giving to your wife and your children just to try to see a smile on your face. And the woman he was with for more than 20 years, he was ready to reject just to make you happy.

And your brother idolises you. He feels so guilty for taking from Father your share of a father’s love. He is now giving this back to BB double, triple.”

Looking at her, her belief in people, he nodded his head to show her he was following her logic. “Husband, now, go in there and comfort Father. At least that will ease his guilt a bit.” She cradled his face between her hands and gave him a deep, deep kiss that conveyed the love in her heart to him.

Xiang Zhe’s anger faded reluctantly from his expression as he looked at her with grudging acceptance of her explanation. He smiled to her, got out of the car, and made his way back into the house.

Shan Mei went round to where the garden tap was. She washed her face as best as she could, then made her way to the patio. Let them make their own peace. She hoped that after tonight, all demons from the past would be banished forever from her husband’s heart. Shan Mei sighed so despairingly. She felt she had failed Xue Zhang in some way, that his mistrust of people still lingered in him. What else could she do except to love him more?

Xiang Zhe went to where Father and Xiang Jie were sitting. He looked through the photos, as if he was truly interested. He looked at his father who was sitting there quietly sipping his tea, as if deep in thought. Xiang Zhe cleared his throat.

“Father, since Stepmother has decided she wants to move forward, maybe Father should consider doing the same. Even though Mr. Park has promised to provide for her, it would be nice if she has a nest egg of her own. I’ll send a lump sum payment into her account in London. And Xiang Jie should keep the house in Cambridge, so Stepmother will always have a home there in case something happens. Shan Mei said Mr. Park appears sincere and can be trusted, but one can never tell. Stepmother likes working at Gugu’s restaurant. Gugu has told her she is willing to sell her a small share of the business. The money I’m going to send to Stepmother will be more than enough to buy into the business if she wants to.” He put a comforting arm around his father’s shoulders.

Yin Snr looked at him, put a tired hand on Xiang Zhe’s arm, nodded his head and quietly agreed with the plan suggested by Xiang Zhe was a good way to end the relationship.

Elder brother then looked at younger brother, telling him not to worry about his mother. “You will have plenty of money to take care of your mother. The talent fees Shan Mei managed to collect for you is in excess of US$1 million.”

Father’s head immediately shot up. It was unbelievable Shan Mei was able to collect so much money for Xiang Jie.

“Father, four companies signed up Xiang Jie: Bansung, NSK Bank, Fizz and the fast food company for a one-year contract. Shan Mei has asked me to plan an investment portfolio for Xiang Jie, so the money can be wisely invested. When I have the plan ready, I’ll discuss it in detail with him.”

Xiang Jie said with little interest, “I don’t understand anything about money. Elder Brother, I’ll do as per your recommendations.”

After the meeting was over, Xiang Zhe walked with father and Xiang Jie back to their house. While walking, they discussed some of the problems viewers had been bombarding Xiang Jie with on Private Eye.

Xiang Jie was complaining some of the road works departments really were slow to respond. But at least one stretch of a street that was the target of snatch thieves had now been installed with street lighting and a neighbourhood watch set up.

Walking back from father’s house, Xiang Zhe saw Shan Mei’s lonely figure sitting on the garden chair in the patio.

She lifted her chin when she heard his approach, eyes still flashing with some anger from beneath her lashes.

He came around the table where she was sitting and squatted on his haunches beside her, looking into her eyes, overwhelmingly ashamed for his earlier outburst. He hesitated, his hands held her tightly around her hips, dropping his head onto her lap. “Darling, please forgive me. I was so angry with you. I thought you only cared about them, and not about me.” He then took her hand and brought it down to his cheek. He slapped his cheek with it several times, until Shan Mei pulled her hand away. He got up and drew her to her feet, holding her tight against him. Then, taking her hand in his, they walked towards their front door when Shan Mei suddenly stopped in her tracks. She raised her hand to stroke his cheek, then pulled his head down to give him a kiss on the cheek he had slapped. He laughed, and caught her up in his arms, planting several kisses on her lips, knowing he had been forgiven.

Shan Mei began unbuttoning his shirt, when he put her down.

“Oh no,” he said as he side-stepped away. “Trying to bite me again?”

“No, no. I just had an impulsive urge to give you a kiss at a special place.”

“Okay, you give it to me at home.” But when he bent down to remove his shoes in the hall, his wife had run upstairs ahead of him. He gave chase, but she was not in their bedroom. He quickly went to have a shower, then went into the spare bedroom when he saw a beam of light coming from its bathroom. His wife must be in the bathroom having shower. He lay on the bed waiting for her to emerge from the shower. He had turned down the lights really low.

As soon as Shan Mei emerged, he caught hold of her and brought her to the bed, asking for the kiss she was going to give him at a special place.

She was giggling and trying to struggle free, but she was no match for his brute strength. “I want to go back to our bedroom first,” she squealed.

“I’m not falling for any of your tricks. I want it now, otherwise you’re going nowhere.”

Shan Mei suddenly became very shy. It was something she had seen in the movie on the plane flying back from London. To help her, he pointed to several parts of his chest, each time she shook her head. One time when his finger was almost at the spot, she took it and moved it to his nipple. He couldn’t contain his grin and insisted on knowing what she had seen. She very gently moved towards his chest and kissed, caressed and twirled her tongue around his nipple tenderly. It was a new experience for her and a new sensation for him. He became giddy with excitement. He wanted more, but his wife refused. “You’re asking for too much, aren’t you? Have you forgotten you had been a naughty boy, with your earlier crazy outburst?”

“Shan Mei, I’m so sorry. Come on, don’t bear grudges. Haven’t I settled everything very nicely for them? Even Father said that was a good way to end the relationship.”

Shan Mei remained unmoved. Xiang Zhe, knowing he was getting nowhere with her present stance, carried her back to their bedroom.

After a while, he began complaining again. “My Shan Mei always knows what is in other people’s mind, but tonight she is pretending she doesn’t know what is in mine.” He caught her hand and put it to his forehead and asked her whether she could feel the loving vibrations coming through? Then he puckered up his lips for a kiss.

Shan Mei smiled as she shook her head in exasperation. She realized he was not going to give up until he got what he wanted. With a sigh, she surrendered to him once again.

Chapter AW-64

Shan Mei had just cleared away the most pressing matters from her table, and then she called her secretary in the office to leave some instructions.

Seeing it was still early, she walked over to Father’s place to check on baby. Auntie Lee and BB were already at playschool.

Father was still in, reading the newspapers and sipping his tea. On seeing Shan Mei he was all smiles and wanted her to sit down and have some tea with him. Shan Mei brought up the subject of Christmas holidays and asked whether he had any plans. Father put down the papers and said to her, “Most probably we’ll wait and see what Xiang Jie or Patrick want to do?”

Shan Mei said rather casually, “I have to attend a business conference in Sydney during the week after Christmas. I understand that a big Australian Arts & Crafts Exhibition will be held at the same time. I want to take Auntie Lee along. Father, you know how much she enjoys the craft. Xiang Zhe and I want to make this trip to Sydney her Christmas present. This special exhibition is held only once every 2 years. I’m not sure when the next one comes along whether I’ll still be heading the Sydney office. Father, if you’re free, can you agree to come along and help me keep Auntie Lee company since I’ll be busy with the conference? It’s only going to be a 4 day exhibition.”

Father gave the invitation a thought. He smiled at her and said since it was only a 4-day trip, he would do anything to keep his daughter-in-law happy. Shan Mei thanked Father profusely.

“But, Shan Mei, what about the children?” Father asked.

“I’m sure with Patrick, Xiang Jie and Jae Hoon’s help, nanny will be able to manage alright.”

One evening in December, Shan Mei was in the bathroom, when her mobile phone rang. Xiang Zhe answered it. It was Ma informing them You Zhen had just sent Minnie to the hospital. As soon as she received further news, Pa would call them. That night Shan Mei couldn’t sleep, no matter how hard Xiang Zhe coaxed her. He reminded her when she had BB, he had waited 7 hours before the brat decided to make an appearance.

When she thought of that, she began sobbing silently with relief. Xiang Zhe drew her into his arms, stroking her back and telling her everything was going to be alright.

She looked up to him, nodding her head, smiling through her tears, “Of course, everything is going to be alright now that they are having a baby. Ma and Minnie will stop nagging You Zhen, Pa and You Zhen Ge will be safe.” At that moment, she told her husband she loved Brother Jae Hoon so much and was so grateful to him. Xiang Zhe understood. He promised as soon as they received the good news, he would phone Jae Hoon.

It was almost morning when the baby came. Pa was ecstatic. It was a healthy baby boy. Ma kept saying prayers of thanks to You Zhen’s deceased father, for making You Zhen a filial son, finally giving the Kim family an heir.

After a night of fitful sleep, Xiang Zhe was exhausted. He decided to have breakfast with Shan Mei in the patio, so they could enjoy the fresh air. Since he was already up and about, he wanted to go have a look at BB before he went off to playschool. BB was running about, excited. He had on a new set of sportswear with a new pair of matching sneakers Uncle gave him yesterday. And he secretly showed his daddy the little present he was going to give Grandma Lee at school today.

“Who bought this for you?” Xiang Zhe wanted to know.

He cupped his daddy’s ear with his little hands, and very secretly whispered, “Grandpa.”

Daddy smiled silently to himself. No wonder his father loved Shan Mei and BB to death. His wife and his son were helping his father along very nicely in his scheme of things. It would be interesting to see how things developed after the Sydney trip his wife had planned for Father and Auntie Lee.

While having breakfast, Xiang Zhe phoned Jae Hoon letting him know that Minnie had very early that morning given birth to a healthy baby boy. He passed the phone over to Shan Mei, who thanked Jae Hoon profusely and reiterated that she loved baby’s Uncle Jae Hoon in between her sobbing. He got her meaning, and then said he would pay You Zhen and Minnie a visit after they were back home from the hospital.

Ma phoned Shan Mei, saying their gift of nursery furnishing came just in time. “Shan Mei, you wouldn’t believe it. The way it’s going, I don’t think You Zhen will be able to think straight or do anything sane for quite a while. Since the baby arrived, all he has been doing the whole morning was look at the baby. He is still dazed not believing they had a baby boy! The baby is simply too gorgeous for words.”

Shan Mei told her, “Ma, we are so truly happy for you. Xiang Zhe and I will drop by the hospital later in the morning to visit Minnie.”

As soon as she hung up the phone, she told Xiang Zhe she couldn’t wait to see the baby. Ma said he was the most gorgeous baby.

Cradling the baby in her arms, Shan Mei couldn’t get over him. He was really adorable. She could understand the way You Zhen felt. Tears came flowing out of her eyes when she looked down at the baby in her arms. You Zhen stood there, wrapping his arm around Shan Mei’s shoulders, looking at the baby in fascination, telling her he was so blessed for having such a gorgeous baby.

After they left the hospital and Xiang Zhe was driving Shan Mei home, she suddenly caught hold of her husband’s right hand and brought it up to her lips, kissing so tenderly each and every one of his long fingers, commenting how their two sons’ fingers and toes looked like his. Xiang Zhe smiled at his wife’s tenderness. She had on that dreamy look. “Husband, how about having another baby?”

Xiang Zhe immediately stopped the car, and looked at her. He caught her face between his hands, to look into her eyes, as if searching for something. “Darling, are you sure? BR is only 7 months old?”

She looked innocently at her husband and asked, “Is it written somewhere that we shouldn’t plan for another baby so soon?”

“I’m just afraid having another baby so soon may be too much for you to cope with. You know I can’t bear to see you staying up most nights to nurse the new baby.”

“But Xue Zhang, I love having your babies.” And when she said that, at the same time giving Xiang Zhe such a look, he simply melted. He cupped her head to his shoulder, his chin rubbing against her hair, his eyes closed, smiling so sweetly to himself. He was bursting with sweet delight. When they drew apart, he kissed his wife on her forehead, giving her an indulgent look, then restarted the car.

Auntie Lee was going through her summer wardrobe trying to decide what to bring for the trip to Australia and asked Shan Mei for her advice. Yin Snr on hearing that simply told her to bring along a big suitcase with just enough clothes for an extra day. “Why bother to pack at all. All the clothes you need can be purchased in Sydney. The stores will have the latest styles there, won’t they?”

Shan Mei looked across at her husband, exchanging conspiratorial smiles. In fact, Xiang Zhe was accompanying Shan Mei, the Director of CTN Asia/Pacific, to attend a Christmas Ball organised by the Broadcasting and Television Union of Australia. Shan Mei had been exercising whenever possible to get herself into shape in one of the bedrooms in their house that they had set aside as a mini home gym.

Even though Shan Mei had told Father the trip was only 4 days, she intended to treat them to a week long holiday. The boys had promised to help out, taking care of the babies. Even Jae Hoon was recruited to help, since both houses would be almost empty of people.

Come Christmas this year, was a busy time for the Yins and the Zhens and the Kims.

Since Minnie’s return from the hospital, You Zhen had been entertaining a constant stream of visitors. Many of his colleagues were so happy for him. Since his baby’s birth, it seemed the old You Zhen with worry lines had vanished. In its place, the new You Zhen had a ready smile for everybody. His camera was always clicking away. Every little gesture of his baby he wanted to commit on film for remembrance’s sake. When You Zhen registered the baby’s birth, he entered both surnames Kim and Zhen on the birth registration certificate. Pa was so overcome with emotion he couldn’t sleep for at least 2 nights.

In You Zhen’s house where the clan had gathered for a light meal, Xiang Zhe looked over at Pa and Ma hosting the intimate family gathering. They really were the best of people. He had often wondered at his good luck in meeting Shan Mei and believed many things were pre-ordained. If he wasn’t always alone eating at Gugu’s restaurant, Gugu wouldn’t have encouraged Shan Mei to accept him as her friend, seeing they were both at Cambridge and he could protect her around uni and the city. Of all the actors at MBS Drama Department, how come Shan Mei chose Han Jae Hoon? He was the one now bringing such blessing to Shan Mei’s family. And how come the very type of host she was looking for had just finished a post graduate course with Jae Hoon, and an American Korean, no less? And Patrick’s mother was now the person most important to them, looking after BB and supervising Father’s household. It was like a large jigsaw puzzle with most of the pieces coming together into place. What about Shan Mei hoping for another baby? Was that another piece in the jigsaw puzzle? Would she be able to cope? Xiang Zhe sighed as he mulled over these questions. “Let nature takes its course,” he finally sighed to himself.

CTN Sydney Office arranged for hotel limo to collect the Yins from the airport to hotel. Each couple had a suite. Xiang Zhe had earlier handed all the necessary travel documents to Father, letting him know their departure date from Sydney was booked for 2nd January, and their stay could be shortened or extended depending on their own schedule. “Father, CTN Sydney has been instructed to take care of hotel billing, etc. Your job is to squire Auntie Lee around and have fun during your stay in Sydney.”

Father was very happy. Yin Snr was thinking that Shan Mei understood perfectly well what he wanted. He recalled that time when Shan Mei had run off to London, Zian Da thought Shan Mei was not as clever as one of the other anchors Xiang Zhe wanted to dismiss? Yin Snr thought this Zian Da should learn a few tips from Shan Mei on human psychology, maybe then he would know what his father-in-law wanted, instead of always pandering to his wife Yong Xi. Luckily for them, Xiang Zhe had refused to marry Yong Xi, otherwise the marriage would have been doomed right from the start, seeing how Yong Xi liked to have her own way all the time. Xiang Zhe wouldn’t have tolerated her nonsense.

When Father with Auntie Lee, and Xiang Zhe with Shan Mei, met up for late afternoon tea that day, Shan Mei gave Father and Auntie Lee the entire file containing entry tickets, etc regarding the Arts & Crafts exhibition. In another envelope were calling card of the Sydney Tour Company and tour vouchers for 1 City whole-day tour, 1 Countryside whole-day tour, 1 City Night Tour and 1 Harbour Cruise Tour. Other than these, Shan Mei told them they would be responsible for their own activities. “Father, please arrange with the tour operator which are the days you want the tours. Xiang Zhe and I will only be staying 2 nights when we’ll have to fly back to Seoul.”

After tea, Father decided to take Auntie Lee off shopping – both of them couldn’t wait to hit the shops, like two happy teenagers.

Inside their own suite, Xiang Zhe drew his wife into his arms. They smiled at each other, Xiang Zhe saying to his wife, “Match making plan seems to be going very well,” and laughed softly, shaking his head. After a pause, he asked, “Hey, what about me, what have my wife planned for me?”

“How about going to one of those bayside seafood restaurants?” Shan Mei asked. “I’ve been told their oysters are very fresh and succulent. Tonight I’ll treat you to dinner seeing you’ve been a good husband taking precious time off your work and accompanying me to Sydney.”

Xiang Zhe looked at her with a secret smile, wondering whether his innocent wife knew the myth about oysters!

Their suite overlooked the Sydney Harbour Bridge. They were admiring the view while enjoying coffee after a delicious dinner. For dinner they had fresh oysters which were really succulent and fresh. They had originally ordered a dozen, but Xiang Zhe enjoyed them so much, he ordered another dozen. The crab that came was so meaty, they couldn’t take anything else, not even dessert.

After a while, Shan Mei asked her husband whether he was tired; it had been a long day for them.

He said, “Actually, I’m ready for bed,” so off he went. He was in bed waiting for his wife to appear but she didn’t. “What’s Shan Mei doing? Why isn’t she coming to bed yet?”

He padded out to the sitting room, and saw her lying on the chaise longue out on the balcony. “Weren’t you coming to bed?” he softly whispered into her ear?

“Xue Zhang, I’m enjoying the stars. In Seoul they are northern, these are southern and look just as dazzling.”

Xiang Zhe was upset and grumbled. “Why did you send me off to bed if you wanted to sit out on the balcony and watched the stars?”

“Because you were tired!”

“Yes, but you should know that I won’t be able to sleep without you.”

She pulled him down to her and gave him a kiss on his lips and told him she would join him later. He wasn’t pacified. He brought out the other chaise longue and placed it right next to hers. He lay down on his side and kept his eyes on her, while she kept hers skyward. After a while, Shan Mei said she was ready for bed. Xiang Zhe gave a short laugh, lifted her up and carried her off the bed. Soon they were fast asleep snuggled in each other’s arms.

Chapter AW-65

The next evening, as soon as Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei emerged from the hotel lift, Father and Auntie Lee were just coming out of the other one. Auntie Lee couldn’t stop admiring Shan Mei in her light gold Versace figure hugging gown. Even Father said she looked fabulous and the matching diamond and pearl choker was simply divine.

“Shan Mei, I’ve read in the shopping guide that Sydney’s top jewelry shops offer the best grade South Sea and Tahitian pearls. I’ll get you something just as fine.” Looking at Auntie Lee, Yin Senior said, “I’ll get you a set of pearl jewelry too.” Auntie didn’t say a word but her face went rosy pink.

“Oh, Xiang Zhe, we’re just going off to dinner, and have planned to look around the area to see where we can eat some good local food.”

Xiang Zhe immediately recommended the seafood restaurant they went to last night. “Father, the oysters and king-sized crab were simply the best we have taken. Do you have the city map with you?”

Father took out his city map. Xiang Zhe marked it out for them. Telling Father they would be taking tomorrow morning’s flight out, they had to run now as they were already late for the Christmas Ball. Father waved them off.

At the Christmas Ball venue, when Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei made their entrance, many heads turned to their direction out of curiosity. Such a beautiful couple, but no one knew who they were even after they were shown to the CTN table. Those at the CTN table were the people not normally seen in front of the camera, like Shan Mei, Harry Wallis the financial controller and his wife, Bill Longley the station controller and his wife, Rebecca Smith the marketing director and her husband, Irene Place the sales manager and her boyfriend.

After the presiding Chairman’s welcoming speech, the Christmas ball got under way. As with tradition, every year there would be a competition of some sort. This year, they were going to find the best male and female news anchor. There were representatives from 20 television stations present, each station to nominate their rep. Individual News Anchor: 2 minutes news presentation, news team 3 minutes.

The hall was gripped with a buzz of activity from the attendees, each station trying to nominate their best. At CTN’s table, since none of their regular news anchors were there, Bill Longley suggested Shan Mei had a go. “Come on, Shan Mei, have a go. Michael is always telling us how good you are. It’s all for fun, and it won’t look good at all if CTN don’t have a rep. You know how aggressively we are trying to muscle in for a slice of advertising revenue.”

While dinner was being served, one representative after another went up to a mock news-stand to give their 2-minute news presentation. The judging panel consisted of 10 already-retired experts from within the industry. After one presentation was done, replay was flashed on one screen. By the time the last anchor appeared, 20 screens were flashing with replays. Xiang Zhe had wondered when they first entered the grand ballroom, why so many TV screens were mounted on the walls around the room? He now looked at the screens with impartial interest, smiling secretly inside himself, admitting his wife stood a very good chance. His wife exuded that certain intangible ‘X’ factor very strongly over the TV screen and none of the presenters had her dazzling smile. He was sure none of the judges expected such a high standard of presentation from an Asian girl. They would be doubly bowled over.

Then came the team effort. The 10 teams made up of names pulled out of a draw. Their presentations were also shown on the screens.

Dinner progressed. The judges were busy exchanging notes among themselves. Once the tables were cleared, the emcee for the evening came back on stage to create more suspense. He announced, “It was very difficult for the judges to make a decision on the team effort. We’d like to call the top two teams back up to make their presentation again. First team to go up will be BBC and Network 7. Then, CTN with Network 10.” Applause all round.

Shan Mei was so stunned. Xiang Zhe held on to her hand. With his other hand, he kept stroking her back to calm her, softly whispering to her ear, telling her to do it like she normally did with Patrick. She was a popular choice. None of those, except Xiang Zhe, present in the room had expected such top rate smooth performance from her, until she opened her mouth to smile and read the news in her posh English accent so naturally. She was so elegant and beautiful as well.

Before the committee cleared the floor for dancing, the winners were announced. Best Male Anchor went to BBC representative. Best Female Anchor to CTN. Bill Longley approved smilingly. Best Team to CTN and Network 10. Best Overall Anchor to Miss Zhen Shan Mei of CTN. The whole hall broke out in thunderous applause. Shan Mei sobbed into her husband’s chest. She couldn’t believe it. All eyes were on this beautiful couple. Xiang Zhe lifted his wife’s face between his hands and gave her a tender kiss on her forehead, then taking her hand, accompanied her up to the stage to collect the grand trophy. What was the saying about everybody loved a lover? The attendees at the function were all captivated by the so-in-love couple, who endeared themselves with their shy smiles and gentle manners, bowing to all the guests present, as they made their way back to their table. Before they sat down, they gave a final wave to the crowd to acknowledge their congratulations. Those sitting around CTN table were beaming. None of them expected something like this when they started out the evening. After the holidays, they would have plenty of stories to relate in the office. No wonder Michael always maintained Zhen Shan Mei was the best.

Back in their suite, Shan Mei was too excited to be able to sleep. She took back two awards with her. The grand trophy she left with the CTN Sydney office. She kept admiring the trophies. Xiang Zhe came to sit beside her, his arms wrapped lovingly around her shoulders. He laughed and wondered what Michael would say when he reviewed the whole event on the Union’s website?

Speaking of website, Shan Mei checked her email account. She called excitedly to her husband. “Xue Zhang, come quick. Xiang Jie has posted some photos of our babies.” There was BR lying awake in his cot, and BB bending over him, giving a V sign to the camera. In another pose, BB was kissing BR on his cheek when nanny was feeding him his milk. Shan Mei was laughing. “Xiang Jie must be directing this whole show, while his ‘production team’ members must be Patrick and Jae Hoon.” As Shan Mei scrolled down the screen, she laughed out delighted. “Oh, here’s one photo of You Zhen’s baby. Gosh, he really is the most adorable baby.”

“Oh no,” Xiang Zhe thought, and began rubbing a frown that had just appeared on his forehead. His wife would soon be thinking of ‘babies’ again!

For now, he wanted his wife to think only of him. He had ordered champagne from Room Service to celebrate. He also arranged the two chaise longues for them to lie down on in the balcony. Tonight he would watch the stars together with his beautiful Shan Mei. Maybe because they were fully rested, waking up that morning very late, maybe the excitement of the evening still had not worn off – or whatever – there was something magical about tonight with Shan Mei lying down watching her southern stars. After a short while, she gave up searching for the Southern Cross.

Commenting that the most vantage place for star-spotting was still from their cabin, she pulled her husband off his lounge chair, carried the bottle of champagne with her, and led him to the bedroom.

Giving his wife a wicked smile, Xiang Zhe asked, “Mrs. Yin has some game plan?”

Shan Mei looked at him mischievously. “Well, I’m not sleepy, but feeling a bit hungry. Any suggestions?”

Xiang Zhe laughed sweetly, his eyes glinting seductively. “I have the perfect 3-course meal planned: an appetiser to whet your appetite just right, a main course to leave you begging for second or third helpings, followed by special dessert, if you’re still not fully sated.”

“Hmm, that sounds agreeable and deliciously perfect.” Xiang Zhe laughed wickedly. Pinning Shan Mei down to the bed, he began serving his appetizer of hot feathery kisses on her face, her lips, her neck.

After their return to Seoul, and handing out presents they had bought from Sydney, they decided to give nanny a few days off. Husband and wife wanted to spend time with their two boys, so they took them home, leaving the big house for Patrick, Xiang Jie and Jae Hoon to run free.

“Elder Brother, Mr. Sung had phoned me while you were away. Being Christmas holidays, Madam Sung begged us to bring BB over to their place for tea. When we arrived, the whole Sung family was there. Madam Sung and Sung Snr really loved BB. Sung Senior took BB to the garden to let him hit around with his old golf clubs. They then served a sumptuous tea and special ice cream for BB.

Something funny and surprising happened. The Sung sisters kept chatting Patrick and Jae Hoon up. The younger sister wanted to visit Patrick while he was working in the studio. The elder one wanted to visit Jae Hoon while he was dubbing NWP. Patrick and Brother Jae Hoon told the girls they were not authorised to allow anybody into the studio. They had to wait to get permission from the station controller.

And Sung Senior gave a present to BB and one for BR.” Xiang Jie then took out the presents and handed them to Shan Mei. They were jade medallions with the character ‘Happiness’ engraved in them.

When Shan Mei saw them, she wanted to return them. Xiang Zhe told her not to, since they came from Sung Senior. “Darling, just don’t go to their place anymore. If that Madam Sung wants to see BB, tell her to come to visit us instead. And make sure the only present she’ll get from you is your super delicious sushi rolls!”

BB was missing Grandpa and Grandma Lee and wanted to know where mummy had hidden them. She dialed Father’s mobile phone. When BB heard his grandpa’s voice, he became highly excited and began jabbering. “Grandpa, where are you hiding with Grandma Lee? I miss you.”

Grandpa said to BB, “I’m busy taking Grandma Lee shopping. Have you been a good boy? I’ve also bought a lot of things for you. If I come home and find that you’ve been misbehaving, all the toys will go to the baby.”

“Grandpa, I’ve been really good, even good to the baby. You’ve been shopping with Grandma Lee? You can buy her the big packages, but don’t forget to shop for the small packets too so I can give them to her at playschool. Don’t forget, Grandpa, okay?” BB whispered softly to his grandpa.

Grandpa laughed very happily, his grandson had reminded him of something so important. In the Sydney department stores and specialty shops, he had seen many interesting small gift packets. He would buy loads of these. Telling BB he would be home soon, and that apart from toys he had bought him a lot of other goodies, BB told his grandpa not to buy anything for BR. He had been trying to steal his mummy and daddy away.

When BB handed the phone back to his mummy, Shan Mei smiled sweetly. So the seniors had been exchanging gifts through BB. She was sure the beautiful quilted patchwork blanket Auntie Lee was stitching would be her present to him. Her eyes went dreamy and misty. How simply romantic!

Though it was tiring, Xiang Zhe enjoyed spending time with his babies. BB had grown so fast and sometimes talked like an adult being with Xiang Jie most of the time, his son made him laugh. When a little frown appeared on his small forehead, Xiang Zhe shook his head in silent mirth remembering that time on Xiang Jie’s P.E. promote interview when he noticed the likeness of his son to him. Whenever Xiang Zhe saw these frowns appear on BB’s forehead, he would cradle his little son in his arms and try to rub the frowns away. Sooner or later, he knew BB would also pick up his other small habitual gestures.

And what did Xiang Zhe think of his younger son BR? Such an angel and so well behaved. He was worried when the baby became older, the elder one might bully him. The two boys definitely looked like him.

Remembering Shan Mei’s observation of their fingers and toes, he checked on those too. He smiled, as he gently touched their digits. He couldn’t tell whether the boys’ fingers resembled his at this stage because both husband and wife had long fingers; but their toes definitely resembled Shan Mei’s because her toes were longer than his, especially her second toe on her right foot. He marveled at God’s miracle of creation.

He had once asked Jae Hoon whether he felt anything on seeing You Zhen’s baby. Jae Hoon had said he already considered the baby Minnie’s and You Zhen’s. However, if he had a baby with the woman he loved, it would have been a different story completely. Xiang Zhe had kept silent about that. Because he was a man, he could feel Jae Hoon had harboured secret feelings for his wife. Jae Hoon was a man of the highest standard of honour and integrity, Xiang Zhe trusted him and he was grateful for his friendship. He trusted his wife the most. She wouldn’t do anything to hurt him, knowing how much she loved him. She wouldn’t do anything to dishonour the Yin family name, this Xiang Zhe was 100% sure.

Chapter AW-66

Come January, Shan Mei timed another topic for Two Sides To A Coin that created media frenzy ‘Paparazzi too Intrusive?” This topic spanned 3 weeks of heated discussions. One week for Movie Stars and Celebrities vs paparazzi, another for Korea’s well known upper crust socialites and megarich, the third for digging up and exposing state secrets or sensitive government maneuvers. It came to a point, where the Thursday and Friday afternoon time slots of viewership were monopolised by CTN and MBS, and the newspapers loved it. If they had their way, they would make it 4 weeks, and had made such a suggestion to Shan Mei, who assured them she had planned another assault for discussion during another time -- the paparazzi defending their stance on their expose of the movie world, of the megarich and their secrets, and finally, their expose of the government’s dirty laundry.

At the Broadcasting Industry Award Ceremony, With Two Sides To A Coin going in as Live Show, and Private Eye going in as Community service Programme, they took every award. Xiang Zhe took best producer for live show, Shan Mei best producer for community service programme. The critics and viewers couldn’t decide between the two and eventually, the two shows were joint winners. The Award ceremony was like a family outing for the Yins. Xiang Jie took best newcomer and Best Host for Community Service programme. They had virtually no competition in the Community service Section, the other being a government sponsored community message board that offered nothing in terms of content quality and interest.

That night, at the after-ceremony celebratory party for CTN and MBS, the entire Sung family showed up. The two Sung sisters stayed by Patrick and Jae Hoon’s side, so much so that Xiang Zhe commented their bachelor days were numbered. The established stars, the starlets were out in force. Seeing how in January so much frenzy was caused in the media, they were hoping the paparazzi would be out in force to reinforce their right to report. Of course many came because they wanted to get close to the president of MBS. They figured the Yins had been married long enough that the young, handsome Mr. Yin was ready to stray. Then there was the other gorgeous younger Mr. Yin, who was the now IT man. In fact, the younger Mr. Yin would be a greater catch. He was not only making waves in Korea, but across the seas in Japan. Sung Senior was captivated by Shan Mei. He invited her to dance two numbers, during the evening.

Xiang Zhe was tired and bored, having to politely fend off the unwanted attention from the movie stars and starlets. Where was Zian Da? Didn’t he tell him as soon as he saw any of these women heading his way, Zian Da was to get them away? No wonder the Controller of Drama Dept left the function early. Xiang Zhe was getting sick simply looking at their saccharine smiles that appeared to be plastered permanently on their faces. “Oh Shan Mei, I’m missing you. Can you hear me? I want to go home.” He sat in one quiet corner concentrating on his telepathy message. He saw Shan Mei, with Xiang Jie by her side, talking to a reporter. Suddenly she turned around and found Xiang Zhe sitting quietly in a corner, looking her way. She gave him a little wave. He smiled and waved back to her.

Soon, Xiang Jie walked away with the reporter, and Shan Mei made her way to her husband’s side. He gave her an indulgent smile as she sat down next to him and asked whether he was ready to go home. He breathed a sigh of relief. He got up and holding on to his wife’s hand, they slowly made their way out of the room. Some jealous eyes followed them, wondering what was so special about Zhen Shan Mei that she could’ve that kind of hold over her gorgeous husband?

When they got into their car, Shan Mei told Xiang Zhe, “Husband, please wait a little while. Xiang Jie is trying to make his getaway from the pack of reporters and girls milling around him. He wants to leave with us.”

Xiang Zhe shook his head in disbelief as he looked at his wife and asked, “Where did all those girls appear from? Little Brother must now be fighting his way through a battalion.”

When Xiang Jie finally appeared and got into the car, he told his brother to quickly drive off. “I’ve had enough of those trouble makers for one night. All they talked of was shopping, designer labels, cosmetic surgeries and who had what done. No depth of character at all.”

Elder brother laughed. Shan Mei laughed too, reminding him, “This is just the beginning for you. Wait a year or two, when your brother makes you the general manager of MBS and CTN, these girls will be camping outside your house and your office.” On hearing that Xiang Zhe stole a sideway glance at his wife. He remained silent, wondering what was going through his wife’s mind?

“Oh, Xue Zhang,” Shan Mei gushed hooking her arm around her husband’s, pointing to a noodle night stall, “Can we stop by and have kimchi noodles?”

Xiang Zhe stopped the car nearby. The simplest things always gave his wife the most pleasures.

Xiang Jie jumped out of the car exclaiming he was very hungry too. The noodles tasted so delicious, he wanted another bowl. While he was slurping up the noodles, he wondered why he never met his “Xue Mei” at university. “Now, may be I’ve lost my chance.” He sighed with regret.

His brother ruffled his hair. “Little Brother, angels can appear at any time, but the right angel will appear most unexpectedly.” As he said that he looked at his wife with a deep meaning in his eyes. Eyeing his younger brother Xiang Zhe continued, “If you keep avoiding the trouble makers, may be you will miss your special angel who may be lurking among them?”

Xiang Jie gave his brother a puzzled look. “Elder Brother, how can I miss? Angels come with a head full of curls, the sweetest smile, innocent, laughing eyes and a pair of wings and a magic wand. Trouble makers come with horns, vampire teeth, hard evil-looking eyes and pointed tails, their hands holding tridents.”

Xiang Zhe on hearing this let off a loud laugh, nodded his head saying, “So true, so true,” thinking of Shan Mei, her curls, her sweet smile, her wings landing her on his car and her magic wand making everything worked out perfectly for her.

After they dropped Xiang Jie off at Father’s house, Shan Mei looked up to her husband giving him her sweetest smile and asked, “How about going to the cabin tonight?” He gave her an indulgent smile then drove off home to shower and change.

At the cabin, Shan Mei changed into her blue chiffon and lace nightgown that her husband loved so much. They lay in one another’s arms, looking through the skylight admiring the stars, Xiang Zhe stroking his wife’s arm.

He looked at her softly then cautiously asked, “What did you mean when you indicated to Xiang Jie that he might be general manager of MBS and CTN next year or the year after? Are you taking him out of Private Eye and putting our son in his place instead, judging by tonight’s response at the award ceremony when the press kept wanting to know where his little helper was? You’re hatching some plans behind my back?” When Xiang Jie was walking up the red carpet earlier that evening, the fans waiting outside the auditorium were applauding him and asking him where his little helper was.

Xiang Zhe still couldn’t get over it. He laughed softly at his wife, shaking his head. Their son was not even 4, yet already creating waves. Then remembering his question, he looked to his wife for an answer. She laughed softly with him, then looked shyly away. He turned her face back to him, giving her his no-nonsense look.

Sitting up on the mat, she leaned her back against the cabin wall. He followed suit. She whispered something into his ears.

“What?” he squealed and almost jumped. “Are you sure?”

“What do you mean am I sure? Haven’t you noticed?”

He shot out a hand to cup her breast, as if being 2 times father gave him lots of experience in testing for full breasts! “Darling, do you feel sore here?” Xiang Zhe asked, sounding very much like Dr. Kim.

Shan Mei pushed his hand away and answered shyly, “Not telling you.”

Xiang Zhe laughed wickedly seeing the blush on his wife’s cheeks. “Darling, if you have missed your monthly flow for 3-1/2 weeks, we’d better go see Dr. Kim. I am worried. Will you be able to manage with BR being only 9 months old? I’d better start training Xiang Jie to take up more responsibilities at the Station. I think I’ll put him in charge of a small division.”

Shan Mei believed Xiang Jie could do it. Shooting of Private Eye was so organised, they could actually shoot 2 - 3 episodes a day. She would ask Li Qing Xi to help him along. She was the most qualified to lead him through.

Xiang Zhe was losing his senses again. “What about CTN? I can’t have you working so hard?”

“Not to worry. I’ve it all figured out. Xiang Jie would be temporary 2nd in command. I am sure David will agree. Patrick will lead him through. The current secretaries are all very capable at working on their own. I’m sure they will be more than happy to help Xiang Jie through.”

Xiang Zhe breathed a sigh of relief. At least that bit was settled for the time being. Now back to his precious wife. “How are you feeling?” He put his ear to her tummy, trying to hear for some sign of heart beats. He stroked her tummy lovingly with his hand hoping to bring some comfort to her. He began planting soft tender kisses on her tummy, at the same time whispering sweet nothings into it. He raised his head, angry with her. He just remembered she was dancing around the floor earlier that evening and running around the room thanking this sponsor and that sponsor. “As soon as Dr. Kim confirms you are pregnant, no more running around for you. You must promise to be a good girl and stay home at your home office. Do you understand me?”

Then in a softer voice, he continued, “Darling, first thing tomorrow morning, we must go home. You need warm milk, and other more nutritious food, not kimchi noodles.” He then pulled the quilt over them and soothed her to sleep. He couldn’t sleep, worrying how his wife was going to cope. With whatever spare time she had, Ma was already busy helping Minnie. Xiang Zhe then looked on the brighter side of things. At least they were lucky BB would be occupied with school, and BR was a good baby, causing very little trouble. Too tired to think further he cuddled up to his wife, and was soon asleep.

The following morning, Dr. Kim on receiving Xiang Zhe’s phone call, told them to come to his clinic early Monday morning. So the very first thing on Monday morning, Shan Mei accompanied by her husband was at Dr. Kim’s consultation room. Like before, he told them to come back in an hour’s time after he was done with the initial examination. Husband and wife went for some breakfast. It was too early for shopping. The stores were not yet opened. They went to the park near Dr. Kim’s clinic. When they were back in the doctor’s clinic, Dr. Kim was beaming and offered his congratulations. He told them Shan Mei was 7 weeks along, and this time they might be expecting a bundle of double happiness. Shan Mei looked at her husband, excitement flashing all over her face. After Dr. Kim left them in his office while he went to get health supplements for Shan Mei, Xiang Zhe running his fingers through his hair laughed softly at his wife saying wickedly, “It must have been those fat, juicy oysters!”

Before they left, Dr. Kim told Shan Mei to visit again in 2 weeks time, and to take the necessary precautions for the first trimester. Once outside the clinic, Xiang Zhe laughed unbelievingly as his wife stood before him, her eyes shining, her whole body alight with suppressed excitement and happiness. He embraced her tightly to him and began kissing her wildly. Shan Mei stopped him, reminding him quietly that they were in a public place. She slipped her hand into his, and he squeezed it.

She cautioned, “Please don’t get so excited yet. Dr. Kim had said ‘might’ meaning he could be wrong.”

Xiang Zhe didn’t care. He whipped out his mobile phone to phone Zian Da. “Hi, it’s me. First, can you check with my secretary what’s in the appointment book for this afternoon? Get her to cancel and re-schedule everything for tomorrow afternoon. Then you will chair all of MBS meetings this afternoon, after which you can let me have the reports tomorrow. If I remember well, there should be nothing pending for Wen Rong. I won’t be in the office for the rest of the day; something very important just arose which I have to attend to at home.”

After that he finished the call. He gave his wife a soft smile and a tender kiss then they made their way to their car in the car park.

At home, he was scratching his head while he looked over the wing where they had the 5 bedrooms. One room was BR’s nursery, another was BB’s room. He wanted to use one room to keep all the children’s clothes making it easy for the maid, the remaining 2 rooms to turn into one big nursery.

Seeing her husband so engrossed in planning the big nursery, Shan Mei again reminded him, “Husband, don’t you think it more prudent to wait until our second visit to Dr. Kim before you make any major changes? Didn’t you hear correctly? Dr. Kim said we ‘might’ be expecting twins which meant he wasn’t 100% sure.”

“Never mind the doctor. I’m positively sure. We already have two sons. Won’t it be wonderful if we have two girls in one package?” He came to sit down next to his wife and said, “May be now the little baby girl’s clothes you have stored away in the suitcase can be used.” Then he asked his wife whether they could ask Dr. Kim for a scan, so they would know what colour scheme to use for the new nursery? Shan Mei released a sigh. Her husband, in his present mood, just wouldn’t listen to reason, again extolling the magic wonders of oysters. But he did agree not to make any announcement to the family until after the second visit to Dr. Kim.

He asked for his wife’s opinion in everything. He didn’t want to upset his wife, who was looking so beautiful and radiant sitting there, smiling and agreeing to everything he suggested.

Two weeks later at Dr. Kim’s, the doctor confirmed Shan Mei was indeed carrying twins. He would recommend a scan after the fourth or fifth month.

That night they telephoned Michael. “Hello, Michael Senior, did you see the photos of the babies Shan Mei sent to you via email?”

“Lord, those babes looked simply gorgeous and so precious. David took one look at them, and he almost died of jealousy. Ever since then, he had been nagging Cassie for a baby.”

“Well, if that’s the case, you can get ready to bury David.”

“Oh? He did something bad to you?” Michael laughingly asked.

Xiang Zhe laughed. “No, no, something better happened. We were at our doctor this morning, and he confirmed that Shan Mei is expecting twins, due in September.”

“Hey, can you please repeat the news in case I heard wrong.”

“Senior, it’s true. We’re expecting twins.”

Michael roared away with happy laughter wondering how he did it.

“Well, just advise David to take plenty of oysters – the really big fat juicy ones. When we were in Sydney for the Christmas Ball in December, I had oysters the 2 days we were there.”

Michael told Junior, “So, Papa-to-be, you make sure Shan Mei takes things easy. Anything she arranges for workload will be okay with me as long as she does not mention the word ‘resignation’. You understand me, Junior?”

Chapter AW-67

As soon as Xiang Zhe came out of a meeting with his assistants, he made his way to the control room, then to the studio filming live Two Sides To A Coin. He smiled as he looked through the camera lens watching his wife in action. She was really very special. Every time there was an awkward moment, she could so smoothly put the guests at ease.

He marveled at her cool. This morning they had been to Dr. Kim’s clinic. After the scan, Dr. Kim told them they would be expecting a girl and a boy. Yet, there she was bantering away with Patrick, smiling at a comment from one of the guests, as if nothing was more important than the guests she had before her.

He waited patiently at the sidelines, until the studio was empty of people, then made his way towards her. Exchanging a meaningful look with her, he took her hand in his and walked with her to his office. He told his secretary they didn’t want to be disturbed, Mrs. Yin was going to take a rest. He locked the door behind him. Taking her hand he led her to the sofa, sat and gently pulled her onto his lap, wrapping his arms loosely about her. He smiled at her, then gave her a tender kiss. “Darling, do you want to leave a pre-recorded tape for this evening’s radio show, or do you want to do it live?”

“I’d better do live otherwise the boss of MBS would say I am not serious enough about my work.”

He looked at her, then carried her to his table. He called recording studio, and told station controller to use pre-recorded tape for that night’s Musical Postcard. Shan Mei needed to go home and rest. When he left the office, he told his secretary he would be back in the office only on Monday morning.

His wife gave him a smirk.

Xiang Zhe noticed her smirk and said, “Darling, have a heart. On my birthday 3 weeks ago, didn’t I agree you could go ‘live’ for Musical Postcard, even though I had asked you to pre-record so we could go off somewhere together to cosy-cosy? So would you please accede to my one simple request for pre-record this evening?”

Recalling that birthday, he never expected it to end on such a romantic note. Shan Mei treated him to a special oyster dinner prepared by Master Chef at the CTN Executive Dining room. When it was time for recording, she invited him along. From her last postcard, she read out a ‘thank you’ message with birthday wishes to Y, the dedication came from Z with the final song for the night being “You’re My Love”. With that, she began singing and playing on her flamenco guitar. As Xiang Zhe paid careful heed to the lyrics of the song, his eyes misted upon the beautiful meaning. After that he couldn’t wait to get home. Before they reached their car in the car park, he already had his wife in his arms and was showering kisses on her face, her neck and her hands.

“Xue Zhang, please behave… the security guards are watching…”

“Who cares? I’m a mere human being too, anxious to show my wife how much I love and appreciate her.”

Now, he didn’t want to hear her protests – they had more important matters to attend to. They dropped by Father’s place to check on the babies. As usual, BB was in front of the TV watching his uncle in Private Eye. BR seemed to be enjoying the soft porridge Auntie Lee was feeding him. When he saw his parents he was happy and gurgling away. Shan Mei took over feeding duty from Auntie Lee while Xiang Zhe carried the baby on his lap. When she finished, BB went up to her wanting mummy to feed him too. After that he went up to daddy wanting to be carried too. He then climbed up on the sofa to sit on daddy’s lap. After a while, Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei left saying they were not staying for dinner.

Xiang Zhe drove Shan Mei to their cabin. He brought out from the boot of his car, the shopping he had done at the supermarket before meeting up with Shan Mei earlier at the studio. He insisted his wife lie down to rest on the quilted mat while he did the cooking. Shan Mei was not agreeable. “I am feeling okay. I’ve already completed my fourth month, going onto my fifth month. I can help with setting the table and preparing the drinks.”

But her husband wouldn’t hear anything of it and send her back to the cabin, exclaiming like a true professional, “Anything can happen at any month if you are not careful. With twins, you have to be doubly more careful.”

When Xiang Zhe announced dinner ready, Shan Mei was surprised. The meal looked great and tasted delicious. Her husband told her it was food recommended by Dr. Kim, plenty of fresh meat, fresh vegetables and fruits. He made a large glass of milk from milk powder enriched with calcium for her. After dinner, they sat outdoors enjoying the cool evening breeze. They were discussing when to let the seniors know. “Darling, your tummy is beginning to show.”

Shan Mei didn’t want Ma to worry about her, now that Minnie’s baby was not even 5 months old. She laughed, “Father and Pa used to say it was too quiet around the place. Now the house will be deluged with babies.”

Xiang Zhe grinned widely and said proudly, “All because I am running a very productive factory!”

Shan Mei gave him a smirk and retorted, “All because you have a very cooperative helper!”

Finally, both husband and wife decided they would make an announcement on Sunday.

It began to drizzle lightly. They prepared to go indoors, when some trickles of rain fell on to Shan Mei’s cheeks and the end of her nose. Xiang Zhe quickly licked the droplets off her saying, “You taste good, with this Springtime rain.” Shan Mei poked him in his ribs for his licks. Inside the cabin, they shut the skylight and slid back the rooftop into place. They quickly had their shower before it got too chilly, and then lay back on the mat to enjoy the music made by the rain.

Xiang Zhe inched closer to Shan Mei, embracing her from behind. He ran his hand tenderly over her tummy. He whispered into her ear, “Tomorrow I want to take you to Madam Kim to select a dress that will match the beautiful pearl and diamond necklace that Father bought for you from Sydney, for the company’s anniversary luncheon. Last year you looked so beautiful and radiant. I want to show my baby princess how beautiful her mother looked when she was pregnant with her.”

“What about baby prince?” Shan Mei asked, worried Xiang Zhe was only thinking of the baby girl.

“Boys usually know by instinct how beautiful their mothers are, that is why they usually choose wives very similar in character or looks to their mothers.”

“What about you, Xue Zhang?”

“I was no exception. Darling, if only you realise how closely you resemble my mother in character. It was love that made Mother lose her senses. Just like if I lose you, I won’t want to carry on, same if you lose me, you will find it difficult to carry on. Darling, I want you to promise me you will never leave me. If you leave, you’ll not only be leaving me, you’ll be leaving behind 4 orphans!”

She sat up and looked at him sharply, asking angrily why he was suddenly talking nonsense. “You’re my treasure, how can I leave you?”

She went back down on the mat. She circled her arms around him, gave him a tender kiss on his lips before resting her face against his shoulder, to go to sleep.

His arms enveloped her tightly. He was thinking back to the time when he first embraced her in a similar way, when he ran back to the MBS News studio to find her after the ringing mobile phone incident. He was comforting her, telling her everything was going to be alright, relishing the joy of being held by her. He was drowning in the bliss of that moment. In truth, that time he had hoped she wouldn’t stop crying, so he could carry on embracing her and she continue holding onto him. It was after that time, every time he sent her home, he was so reluctant to let her go. It was such a good feeling having her in his arms. It was this feeling that had driven him insane with jealousy whenever he imagined her in You Zhen’s arms.

Chapter AW-68

No one was answering Shan Mei’s hand phone. ‘Strange,’ Xiang Zhe thought. Shan Mei had told him when he last spoke to her about an hour ago that she was going in to the office only to sign some urgent documents. He immediately went up to CTN’s office asking the secretary where his wife was.

“Mr. Yin, Miss Zhen left the office in a hurry after receiving a call. She didn’t say where she was going …..”

Xiang Zhe’s brows lowered ominously as he turned from looking out of the window in Shan Mei’s office to regard Patrick and Xiang Jie, who had come into the office and were standing nearby after he had paged for them both.

“I wonder where she is. She’s due to deliver anytime. She must be found. Didn’t she mention anything to either one of you?” Xiang Zhe muttered, his angry tone belying his fear and his anguish.

Both Xiang Jie and Patrick answered at once. “I didn’t even know she was in the office.”

Looking at them from under his lashes, he said, as if talking to himself, “It’s not like her at all, not answering her mobile phone – she always leaves a message for me, even if it’s a brief SMS.”

He turned and looked out the window again. “Oh God, give me some sign where my wife may be,” he pleaded, his own rasping voice loud in the silence as he ran his hand through his hair now wildly in disarray.

Just then, Pa called Xiang Zhe on his mobile phone, his voice shaking with worry.

“Yes, Pa?”

“Xiang Zhe, Madam Song from Daeshan Village just called to inform me that Shan Mei is now at her place in premature labour pains.”

Xiang Zhe was visibly shaking as he held on to his phone, his voice trembling and he was frantic as he asked Pa, “Who is Madam Song? Where is Daeshan Village? What’s she doing there?”

“Xiang Zhe, calm down. I’ve already called for an ambulance. Get your chauffeur to drive you around to the park at once. I’ll lead the way. Hurry.”

Seeing Xiang Zhe’s anguished state, the two brothers immediately became alert when he ordered in a shudder, “Xiang Jie, get the company car and have it wait for me at the front – at once! Your Sister is in some kind of trouble.” Xiang Jie shot off at once, while his fingers were busy working at his mobile phone.

“And Patrick, you wait around here and hold the fort. Get hold of Dr. Kim at once and inform him that Shan Mei is in critical condition. He is to have everything ready at the hospital to handle an emergency. An ambulance is already on its way to Daeshan Village, wherever the hell that place is, to get Shan Mei. That woman! She never listens to instructions. What the devil was she doing at Daeshan Village?” Xiang Zhe had lost his control and almost screamed as the flat of his palm fell on Shan Mei’s office table with a thundering thump. “And don’t inform my father. I don’t want to worry him.” Then he rushed off to the lift.

Twenty minutes later, after a mad drive weaving in and out the roads of the city that finally took him to the foot of a village on the outskirts of town, Pa led him up a narrow flight of steps before they arrived at Madam Song’s tiny cottage.

Seeing the sight before him, Xiang Zhe’s heart almost leapt out of his body. His wife was there on the cold stone floor, lying motionless, a blanket over half her body. Then he saw blood. He couldn’t breathe. His heart slammed into his chest as he stared at her. He sank to his knees as great sobs of despair and desolation broke from his lips, his whole body shaking with the force of his anguish. At that moment, he heard the wailing sirens of an ambulance.

“Shan Mei, my darling! Oh my God!”

She imagined his voice. She began to tremble. ‘I’m dying,’ she thought.

She blinked trying desperately to focus on his face. “Xue Zhang? Our babies?”

With a gasp at the sound of his whispered name, he tore his hands from his tear-streaked face and stared, to see his beloved Shan Mei’s teary, blurry eyes looking back to his.

“Yes, Shan Mei? You’re safe now, darling. Our babies are going to be fine. I’m here. Just hang on.”

“You’re here,” she whispered labouriously as a tear slipped down her pale cheek, and she tried to lift up an arm to him. It fell down back to the ground and before he could react, she passed out.

Wiping his cheeks and obviously struggling to get control of his feelings, Xiang Zhe drew back – but only a little. He felt as if his guts had been ripped out of him. Loud, running steps behind him indicated the hospital attendants from the ambulance were there.

Weak with relief as well as with exhaustion, he bent down by her side as he tried to smooth several damp tendrils of hair away from her face with shaky fingers. “Oh my darling, my dearest darling,” Xiang Zhe murmured as he kissed her forehead. “That you were here alone …….”

The few hospital male attendants very quickly shoved him aside, and then with very quick and precise movements and instructions, Shan Mei was transferred from the ground onto a stretcher, carried down downhill and deposited gently into the rear of the ambulance. Pa was assisting a badly shaking Xiang Zhe down the hill as quickly as he could manage. Xiang Zhe was assisted by an attendant into the vehicle as well.

One afternoon in Xiang Zhe’s office, 3 months after the birth of the twins, Pa phoned Xiang Zhe after receiving a call from Shan Mei.

Pa’s voice on the phone was a conspiratorial whisper. “Xiang Zhe, Shan Mei wants me to drive her to Madam Song in Daeshan Village. Before that, she wants to stop by Koreana Ginseng Shop on Main Street in Dongdaemun. Park you car somewhere near Koreana so you can follow my car to Daeshan Village. After she’s in the car, I won’t be able to contact you and I don’t know where else she’ll want to go. ”

When they arrived at Daeshan Village, Shan Mei told her Pa to wait for her, while she walked up the slight incline of steps to reach Madam Song’s cottage. She shouldn’t be gone for more than 15 minutes.

After parking his car a little away from Pa’s, Xiang Zhe followed discreetly behind. He saw Shan Mei entering a cottage. Moments later, Madam Song and Shan Mei emerged and made their way to a cottage next to Madam Song’s place. Shan Mei held out a key, indicating to the woman that it was key to that cottage. She handed the key to Madam Song after which she took out from her handbag a note paper with some numbers written on it.

After witnessing all this, Xiang Zhe then quickly and quietly left the scene of the ‘crime’. In a little while, Shan Mei after finally bidding Madam Song a farewell made her way down the steps back to the main road. She looked around, her Pa was not around, instead she saw Xiang Zhe leaning against his car and waiting …..! When he saw her, he opened the door to the car and waited ………..

After driving off some way, Xiang Zhe smilingly looked at his wife quietly and asked, “Darling, where would you like to go to now?”

When silence still prevailed, he asked, just as gently, “Darling, why don’t you want to talk with me? Don’t you want to be friends with me? Are you upset with me?” His patience was tested, so was her mood. With no response from her, he made his way back home.

Shan Mei remained silent all the way back to the house.

Inside the house, Xiang Zhe’s hand reached out and stopped Shan Mei from walking away. “Shan Mei ……” He touched her shoulder but she flinched away. Hurt, he withdrew his hand and waited. When she refused to face him, he walked around her and confronted her face to face.

“Darling, why are you shutting me out?”

“I’m not shutting you out.”

She evaded all the kisses he wanted to give her. He knew she had been acting strange after giving birth to the twins. He had discussed this with Dr. Kim, and was told some women suffered from postpartum depression. Shan Mei might have a mild case. There was no specific cure; the patients would be prescribed medication and they needed time to adjust to their new circumstances.

She ran up the stairs, Xiang Zhe followed. Inside their bedroom, he sat her down on his lap on their bed, holding her tight. He was waiting patiently for answers to the questions that he had asked in the car.

Finally, she glared at him and asked him in a dangerous soft voice, “What did you do behind my back?”

He was caught speechless. Guilt was written all over his face, yet he persisted he wasn’t hiding anything from her.

“Xue Zhang, until you are prepared to tell, I’m not prepared to talk.”

From the defiant tone of her voice, he knew she wasn’t going to give way. Looking sheepish, he confessed he had the vasectomy because he couldn’t risk having her pregnant again.

Shan Mei’s incredulous look of shock surprised him. “What did you say? You had what?” She almost screamed out at him.

“I almost lost you when you had such a hard time giving birth to the twins. I knew then if anything should happen to you, I wouldn’t want to live. We already have 4 kids, so the vasectomy was the right decision for us. I’m sorry I did not discuss this with you. That time you were in a bad shape at the hospital.” He looked fearful and remorseful.

“I meant your hiding something else, and now I manage to dig out another secret.”

Xiang Zhe hit himself for being caught out unintentionally. “So what’s this other secret you want to dig out?”

“Why have you secretly arranged with Pa and the rest of your brotherhood members that whatever I want them to do for me, they are to report to you first? What’s going on?”

Placing his hands tenderly on her shoulders, he said gently, “You have been acting strange. Dr. Kim suspects you may be suffering from a mild case of postpartum depression. We are supposed to keep watch over you. Some patients tend to be suicidal. If something should happen to you or to me, none of them want to bear the responsibility, so they are only too relieved to let me know everything.”

By this time he was stroking her back, burying his face in her hair. “Darling, are you going to tell me what has been bothering you, so I can help you? Do you want to leave CTN to Xiang Jie and Patrick, so I can take you away for a long holiday? And what were you discussing so secretly with that Madam Song this morning? In September, what were you doing at Madam Song’s place when you were supposed to be resting at home waiting for the twin’s birth?”

With no answers coming from Shan Mei, he droned on. “You scared that poor woman almost out of her wits when she found you lying at her doorstep. We managed to get you to Dr. Kim in the nick of time, otherwise ……” Xiang Zhe had difficulty continuing. Just thinking of Shan Mei’s lifeless figure on that cold, hard ground was enough to send bone-chilling shivers up his spine. He swallowed hard and continued. “On top of this, you had a very difficult delivery. At one stage, Dr. Kim almost lost his concentration when I kept stressing to him that in case of emergency, it was you he had to save, not the babies. If you had died, my reason for living was over too.”

Xiang Zhe remembered calling out to Shan Mei creating such disturbance, the doctors in that delivery room had to keep him in another room under sedation. Consideration of the possibility of losing her in childbirth was too agonizingly real to contemplate. The feeling of utter helplessness that had overwhelmed him as he sat impotently and watched her in labour, frail and weak, hanging on to life by a hair’s breath was very unnerving.

He leaned his forehead against hers with a weary sigh. He almost sobbed in a pleading tone, “Shan Mei, please don’t do this to me. I don’t know how long more I can continue like this. Don’t you care? Tell me, what’s bothering you?” Then he sobbed into her ear, “Shan Mei, can’t you see? I’m hurting terribly too.”

She moistened her lips and in a low whisper said, “The only thing bothering me is this. I’ve wondered these past few months what kind of a person my husband is, inside. Is he strong enough to face any adversity? Is his heart big and generous enough to accept any wrong against him? Is he really willing to accept bygones as bygones? Can he look beyond his nose and accept talent for talent’s sake instead of being biased?”

“Shan Mei, what are you rambling about? Haven’t I accepted Xiang Jie?”

“What if he was not your brother?”

“Well maybe at a later date, and not giving him such heavy responsibility at so young an age, and until he has truly proven himself. Please understand, in our business where so much is at stake, we have to be cautious.”

“What about me, if I were not your wife?”

“I haven’t really thought about it. The only job I’ve always had in mind for you is being Mrs. Yin Xiang Zhe right from the start.” Xiang Zhe continued with a teasing grin. “Well, during your MBS days, you have to admit you were a clumsy clot, slow witted as well. I didn’t know how that Michael could say you were good. I’m sure if you had not run off to London, your penchant for disasters would have gotten you the sack eventually. It was no secret Step uncle and Liu Yong Xi were waiting for their chance.”

“What about Patrick?”

“I liked him the first time I saw him and thought he complemented you perfectly, professionally.”

“What about Han Jae Hoon?”

“If it was up to me, I wouldn’t have put him in dubbing or taken him out of drama. You must understand, for such matters, the Department Head has the say. I simply get a report on any changes. If not for you, I wouldn’t even have noticed the existence of Han Jae Hoon.”

“What about Zian Da?”

“Well, he is my Senior and has made it his business to act as my private reporter and counselor – in my interest, so he says. In the beginning I never really noticed that he always kept quiet when it came to crucial moments for decision making. I know this is not good for the company. Later I also realised he only reported those things he wanted me to know about; those he didn’t, he kept quiet. Anyway, my dearest wife, what has all this questioning got to do with what’s bothering you?”

Shan Mei was very disappointed and didn’t hide this fact from her husband. “Xue Zhang, you’re very biased in selection of your staff, especially after what you told me about Zian Da. The man’s not effective in a decision-making position but because he’s your Senior and does private reporting to you, you put him in an important position. I’ve decided I don’t want to take over MBS in whatever capacity you or Father may have in mind for me. And I’m not going to let Xiang Jie go to MBS, because I’m afraid his talent may be overlooked or misused.”

“Now, now, wait a second. With just a word of not wanting to be further involved with MBS, you try to cop out in answering my question. Tell me, what has all this got to do with what’s bothering you?”

“Everything!” she answered and tried to wriggle out of his arms. He wouldn’t let her and held on to her tightly.

Xiang Zhe tilted her face to look up to his, his stormy eyes searching hers. “Huh, finally, the truth is out! So all the game play is about Xiang Jie? Is he so important to you, more important to you than your own husband? I can’t believe after all these years, despite all of your assurances, I’m still only as good as No. 2 in your heart. First, You Zhen was the most important person in the world for you, now it’s Xiang Jie!!!”

Xiang Zhe was not only upset but downright jealous and he was going to get to the bottom of this game even if he had to make her sit there all day. Hell if he was going to let another man become the most important person in his wife’s life again. That You Zhen when his love affair with that Xu Ying Mei went awry had caused him, Xiang Zhe, unbearable heartache and 2 years of missed happiness with Shan Mei!

“Yes, Xue Zhang is right. This whole issue is about Xiang Jie. The important factor is not Xiang Jie or my husband, but the entire Yin family.”

Xiang Zhe became impatient wanting to know more, but he had to calm down otherwise she would clam up and they would have another impasse. She who had brought light and happiness back into his previous hopeless existence could not now be telling him she wanted to part ways with him professionally; she was no longer interested in the future of MBS, the legacy for their children?

He didn’t get her drift. Now it was his turn to get tired. He left her sitting on the bed while he went over to the love seat, taking the glass of water with him. His hands rubbed at his forehead, at his eyes. Shan Mei got off the bed and left the room. He didn’t stop her, nor did he ask where she was going. He simply stared bitterly and blankly at her receding back. These past 3 months seemed as if he was living with a time bomb – postpartum depression could make a woman become a stranger to herself, harbour suicidal thoughts or suddenly decide to walk away from her everything, and more than enough trouble to drive him up the wall, the way Dr. Kim had warned.

But the way she carried on with her CTN duties didn’t make her appear abnormal. Just the other day, he heard her talking downstairs in her office very happily with S. D. Sung about the promotion for Bansung’s range of high-end computers, especially that part when Bansung nominated one Sunday their University Day. That day Xiang Jie dropped in at 4 campuses and managed to help Bansung staff sell almost 2,000 units of the model Xiang Jie was using for his Private Eye. S. D. Sung was extremely pleased and was considering signing Xiang Jie as their Product Ambassador for their Bansung top-end TV range too.

A few minutes later, Shan Mei came back to the room with a cup of hot coffee for him. He was stunned because he didn’t expect his wife to know his patience was wearing thin and he needed a coffee badly. Was she really suffering from depression, or was it some thing else he hadn’t managed to prise out of her? He knew if it was some thing unpleasant, she would close up like a clam. It had been so many years, yet she hadn’t once told him about the evil things that Xu Ying Mei had done to her.

At least he had gained some ground. The whole thing was about Xiang Jie. He must remember to keep his cool. If he couldn’t contain his jealousy, and start acting or talking crazy, it would be the end of the conversation or much worse, the end of their marriage!

He could sense something different in her. Like, she was annoyed with him, herself and his family, and Zian Da’s inconsistent efficiency at MBS that she had finally decided she wanted no part in. Xiang Zhe had to admit grudgingly, for the things Zian Da wanted to do, he was efficient, and it seemed he was not giving Xiang Jie the strong support due to an heir who might one day assume the most important position in MBS.

What had happened? Last summer when she filmed interview with Xiang Jie for Private Eye promo, and when she prepared for production of Private Eye, she was very eager and excited. Eighteen months on, it seemed she had become disillusioned and wanted to pull the show out of MBS. It could not be ratings – in fact the show was pulling in a new segment of viewers for MBS – viewers between the ages of 16 – 22. It couldn’t be the production team – that he was certain. They had gone out of their way to make things happen for her. What then had gone wrong?

If the show was pulled out of MBS, Father would definitely assume there was trouble in paradise. If it ever came to his ears that Zian Da was only supporting Xiang Jie in a haphazard way, Father would surely re-assess Zian Da’s role in the company, even though Bargain Corner was doing so well. Father had commented many times any good presenter could run the Corner, after all the hard work Shan Mei had put it. Ever since that time when Shan Mei ran off to London, Father had been unhappy with Zian Da saying he didn’t know how to retain the right people, letting the good ones go and encouraging the wrong ones to stay. He couldn’t give Zian Da the sack because of his long-time friendship with his comrade Liu. Father would again chastise Xiang Zhe for backing the wrong horse.

After his coffee, he went up to his wife asking her whether he could help her with collecting mother’s milk for the twins? In fact she was just about to go to the other room to prepare the pump and sterilise feeding bottles. She nodded. He was so happy. This was the first positive reaction from her the whole day.

“Darling, why don’t you lie down and take a rest, while I run over to Father’s place with these bottles?”

Over at Father’s place, he saw Xiang Jie and decided to see whether he knew what was going on with his sister? “Xiang Jie, have you talked with your sister lately? About anything?”

“Well, last week she told Brother Jae Hoon to take me to a lawyer’s office in Dongdaemun. Mother has left me a small property in some village, and I was to collect the title deed and the key. I’ve handed these things over to Sister for safe keeping. Something wrong?”

“No, no…. just make sure nanny knows I’ve brought over, these two bottles of milk for the twins.”

Xiang Zhe suddenly remembered. Shan Mei had told him once his stepmother had a little cottage somewhere near Madam Song. She saw her once there with Jin Enqi. Was that the key she gave to Madam Song this morning? What about the list of numbers he saw her give to Madam Song? Was the note connected to that louse Jin Enqi? He smiled secretly to himself as if he had worked out something for himself.

He took a glass of warm water to his wife in the bedroom, reminding her it was time to take her pills.

“I’m not taking these pills anymore. And I’m not crazy like what you all assume.”

Xiang Zhe coaxed Shan Mei in a soothing voice. “No, no darling, these pills are to help you stay calm. I don’t want to let that louse Jin Enqi upsetting you in any way.”

“Step uncle Jin, they found him? Or has Madam Song phoned to let me know he has shown up at that cottage?” Shan Mei asked anxiously.

“No, Madam Song hasn’t phoned, but you’re to tell me everything otherwise I won’t go to work at MBS or Wen Rong. I’ll spend all my time digging up dirt, following every clue no matter how tiny. I know you have given the key to stepmother’s cottage to Madam Song.”

She looked at him and asked, “Have you been talking to Madam Song?”

“No but I soon will. And last September when you were supposed to be in the office to sign some papers, you went to Daeshan Village to meet Jin Enqi, right?” All these were mere deductions on Xiang Zhe’s part but he was finally getting through to her.

He drew her into his arms, stroking her hair, her back, reassuring her of his love. “Darling, I’m here to protect you. If you don’t tell me what has been happening, how am I going to help you?”

Shan Mei looked at her husband, her eyes all red and swollen with her constant sobbing. “Xue Zhang, if I tell you, our world will explode.”

“No, it won’t. I promise to stay calm, no matter what.”

He saw her face paled, saw her close her eyes for a moment. He said very quietly, “Please tell me what you’re thinking. Don’t shut me out anymore.”

She remained silent.

“I love you, Shan Mei. I am your husband. You don’t have to be strong all the time on your own. You can lean on me; you may use me.”

She continued looking at him, her eyes all wet, her mouth quivering, wanting so badly to believe him. Her fingers touched his lips and she began to talk in a trembling voice.

“Last September Jin Enqi phoned me after you dropped me off at CTN town office. He said he had explosive evidence about Xiang Jie not being Father’s biological son. He was on the run and needed money urgently. I was to bring cash to Daeshan Village to exchange for the information. I thought I had an hour’s time before you would pick me up from the office so I quickly rushed off. When I arrived and asked to see the evidence, he snatched my handbag, took whatever money I had in it, and after pushing me onto the ground throwing my handbag back at me, he ran off. I managed to slowly make my way to Madam Song’s place. Madam Song knew Pa very well, because the Zhen family has been donating 30 bags of rice to be delivered to Madam Song every month to add to her rice distribution to the poor.”

Xiang Zhe wanted to know, “How did Jin Enqi associate you with Daeshan Village?” They stared at one another as a recollection suddenly dawned on them, when Shan Mei was at Daeshan Village to interview Madam Song about her charitable act – An Angel Without Wings. Step uncle Jin Enqi must have recognised the place from the video clip, and then recognised Shan Mei who had been waiting outside Madam Song’s cottage when he met up with stepmother at their cottage nearby. It must had been from that point onwards that he began harbouring some kind of dislike for Shan Mei and had tried to use every available opportunity to make disparaging remarks about her, hoping to get rid of her from MBS. And that time was such a long, long time ago – Shan Mei’s first project for MBS.

“This morning, as a gesture of thanks, I wanted to increase the bags of rice but Madam Song had no place to store them. I told her to use stepmother’s little cottage as extra storage space. And that if she ever saw that Mr. Jin Enqi snooping around the area again, she was to call Mr. Cho of Chosoon, to get that Jin Enqi arrested. I also told Madam Song the little cottage didn’t belong to him; it belonged to the lady who used to live there.” Shan Mei paused a while as she was getting quite breathless.

“Here, take a sip of water,” Xiang Zhe said as he brought the glass of water to her lips.

“Xue Zhang, what if that man really has evidence that Xiang Jie is not Father’s son, what shall we do? Seeing how desperate he was that day, I am afraid that he may one day kidnap our babies for ransom money. I want to leave Seoul and go live somewhere safe, out of Jin Enqi’s reach, with the babies.” Shan Mei was holding on to Xiang Zhe and sobbing.

Xiang Zhe’s chest was heaving dangerously. His big eyes, appearing bigger and darker than usual, were rolling around blazing with fury. No wonder his younger brother didn’t look like him at all, even though he was very handsome in his own way. If that was true, that Xiang Jie had stolen his father from him making him suffer unnecessarily all those years, and stepmother had stolen his mother’s husband letting her pine away till her death, and that Jin Enqi making so much trouble for him at MBS, all because of greed. And the man had the gall to ask his wife in such advanced stage of pregnancy to go pay him some money. She almost suffered from miscarriage and would have died in childbirth. Someone would have to pay, and pay dearly. They took his father, his mother and almost took his wife and the twins from him.

Seeing Xiang Zhe’s ferocious eyes and heavy breathing, Shan Mei became fearful and tried to calm him. “Husband, please think rationally. Xiang Jie is innocent. He was a pawn in their plan. Father must never know of this. It will kill him. Darling, think of your father, even if you don’t think of anybody else. He cannot take this kind of shock at his age.”

Xiang Zhe turned to look at his wife. In her panic, she was calling him ‘husband’ and ‘darling’ – these words from his wife always got his attention. She was stroking his chest as if to calm him. He smiled bitterly and kissed her deeply. She kissed him back. Now that the whole story was out, she felt a whole load was taken off her shoulders. She circled his neck with her arms, showing him how much she had missed him all this time.

“Husband, let’s assume Xiang Jie is your blood brother. Can Dr. Kim arrange for DNA testing? He has to be sworn to secrecy. I was thinking of 3 blood samples, one from you, one from Xiang Jie and one from Father. If the result from the test between Father and Xiang Jie is not so clear, then Dr. Kim maybe can confirm with test between you and Xiang Jie. If the results prove conclusive, that Xiang Jie is Father’s child – okay, we will have no more worries. If the results are negative, we will send Xiang Jie to Michael. We’ve got to act fast, now that Xiang Jie is gaining such high profile coverage. It would take a lot of money to keep that Jin Enqi’s mouth quiet.” She again appealed to her husband to think rationally.

Xiang Zhe hugged Shan Mei to him tight. He looked at her with such pain in his eyes. All these months she had been carrying the burden alone on her pair of delicate shoulders. He was so sorry his family was always causing her so much pain and worry. He loved his wife too much; he didn’t want to see her suffer any more. He would remain calm, and do as she suggested.

He phoned Dr. Kim, saying he wanted to have a DNA test done. “Uncle Kim, you understand this matter is highly confidential. The purpose of the test is to prove the paternity of my younger brother. I’ll come with my brother to your clinic. How you go about getting the necessary sample from Father, I leave that up to you. As for my brother, I’ll simply tell him he needs to do a medical check-up for insurance purpose. He is not to know of DNA testing. Naturally, I’d like you to personally handle the matter.”

After he hung up, he looked at his wife and shook his head in mild dismay, but there was already a faint smile on his face when he hugged her protectively against him. “No matter what, I promise I’m not going hold that against Xiang Jie. You always could wrap me around your finger,” he declared as he wiped a tear from the corner of her eye with his thumb. “Now, I want to see a sweet smile back on your face, the special smile you always reserve for me. No more crying, no more swollen, weepy eyes. Understand?” She nodded in agreement.

When he saw a smile wavering on his wife’s lips, he caught Shan Mei back into his arms and moaned, “Oh Shan Mei. I’ve missed you so much when you didn’t respond to me. My poor baby, never again try to burden yourself with such a heavy load. Didn’t we promise to always share our problems?”

Tonight he was taking his wife out to dinner. He went to her wardrobe and selected one of the new dresses he had bought for her. He too took time and care in dressing up. At Westin Chosun’s supper club, they had lovely juicy steaks washed down with champagne, then stayed on a bit for a spot of dancing. Holding his wife in his arms, with her circling her arms around his waist, leaning her head against a shoulder with eyes closed, stroking his back so tenderly under his jacket, Xiang Zhe was utterly immersed in the magic of the moment. He was bursting with happiness. His sweet, beautiful Shan Mei was finally back.

As they moved slowly around the floor, she suddenly lifted her face and whispered softly, “Xue Zhang?”

“Hmm, darling?” he answered as he brushed his cheek against the side of her face several times.

“You’ve always been the most important person in my life since the night we celebrated my 26th birthday. To me, you’ve always been No. 1 and will always remain so.”

Shan Mei could feel her husband’s arms tightening around her. His steps faltered and he slowed down, dark smouldering eyes roving over her upturned face. In a voice sounding husky he said, “If this is true, you certainly took your time in telling me.” Not finishing the dance, he released Shan Mei and with one arm around her shoulders, he led her back to their table. After he settled the bill, he said, “We’re going home now. We’re done with talking. Show me you mean what you just told me when we’re in bed tonight.”

On the drive home, Xiang Zhe thought contentedly, tonight they would spend all night making slow, sweet love. Beginning tomorrow, they would spend more time with the twins. He had been busy keeping eye on his wife; he never really had the time to enjoy his baby princess. The baby girl looked exactly like her mother, the baby boy looked exactly like his father. Tears came to his eyes thinking of them. They were so well behaved and so beautiful.

Chapter AW-69

After making all the necessary arrangements, Xiang Zhe took Shan Mei off to London for a holiday just before Christmas. Michael was at the airport to meet them and he was very happy and relieved to see Shan Mei back to her old self. He insisted Xiang Zhe drive the little car Xiang Jie had used while he was in London. When Michael dropped them off at their house, Xiang Zhe saw the little car already parked at the front yard of the house. Stepmother had been to the house to clean up the place and left the house key under a flower pot.

Two days after their arrival in England, Xiang Zhe drove his wife down to Brighton staying at Queen’s Hotel again and in the same room that they had shared when they were there previously for the Brighton Music Fest. That time when he saw Shan Mei coming out of the bathroom, her hair all damp, he thought she had never looked more beautiful. She giggled, telling him if he wanted to know, on their wedding night, the first time she saw him walking into their bedroom with the ends of his hair all damp, she thought her Xue Zhang looked the most handsome.

“Hey, why didn’t you tell me then? I always thought in your eyes Han Jae Hoon is the most handsome, followed by Patrick, Michael, You Zhen then Xiang Jie.”

She gave him a smirk. “If I had showered you with more compliments, your head would have grown too big for your pillow!”

Shan Mei commented the management kept the hotel and its rooms exactly as they were 7 years ago. She thumped around the big sofa where she had slept. “The sofa still feels just as comfortable as when I slept on it 7 years ago.”

Xiang Zhe on hearing that immediately carried her to the big bed, not giving her a chance to say she wanted to sleep on the sofa that night.

After 2 nights in Brighton, they drove back to London. They spent the days punting on the river Cam and the evenings taking bus rides. Xiang Zhe asked her, “Darling, did you ever notice every time we were in the punt, I always folded my arms or clung on tightly to my satchel? Many times I was so tempted to put my arm around your shoulders and hug you close to me. Same goes for our bus rides. I rested my folded arms on the back support of the seat in front of me, otherwise I would surely have wrapped my arm around your shoulders. Frankly speaking, I was scared because such thoughts were so foreign to me. Now, sitting on the upper open deck of the bus, with the cold December wind blowing in our faces, I’m not only embracing my wife in my warmth, I’m kissing and caressing her.”

Shan Mei suddenly broke loose from his mouth, whispering to him she wanted to go home. Her eyes, mirroring his, were dark pools of passion. He laughed, taking her hand into his, they quickly made their way down the winding staircase, and got off at the next bus stop.

After two glorious days visiting their haunts in London, they met up with stepmother and Mr. Park for lunch in one of the cosy cafes along the Thames. At the end of the meal when they were enjoying coffee, stepmother wanted to visit the rest room. Shan Mei went with her.

Once inside when Shan Mei noticed the only occupants were the two of them, she came right out with news that had been disturbing her. “Auntie, that Jin Enqi has been giving me trouble saying that Xiang Jie is not Father’s real son, and he had blackmailed me for money.” When Stepmother had a questioning look on her face, Shan Mei admitted, “I had given him some, because at that time I didn’t want any trouble from him. But now I’m afraid he’ll soon be back for more. The worse scenario for us is if he doesn’t get money directly from me, he may try to kidnap our babies. If what he has told me is true, I want to send Xiang Jie back to London to work for CTN, which will be a pity now that he is doing so well in MBS.”

Stepmother, on hearing this, was furious. “Shan Mei, there is absolutely no truth at all to whatever Jin Enqi has been telling you. Next time that Jin Enqi asks you for money, just call the police. I’m sick and tired of his greed for power and money and all his scheming ways.”

When they returned to their table, Mr. Park noticed the silent angry look on his wife, and immediately asked her what happened. She told her husband. Mr. Park who doted on his wife so much of course wouldn’t let a mischief maker like that Jin Enqi upset her. He told her, “Honey, don’t worry. I have a pretty good idea where scums like Jin on the run would hide. I’ll have my people in Seoul take care of him so thoroughly, that there will be no chance for him to ever again ask for money or kidnap Shan Mei’s babies, or harm our son Xiang Jie. Are you happy with this plan?”

She smiled at him and nodded her head. Mr. Park let off a loud laugh and gave her a peck on her cheek.

Mr. Park turned to Shan Mei and assured her, “Shan Mei, you don’t have to worry anymore. Any time you feel uncomfortable with this Jin, just call me. Understand?” When Shan Mei gave a nod of understanding, he further added, “My shop has just received a fresh consignment of peaches from Australia. Tomorrow when you leave for the airport, I’ll send my van with the peaches, to take you two to the airport.”

“Thank you, Uncle Park, but my employer, Michael Dutton, has already arranged for his car to take us to the airport tomorrow.”

“In that case, my van will deliver the cartons of peaches directly to the airport and my man will help you check them in. We have all the necessary permits for re-export and import into Korea.”

That night, taking their usual bus ride, Xiang Zhe told his wife that Mr. Park really doted on his stepmother and he was happy for them. Not that his own father loved stepmother less, but he had never seen his father being openly demonstrative and affectionate. Not like Yin Xiang Zhe who wanted the whole world to know how much he loved his wife, and he began kissing Shan Mei. At one point when he realised they were the only passengers left on the upper deck, he slipped his hand under his wife’s overcoat and sweater, and began caressing her.

“Aiyoo, Xue Zhang, stop it. Behave yourself. We’re not the only passengers on this bus!”

Trying to keep his laughter in his throat, he answered, “I will, if you decide you’ve had enough of this icy wind blowing into our faces. I want to go home for a hot bath and then snuggle up to you under our warm quilt.”

Back in Seoul after their trip to London, and now in Father’s place waiting for dinner to start, Xiang Zhe was cooing to his baby princess Bao Zhu as he circled the room with baby in his arms. If he could, he wanted to take her to the office with him so he could look at her all day. BB and BR went up to their daddy, each pulling at his trousers. He looked down, smiled lovingly at their upturned faces. They looked up to their daddy and voiced in unison, “We want Daddy too.” Xiang Zhe walked toward the sofa and sat down. The boys climbed up, BR sitting in the crook of daddy’s other arm, while BB snuggled up to daddy next to baby sister. Mummy was in the nursery feeding baby brother Bao Aun.

Patrick was just walking into the house through the rear door. He was going through some shots he had taken with his camera. Seeing the cosy family together, he couldn’t help but capture them on camera. As soon as they noticed the camera flash, BB and BR ran up to Uncle Pat, and wanted attention from him. Patrick picked up his favourite boy BR into his arms, then holding BB with his other hand, he led them to the kitchen, to see whether there was any ice cream left in the freezer.

BB danced around with excitement, reminding Patrick, “Uncle Pat, I’m now almost 5 years old, so by reason I should be getting a larger portion than BR.”

Shan Mei softly made her way to her husband, telling him that BA was now asleep, and it was BZ’s turn for feeding. Xiang Zhe took her hand and they walked back to the nursery together. While Shan Mei was feeding the baby, Xiang Zhe looked on lovingly at mother and daughter. He kept stroking the little head of his baby, one arm around his wife’s shoulders. He really felt so blessed. He softly whispered into his wife’s ear, “I love you, love you, and love only you. Thank you for giving me four of the most beautiful children in the world.” His eyes had misted, his voice had gone husky with emotion. He took his arm away from her shoulders, and slipped it under her blouse and began stroking her back; the feel of her smooth creamy skin was sending hot tingles right up to the ends of his nerves.

Soon baby BZ was fast asleep, her hunger fully sated. Shan Mei put her down carefully in her cot. Her husband whispered in her ears, “Now is my turn for feeding, my hunger needs to be sated too.”

When they emerged from the nursery, they saw Patrick busy feeding ice cream to BR while BB was totally engrossed in his ice-cream cup. They made sign language to Patrick that they were returning to their house. Patrick smiled and waved them off. Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei slipped out quietly through the French windows, dinner with the seniors forgotten.

“Darling, I can’t understand children. In this cold, how can the boys still take ice cream?”

Shan Mei laughed softly to that question, not able to return an intelligent answer.

Chapter AW-70

BR was running unsteadily around the garden with his daddy who was pretending he couldn’t catch up with baby. Squeals of laughter were drifting through the French windows as Shan Mei worked at her table.

After she put away the last batch of papers she was working on, she went out to the garden to join them. Her husband looked very relaxed. On seeing her approach, he went up to her. “Missing me?” he teased and planted a kiss on her cheek.

She nodded then wound her arms around his waist, embracing him close to her, answering him “so much.” For a moment, they forgot about baby BR until he came running into mummy’s legs, happily calling, “Mummy, mummy, come play.” Shan Mei lifted BR up into her arms, gave him a kiss on his cheeks reminding him not to tire daddy.

“Come on boys, morning tea is ready for you in the kitchen.” Xiang Zhe took baby from his wife and they went back into the house. Daddy was washing baby’s hands and wiping the perspiration off him, while Shan Mei was wiping the perspiration off her husband.

After tea, Xiang Zhe brought BR back to Father’s place. He stayed a bit to play with his twins. They were such well behaved babies and looked really angelic and adorable like their mummy. He was imagining baby BZ having her mother’s pout, and he laughed softly at that, trying to remember the first time he noticed Shan Mei’s pout and wanted so badly to kiss those luscious lips, that time at Cambridge campus when she was complaining that he had finished off her lunch.

Especially the time when he met her at the front entrance of MBS, teasing her about her crying which she refuted with a soft pout. That time he wanted so badly to take her into his arms and give her a comforting kiss. Instead he took her to the amusement park. No matter, at the end of the night, he got a peck on his cheek from her. He had tingled with happiness. That night he wasn’t able to sleep a wink.

Just then, BB burst through the front door with Auntie following close behind. He was so happy to see his daddy. He ran straight up to him, showing daddy the painting he drew specially for him, at playschool that morning.

Taking hold of Xiang Zhe’s hand, he grumbled, “Daddy I don’t want you to pay attention to them,” he said as his index finger roamed over his 3 siblings. “I only want daddy for myself.”

Xiang Zhe looked at his son indulgently, then chided him, “What did mummy say about big boys ?”

BB looked guilty at being caught out. “Mummy said big boys must love and take care of little boys and little girls. Daddy, was mummy the little girl you loved and took care of?”

“Of course,” answered daddy at once

“So you mean if I do that, I’ll get to take a mummy home? I don’t want that because mummy always says cannot do this and cannot do that. Can I take a grandma home instead? Grandma Lee never says no.”

Xiang Zhe smiled in exasperation. This brat always had questions for everything.

Before he would be caught with another no-answer question, he told BB, “Daddy has to go home for shower. Go now and have your lunch. And don’t try to disturb the younger ones.”

When he walked through their kitchen Shan Mei was just getting lunch ready. He went behind her and asked softly, “Darling, do you want to join me in the shower?”

She gave a short laugh and giving him a swift kiss on his cheek, she told him, “Xue Zhang, go run along and hurry up with your shower. I’ve other plans.”

After lunch they went to into town for shopping. Shan Mei had promised to get a suit for Xiang Jie for Award Night, telling him elder brother was best with this sort of thing. They went to the Armani Men’s Boutique and spent more than an hour there. Xiang Zhe told his wife their little brother would surely be happy, lifting the many shopping bags up to Shan Mei, as if to make his point.

After that, they stopped at a jewelry shop to collect a pair of bejewelled butterflies that Shan Mei had specially requested the jeweller to set according to her design. Xiang Zhe looked at the design and said it looked familiar, thinking of the display cabinet in Shan Mei’s office containing all the crystal butterflies he had presented to her after each of her successes. Shan Mei smiled but kept quiet. Since her husband didn’t want any present from her, she treated him to soft ice cream in cone, seeing that the weather had become warmer these past few days – same as the ones they used to have in London.

As soon as they reached home, Shan Mei pulled her husband up to their office floor where the painting by his mother was hung. She took out the jeweled butterfly and placed it next to the butterfly in the painting. It was exactly the same. The jeweller had really done a marvellous job. Shan Mei told her husband, “Husband, I’m going to wear these to the Award Night.”

From her handbag, she took out four silk pouches. Xiang Zhe recognised the pouches from the jewelry shop. He picked up a pouch and said, “I didn’t realise these were ordered by you? Was this why you didn’t want me to pay for the jewelry?” When he insisted on paying, she reluctantly told him he could pay for the pair of butterfly brooches.

She took from the pouch a lapel pin with the same butterfly design setting in miniature. It looked really exquisite. “Xue Zhang, I hope you’ll wear this on your lapel buttonhole for Award Night. These other three are for our three boys when they grow up.”

Xiang Zhe drew his wife into his arms, his eyes were wet and so filled with love. He kissed and told her at the same time, “Darling, there is nothing I’ll be more proud to wear, except my wedding ring and the gold chain and medallion that my mother had put it on me before I left for London to study. She had told me never to take it off.” Shan Mei noticed that his voice trembled when he spoke of his mother. Most probably he was remembering her at that moment when she clasped the chain around his neck.

Later that night when Xiang Jie tried on his new Armani stuff, he was grinning from ear to ear. Everything fitted just right.

Shan Mei told him, “Xiang Jie, the suit you are now trying on is a present from your elder brother. The other suits are from CTN’s company account. Michael decided to reward all four of us with new clothes for this Saturday’s Award Night.”

That night, all MBS department heads were present at the Award Ceremony.

The whole CTN entourage was supposed to congregate at Westin Chosun, so they could leave together. Shan Mei was already there getting hair and make up done.

When Xiang Zhe arrived to join Shan Mei, she was in a light blue chiffon gown, the neckline accentuated by the butterfly brooches. Each side of the soft fabric at the neckline was bunched up and caught with a colourful butterfly brooch, making the shape of the neckline very unusual but a little too revealing for his liking. He let it pass seeing how beautiful and elegant she looked. The gown was clean cut, figure hugging up to the hips, after that the soft fabric flowed out in attractive folds. The creation looked simply stunning on his wife.

Shan Mei was announced the winner of the Sponsors’ Choice Award. When she was on stage to collect her award from Mr. Sung of Bansung, she became very emotional. Xiang Zhe chided himself silently for not going up with her. In her acceptance speech, she thanked her loyal fans and the fantastic sponsors for their unwavering support, and took the opportunity to announce her retirement from the television screen at the end of this June. Her family needed her. There was an immediate uproar in the whole auditorium as she made her way back to her seat, accompanied by Mr. Sung. Everybody could see the shocked expression on Mr. Sung’s face. Not only Mr. Sung, Xiang Zhe and Michael were equally stunned. Cameras were flashing everywhere, trying to catch the surprised looks all around. They caught on camera the stunned look of Mr. Yin Xiang Zhe, even though he was stroking the back of his wife who was sobbing silently into his chest, his face resting on her hair.

At the after-ceremony party, the reporters were busy at work. Shan Mei refused all on-the-spot questions or interviews, saying she would have a press conference where all interested reporters would be invited. Some were interviewing Mr. Yin Xiang Zhe, some interviewing Sir Michael Dutton, many interviewing the sponsors, and Shan Mei’s co-host Patrick Lee. All said they were very surprised with Zhen Shan Mei’s decision. Even her husband said she never discussed with him her decision. None agreed with her decision. They would do their best to make her reconsider.

Yin Xiang Zhe said, “Even though Zhen Shan Mei is my wife, I do not agree with her decision, because she has brought such a high standard to local broadcasting. It would be a total waste to have her stay home and look after our children. I have nothing to complain about my wife at home. She is perfect. All viewers of Private eye know that our eldest son, ‘the little helper,’ will be 5 this year and simply adorable. Our second son would be two years old in May and an absolute angel. Our twins, now seven months old, are so well behaved, they only eat and sleep, so healthy and beautiful. All our children are manageable.”

At the CTN/MBS celebratory party, the mood was sombre. Until Xiang Zhe went up to the stage and serenaded his wife with his song “I Give You My All” looking directly into her eyes as he sang. Teardrops flowed from her eyes. Keeping the mood going, Michael was next with his rendition “The first time ever I saw your face.” Mr. Sung was in the mood too, and came up with “Killing me Softly with Your Song.” Very soon, one after another went up to the stage to sing. After that they began bombarding Shan Mei in groups, getting her up on stage to join them. When most were tired, Patrick and Jae Hoon kept the songs going. Even the American sponsors were up there doing their thing.

Finally Xiang Jie came on stage to give a little speech. “The reason why so many of us are here tonight is because of Zhen Shan Mei. I’ve heard many stories the only reason Zhen Shan Mei had been so successful was she had the backing of CTN-UK. If any news reporters are present, I would like them to take note, and at a later date verify with the people concerned.

When Shan Mei left MBS 7-1/2 years ago and went to London, the Training Manager of Korean Football Association was in London at the same time. They had arrived in London just 1 week, Shan Mei 3 days and working her 1st night at her Gugu’s restaurant. The members of the KFA were sitting down to dinner complaining what a hard time they were having and wanted an assistant. All of them wanted someone like Zhen Shan Mei, with her dazzling smile, her gentle manner and mischievous eyes. And before they could blink their eyes, they saw Zhen Shan Mei flitting across the room serving a table in the restaurant. The most extraordinary turns of fate in the most ordinary of days!

Over at the other side of London in CTN conference room, the face of Zhen Shan Mei was displayed on a large video screen, with the tag line : Our Girl in Korea! It so happened the KFA was using CTN’s ground facilities at that time. CTN staff located Sir Michael Dutton in CTN office, telling him that the girl whose face was always flashing on their large video screen was in person with the KFA. Sir Michael immediately met up with Zhen Shan Mei and signed her up with CTN after her 3-month stint with KFA ended. The most extraordinary turns of fate in the most ordinary of days!

If she didn’t have the talent and the charisma, could she have attracted the attention of KFA footballers when in London who were still thinking of their broadcaster Zhen Shan Mei of MBS? If she didn’t have the talent and the charisma, could she have attracted the attention of Sir Michael Dutton who was in Seoul trying to recruit someone suitable for CTN Korea? Sir Michael told me just 2 minutes watching Zhen Shan Mei on a women’s morning show on MBS Television was long enough for him to decide she was the ‘one.’ During that trip, he watched and taped more than 60 television presenters and anchors going through their paces on television. Shan Mei was the most natural, and the only one with that ‘extra’ special appeal.

My dearest sister, after hearing all this, and remembering the long hard road you traveled, and my brother’s absolute belief in you, how can you let us down now by saying you want to retire. Before the screen, behind the screen, it doesn’t matter. You’re a total package. I was nothing before you came into my life, I’m nothing without you, and I’ll be nothing if you leave. I wish you love and all the happiness and blessings you so rightfully deserve.”

Xiang Jie ran up to his sister. Shan Mei was so overcome, they embraced and they both cried. Patrick ran up too, putting his arms around them both, his eyes red with unshed tears. Jae Hoon slowly walked up to them, softly saying something to Shan Mei, his voice was hoarse with emotion. Michael was looking at them, suddenly realising what an attractive team they made: Shan Mei surrounded by her 3 handsome beaus. Where could he put them together in a programme? It would be dynamite!

Soon Xiang Zhe broke the little group up, telling them he would talk to Shan Mei tonight. “Easy now. I’ll try to reason with her to get her to change her mind. Maybe we can work something out.”

In his heart, he knew the reason behind Shan Mei’s sudden announcement. She was worried for his health, and his state of mind, due to the recent turn of events in their lives!

Chapter AW-71

As soon as Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei emerged from the function room where the celebratory party was held, they were met with countless cameras flashing in their faces. Xiang Zhe told the reporters and their crew to calm down. Shan Mei and he would pose for one shot. The couple held hands and posed smiling lovingly for the cameras. Before getting into their car that was waiting at the front entrance, Xiang Zhe reminded the reporters to send him a copy of the photo.

At home, Xiang Zhe, like in previous years, asked for a dance from his wife. He laughed secretly to himself. Because of the mayhem caused by Shan Mei’s announcement, no one was in the mood to dance, which was good, since Xiang Zhe didn’t want anyone to get close to his wife, looking the way she did in that stunning gown with the plunging neckline.

As they moved in step with the slow romantic music, Xiang Zhe whispered words of love into his wife’s ear. Some of the words made Shan Mei giggle.

He asked his wife whether he was back to old form. She nodded and hugged him closer. “Darling, are you still worried about my health, even though I’ve taken 3 weeks off work already?”

Shan Mei drew away from her husband to look him in his face, knowing where the conversation was leading. “Husband, I’m not going to change my mind. I mean what I said. I want to spend more time with you.”

Xiang Zhe led her to the sofa and sat her down. “Darling, I know you’ve been worried about my health and my state of mind since Dr. Kim’s visit. These 3 weeks seeing how well and hard you have managed to get the team working together, I was planning to go back to work after one more week of rest. In fact I like this arrangement you have set up so much, I’m going to continue with it, giving me more time to spend with our growing family.

We’ll continue to have luncheon meetings at our house Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Thursdays and Fridays, because of your afternoon chat show and Musical Postcard radio show, we’ll have the meetings at MBS – which means, we’ll spend 2 full days at MBS. Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays I’ll continue to work from home. All my meetings, appointments will be set for Thursdays and Fridays. Since you’ve already stressed to the controllers present at the meetings, though they each have their designated job, in case of problems, they are supposed to call on one another for advice. The important thing is to get the job done. And I noticed you’ve pressed more responsibilities on Zian Da, many times forcing him to contribute ideas. You’ve also told them in the absence of me, Xiang Jie is in charge. Haven’t you told Zian Da that due to Xiang Jie’s inexperience, he would need guidance?

For CTN, Patrick is leading Xiang Jie; for MBS, Jae Hoon will lead him on external affairs, Zian Da to lead him in internal matters. If anything should go wrong, the special assistants would be responsible. During these three weeks, Patrick and Jae Hoon are doing very well assisting little brother. Zian Da is coming along. At least he is beginning to voice his ideas on many occasions. After these three weeks, he knows you mean business. And he knows if he slips, even I cannot save him.

Now, when everything is falling into place so well, you want to retire from television appearance. Do you want to see your baby Two Sides To A Coin go off the air? Patrick already said he didn’t want to team up with anyone else, if you are not co-hosting. Michael is afraid, if the show continues without you and Patrick, the sponsors won’t want to pay premium sponsorship rates, when Michael is currently trying to negotiate for higher sponsorship deals, because several American sponsors seeing the phenomenal success of Private Eye wants to sponsor any Zhen Shan Mei production.

It will really break my heart if you have to give up the job you love doing, because of me. If there is really something wrong with me, I agree you should retire, but I’m now okay. In the beginning, sure, it was difficult for me to accept what Dr. Kim had told us. But after 3 weeks mulling over the matter, my mind has cleared. In fact I’m somewhat relieved. I’ve thought over what you have said about You Zhen’s baby. You Zhen loves his new baby like crazy, he has already forgotten the baby was conceived with Jae Hoon’s sperm. At least I myself fared much better than You Zhen’s baby. At least I now know I was conceived out of love. And the final knot, being angry with my father all these years, has finally been released, freeing me from all encumbrances.

I am so looking forward to working with my wife in another project. Michael is considering bringing the cooperation concept similar to CTN-KE/MBS to CTN in Asia/Pac areas. The CTN Australian sponsors are eager to work with you, after he showed them a tape of Two Sides To A Coin. Because now our team is beginning to think with one common mind: CTN, MBS, Wen Rong are inseparable; our fates are entwined. It will be possible to reach new heights.”

Xiang Zhe held Shan Mei to him. “Oh, darling, our children need us, not just you, or just me. We must stand united. Like MBS and Wen Rong, I can’t run the thing on my own. It’s too tiring. I need to offload some of the burden on to you. Didn’t you promise to be by my side always? Your fans will give me flake, thinking I am the one forcing you to retire. Father, Xiang Jie and Patrick won’t accept the excuse you gave about your family needing you. They know how smooth our family machinery is running. Being so smart, they will suspect there is another reason. What am I going to tell them? Father will want an explanation tomorrow morning. He already sent me sms asking me to go over for breakfast tomorrow. I am afraid to go alone, you’d better come along.” Nodding her head, Shan Mei gave him a reassuring kiss.

Shan Mei was tired and wanted to go to bed. Her husband carried her up to their bedroom, and helped her undress.

They were taking bath together when Xiang Zhe was mumbling to his wife that Father would surely assume that he had upset her in some way, making her want to retire. Shan Mei gave her husband a slow, deep kiss, telling him not to worry. “Let me do the explaining to Father. I already have an idea how to.”

“Of course you have to handle it. This hornet’s nest was stirred up by you.” Xiang Zhe laughed. After quick bath, they went to bed.

At the party, Michael had refused all interviews. He wanted Junior to get to the bottom of the matter, and give him good news tomorrow, so he could let the press know it was a mistake. Tomorrow he’d better have a heart-to-heart talk with little Shan Mei. She couldn’t simply run out of them. Michael was beginning to understand how Junior felt every time Shan Mei made a disappearing act. Michael was beginning to sweat too. That night he could not sleep, thinking of Shan Mei. He began to curse her silently.

The first time he saw her on MBS television, and decided he had found their girl for CTN Korea he was so elated. That night he couldn’t sleep either, wondering whether she was fluent in English. If not, how were they going to initially communicate if they managed to get her to London for training? Intensive English lessons could be arranged later. Was she free to travel to London and take up a posting with CTN? She looked so fresh and innocent, he wondered whether she had a boyfriend? When she was still working with the KFA in London, he always checked on her when she was working in CTN’s Production Unit. All the guys there were trying to date her. He was relieved to hear none was successful.

It was worse when she officially joined CTN. He was supposed to be traveling around Asia/Pacific area and the U.S. He always cut short his trips so he could be back in the London office, to see what Shan Mei had been up to. Many times, he wanted to ask her out for coffee or may be dinner to discuss some project, but he didn’t have the nerves. In the office, she was so business-like, she didn’t encourage personal contact. The only one she really talked to was his brother David, because he was safe. He was engaged to Cassie. David chided him for acting like a shy little schoolboy around her. That was why the evening he first met Junior in Shan Mei’s house, he knew Junior was caught really bad with the love bug, because he himself went through the same motions around Shan Mei, until he was told she had an understanding with someone in Seoul.

He understood the game perfectly well. There was only one Zhen Shan Mei. Each one of them could only get a part of her. If Junior was her husband, he could settle for something else. Being her boss was good. He could give her lots of things, anything as long as she was happy. Both of them had doted on her unsparingly. So, why would she want to retire? When Shan Mei and Junior visited London in December, they were so happy; he left them alone to themselves. Towards the end of January he received word from Shan Mei that Junior needed to take a month’s leave, and would be staying home. During this trip, Michael thought Junior looked healthy enough to him. Did something happen? It was not their marriage – that was for sure. On this trip, he noticed they were closer and more in love than ever. In fact, earlier this evening when Junior sang his song the lyrics of which he didn’t understand, he could see the love Junior had for his wife in his eyes, feel the love in his words. Shan Mei was looking at Junior so adoringly. Michael felt really envious.

Sunday morning. All headlines screaming out of every newspaper was Zhen Shan Mei’s intention to retire at the end of June. Could her legions of fans persuade her to stay? A long list enumerating her many achievements since she first returned to Seoul with CTN-KE almost 7 years ago. Most sensational was the revelation that Yin Xiang Jie had been groomed by her since he was 15, and the show Private Eye was especially conceptualised for him by Shan Mei when he was still at university. Xiang Jie’s dedication to his sister at CTN/MBS celebratory party last night was printed out in its full context. Photos of Shan Mei, Xiang Zhe, Michael, Xiang Jie, Mr. Sung, Mr. Chung and Lee Chung Woon of KFA were in the newspapers.

The morning following the award ceremony, Father, seeing Shan Mei was also at the breakfast table, couldn’t ask Xiang Zhe directly whether he was the one who had upset his wife. Father had thought the workload was efficiently distributed, that was why Xiang Zhe could take a month’s leave from work.

Reading the article in the newspapers this morning, it appeared not, since Shan Mei said the reason for retiring was her family. Father thought the arrangement at home was perfect. Did Shan Mei need more helpers? Father asked. She looked towards Xue Zhang. Annoyance flared in her as she realized that he was not going to help her out at all. He sat there, enjoying his breakfast and looked as if he was amusing himself at her expense. Considering the fact that they were in this situation because she was merely out to save him, the least he could do was assist her in her task. He knew very well the reason for her retirement was he and not the children.

Shan Mei hedged around for time, looking at Father from under her lashes, all flustered, biting her lower lip. She then told Father she didn’t know how to tell him.

Xiang Zhe was getting worried and too hesitant to speak, afraid he might say the wrong thing. Was Shan Mei going to squeal? Wasn’t she the one who said it was their secret and no one was ever to know? He began to act edgy too.

Father looked at the two of them perplexed. Father told Shan Mei to tell it to him straight.

“Father, if I tell you how we really feel, you promise you won’t get angry with us.” Yin Senior grunted a response.

“Well, everything at home is perfect. In fact too perfect, we’re beginning to feel bad. You see, we rely too much on Auntie Lee. The two elder boys were practically brought up by her. We have assumed Auntie Lee will always be here for us. It’s like taking advantage of her good nature, we are so guilty-ridden. This is why I’ve decided to stay home and help out. Father, you have accepted Patrick like a son, Xiang Zhe and Xiang Jie have accepted him like a brother, but what about Auntie Lee? When taking Auntie Lee out shopping or eating, I don’t know how to introduce her.”

Father was listening, nodding his head from time to time in agreement. He looked at Shan Mei and asked how he could help.

Shan Mei gave a shy giggle, and blushed all over. She got up from her seat, ran up behind Father, threw her arms around his neck, and whispered softly into his ears. Father’s face turned all red. He was grinning widely, telling his daughter-in-law, he was too shy to ask. Shan Mei whispered something else back into his ear again. He nodded his head. Shan Mei went back to her seat. After that Father forgot all about the newspapers, and decided to see whether any roses in the greenhouse were ready for plucking.

So the much-dreaded breakfast meeting was over. It was not even 8 a.m. Shan Mei decided she wanted to go back to sleep. She pulled Xue Zhang up from his seat, and asked him whether he wanted to cuddle up in bed with her?

Xiang Zhe went readily with her, his arm wrapped protectively around her shoulders, kissing her as they walked back to their house, telling her softly he wanted more than a cuddle. He smiled at her stating, “You and your scheme!” And shook his head again in surrender, another of her distractions had turned into perfection!

Chapter AW-72

Xiang Zhe sat up in bed, looking lovingly at his wife who was still asleep snuggled up against him. He smoothed back a stray lock of hair from her smooth forehead. He ran a finger around her soft lips to check whether he had bruised them with his hungry kisses. He smiled secretly to himself, remembering his wife’s ardent response to his passionate kisses earlier this morning.

With a heavy sigh, he leaned back against the headboard. Shan Mei still had not given him a straight answer whether she had changed her mind. It was not easy for someone holding all that power to give everything up in an instant. His wife had just done that because he was her top priority as she had always maintained.

His mind then went back to the night of Dr. Kim’s visit, with the DNA results.

A month after they returned from their London holiday last December, Dr. Kim came to visit them one night, bringing with him the DNA test results. He had arranged for 3 test runs, Dr. Kim had said, to ensure there would be no mistakes in the final results.

The tests established the fact that Xiang Jie was the son of their Father. Surprisingly, however, Xiang Zhe’s tests showed a different set of results. Dr. Kim had suspected some thing a long ago, but he never probed. Now, he decided, maybe it was time for Xiang Zhe to know something from the past.

Dr. Kim, his classmate Sung Yi Rong and Xiang Zhe’s mother, Moon Soo- Wen, attended the same university in Busan. Dr. Kim and Sister Wen went to the same music academy, while Yi Rong and Sister Wen went to the same Art academy. “Xiang Zhe, in the Art academy, your mother was well known for her life-like butterfly paintings in water colours. The three of us were very good friends. At one time, I suspected Yi Rong was dating your mother secretly.”

Dr. Kim paused, took a sip of tea before continuing, “One summer when I was ready to return to America to continue my medical studies, we spent that last day at Yi Rong’s house, playing music, painting, eating and drinking. Before I left, Sister Wen painted 3 scrolls, each had the ‘butterfly’ theme. Yi Rong certified the paintings with a seal. He said it was his royal seal. It was only then that we realised he was one of the minor princelings from the defunct royal house leading life like an ordinary citizen. He must have adopted his mother’s family name of Sung to detract attention from his Yi. Each of us took one of the paintings, for remembrance’s sake. I left the party early because I had to pack and leave the next morning. Since it was raining very heavily, Sister Wen stayed on. According to what Sister Wen told me later, after she returned home later that evening, she never saw Yi Rong again. It was rumoured his family had sent him away.”

Dr. Kim noticed Xiang Zhe’s eyes hard on him, his face confused. “Your mother became very depressed and suicidal. A few days later a Mr. Yin who worked as accountant for your grandfather found her alone by the bayside, looking utterly forlorn and dejected. He offered her comfort and told her not to do such a stupid thing, when he realised she was there contemplating suicide. She confessed she was very sad – apparently no man wanted to marry her. Mr. Yin was shocked when he heard that. His first instinct was to try to save Sister Wen. He said, if it would stop her from committing suicide, he offered to marry her. They married in less than a week secretly at the insistence of Sister Wen. Your grandfather was very angry, thinking Yin was after your mother’s money and had seduced her. A week short of nine months later you were born. Sometime later the family moved to Seoul.”

Again, Dr. Kim took some tea before he continued the story, his eyes taking in the reaction of Xiang Zhe to gauge whether the story had sunk in so far. “A few years later when I returned to Korea, and settled in Seoul to set up my own clinic, Sister Wen became my first patient, and I became not only her doctor but her confidante too. This is one of the reasons I also maintain a clinic at the insistence of Sister Wen at Wen Rong Hospital that the Moon family later built. Someone had willed to your grandfather a very large sum of money and a huge property portfolio, with instructions that these assets were to be controlled by a company to be named Wen Rong. Your grandfather, besides being given building contracts for the army, was issued with an official edict that all his future descendents were to be exempted from military service of any sort. After that your grandfather decided to pool all family assets together under the Wen Rong group. I have spent a lot of time thinking of this benefactor and arrived at this conclusion – your mother’s name is Wen. Together with Sung Yi Rong’s Rong, of course it worked out to be Wen Rong. Later, your grandfather was also awarded a broadcasting license that was very difficult to come by in those days, most probably via the same benefactor. Sung Yi Rong also once gifted Sister Wen with a gold chain and medallion he always wore as a dedication of their love. I recognised it the first time I saw you wearing it. One side of the pendant was inscribed with very tiny delicate ‘Rong’ characters in a circle.”

Shan Mei immediately took a closer look at her husband’s medallion. Sure enough on one side was engraved a circle of ‘Rong’s. At casual glance they didn’t look like the ‘Rong’ character but a ring of some flowery design.

“When your mother finally realised Yin was a good, reliable man whom she had come to rely on heavily at work, she tried to make an earnest effort to make the marriage work, but whatever feelings he had tried to nurture with Sister Wen were gone. To this day, I really don’t know for sure whom it was that she pined for till her dying day, whether it was the loss of Sung Yi Rong or the loss of Yin’s love.”

Dr. Kim then brought out from a silk-lined box, a scroll painting. It was the butterfly scroll painted by Xiang Zhe’s mother. He wanted Xiang Zhe to have it, knowing Sister Wen had destroyed all her other scroll paintings in a desperate attempt to forget the past.

“Xiang Zhe, your mother told me before she passed away that she had left some things with her lawyer before she died. I want to remind you never to publicly display some of the items: Sung Yi Rong’s royal seal that appeared on the scroll painting; another is a small jade seal that Yi Rong had given your mother saying it was the seal exclusively reserved for royal marriage contracts. Another is a big, round jade pendant with ‘5 Bats’ design. This is supposedly to be handed down through the royal wives from his branch of the family. It was given to Yi Rong by his mother. He later gave it to Sister Wen.”

Dr. Kim assured Xiang Zhe, “Xiang Zhe, my dear boy, the secret will die with me. I want both of you to know the true fact, because I know Shan Mei is strong enough to help you shoulder the burden. Your father, Mr. Yin, is a good man. I don’t know whether Mr. Yin is aware of your paternity but I suppose he did not because you were born only a week early which was quite normal. Even Sister Wen told me she wasn’t sure, but Mr. Yin has loved you as his own, until he went off one day with some woman working at the Wen Rong office.”

All the while as Dr. Kim was talking, Xiang Zhe sat there in a stupefied daze.

Later that night, Dr. Kim told Shan Mei not to worry when she saw the good doctor to his car. “This is usually the first reaction to shock. Xiang Zhe will need a lot of understanding and tender loving care. I know you will be able to help him through knowing how deeply in love both of you are with one another. Maybe it will be a good idea to keep him away from work, and resting at home for a month or so if you think it will help in his emotional healing process. I do feel really so sorry; the boy has been through so much heartache and loneliness.” Dr. Kim took Shan Mei’s hand into his and gave it a gentle squeeze.

That night abed after Dr. Kim left, and after Xiang Zhe emerged from his dazed stupor, he kept sobbing, “I am nothing! No wonder I used to have this feeling of loneliness and utter emptiness and forlorn until you appeared in my life.”

His wife, astride on his lap, caught his face between her hands, kissed him, comforted him and tenderly dabbed away his tears. She combed her fingers through his hair and looked straight into his eyes, saying,

“Hey, if you want to be nothing that’s fine with me, but please do not force me to be Mrs. Nothing. In case you have forgotten, you are Yin Xiang Zhe; an honours graduate from Cambridge; the President of Wen Rong Group and MBS Television. You’re also husband of Zhen Shan Mei; father of BB, BR, BZ and BA; my Xue Zhang; my secret lover; my financial advisor; my counsellor; my protector; my best friend; my No. 1 loyal fan; my hard-core supporter even when I do stupid things; my loving and caring next door neighbour in bed, wonderful son-in-law to Zhen Gui Cheng; brother to Xiang Jie; and most importantly, my treasure. A person who has gone through so much personal suffering at so young an age cannot be just anything but a person of substance, strong character and compassion.”

After saying her piece, she drew him tightly into her embrace and kissed his face all over, wiping away his tears with her thumbs. It seemed to her that he felt very cold. She did not utter any words again. All she did was share her warmth with him. It was like that, Shan Mei’s face resting on Xiang Zhe’s shoulder, that they fell asleep. Sometime during the night, about 3 a.m. Xiang Zhe stirred. His wife was still holding on to him tightly as if afraid to let him go. He had been angry with himself and at his parents, for letting him go through half of his life, with misplaced anger and frustration. He should be so thankful he had Shan Mei, instead of making her suffer along with him. He needed time for readjustment. After that he must bury the past and concentrate on building a new life with Shan Mei and their children, and new relationships with the people who mattered.

She didn’t move when she felt his hand on her shoulder, gripping her tightly.

“Shan Mei, don’t cry, not just yet. Just give me time. I promise you I’ll be alright.”

“Husband, I believe you. You can have all the time in the world that you will need. From now onwards, I promise I’ll dedicate all of my whole heart to ensure the happiness of you and our family.”

Then he felt something warm begin to fill him, something he’d never before felt in his life. He realized in that instant that what he’d come to feel for his wife was buried deep in the midst of that warmth and it was very vibrant with pleasure and endless promise. He looked at Shan Mei and asked, “All of your whole heart? As in that every small fibre of your heart is dedicated only to me and my happiness?”

“Of course, darling. Every fibre is yours.”

His thumbs caressed the pulse in her throat. “In that case, then, I suppose I’d best hold on tight to you. I like being happy. For two lifetimes, at least, to start with.”

“Now, can we go get back to sleep?”

“Not yet,” he said, getting to his feet. “I want to have another look of that painting.” He scooped his wife onto his back, and carried her piggy-back style off to the coffee table where they had left the scroll last night.

Seeing that Xiang Zhe’s emotions were no longer destabilised like last night, Shan Mei began to tremble because the worry was over, and she had been more disturbed than she had first realized.

“Are you alright?” Xiang Zhe asked.

She looked at her husband, surprised to find him still holding onto her and not looking at the scroll.

“I’m fine now – really.” But a shudder passed through her again, making him tighten his arms around her legs.

He released an arm and stroked her cheek. “There is only one reason I would have you tremble, my dearest wife.”

“And what might that be, my darling?”

“When I have you in bed lying under me.” His smile grew wide and wicked when he said that and he carried her back to their bed, forgetting the scroll.

As usual, his angel was the one who knew what was best for him, and later, when they woke up after another 4 hours of sleep for breakfast, Shan Mei immediately phoned the key people of MBS and CTN telling them she wanted them to be at her house tomorrow, which was a Monday, after the morning show for luncheon meeting! As major share holder of Wen Rong, she had approved Xiang Zhe’s application for one month’s leave of absence.

Now, sitting up in bed, Xiang Zhe was thinking to himself. Was he still acting strange, that his wife didn’t believe he was well enough? Every time he suggested going to his mother’s lawyer, to re-possess the trust funds and the things grandfather and his mother had left him, Shan Mei always advised him to wait till he was feeling more calm and in a better frame of mind. The things wouldn’t run away. There was no hurry. He would wait because he wouldn’t want to do anything to upset her. Since Dr. Kim confirmed his mother’s specialty was ‘butterfly’ he had been thinking of the cabinet full of crystal butterflies he had gifted Shan Mei. After that time, Xiang Zhe implicitly believed Shan Mei was the angel or ‘butterfly’ sent by his mother.

Shan Mei stirred. Xiang Zhe carefully eased himself back into bed and drew his wife into the crook of his arm.

“Xue Zhang?”

“Yes, darling?” he softly murmured into his wife as he kissed her lips lightly.

“You’re the best and I love you so much,” she half opened her eyes, smiling sleepily up at him.

Shan Mei suddenly jumped up and asked for the time. When told it was almost noon, she reproached Xue Zhang for not waking her up sooner.

“Again, I’m in the wrong?” He looked at Shan Mei, nonplussed.

“Who else?” she asked, flashing him a smile.

She called Patrick asking him to check out his mother’s ring size, and her favourite gemstone.

“Which finger?”

“My dear Patrick, wedding ring finger, of course!”

“Someone is going to propose?”

“My son.”

And they laughed heartily and knowingly. “Please sms me the information soonest because we want to go shop for a ring. And Patrick, we’ll be over for lunch. Michael is coming along as well.”

Shan Mei and Xiang Zhe went into the city for shopping, then collected Michael from his hotel for lunch at Father’s place. Michael was ecstatic seeing his godchildren. Patrick, Xiang Jie and Shan Mei went into Father’s study to help him write out a proposal on the card they had bought for him. Shan Mei also gave him the ring Xiang Zhe had chosen on his behalf.

Xiang Zhe and Michael were playing with the children out in the garden. When the card was ready, they sent BB to Auntie Lee’s room. He knocked, announcing Postman was at her door.

Michael thought the set-up was so hilarious. When they sat down for lunch, Auntie Lee joined them a few moments later at the table. Some time during lunch, with a cue from Xiang Jie, BB went up to Grandma Lee and asked her whether she loved the card he sent her. She pinched his cheek, telling him she loved it.

He wanted to sit on her lap. When she carried him up onto her lap, he gave Grandma a little kiss, then took out from his little pants pocket a ring and put it on Grandma’s ring finger. He gave her another kiss saying that was from Grandpa. Auntie became all embarrassed and flustered and darted Yin Senior a sidelong glance.

Seeing Auntie Lee’s reaction and Father’s anxious smile, Shan Mei sobbed softly, remembering the way Xue Zhang had proposed to her, taking a ring from his jeans pocket too.

She felt her face turning flaming hot; she ran off to the twins’ nursery. Xiang Zhe told the others to continue with their lunch, he would go check on his wife. He knew what was going through her mind. He himself was thinking the same when he saw his son BB taking the ring out of his pants pocket.

BB climbed down from Grandma Lee’s lap and ran after daddy. When he saw Mummy silently sobbing into Daddy’s shoulder, he told her not to cry, “Mummy, tomorrow I’ll go get a ring for you. Mummy, are you crying because I’ve been a naughty boy? Mummy, please don’t cry.”

Daddy lifted BB up on to his lap to give him a kiss; Mummy hugged him too. “Sweetheart, mummy is crying because you have been a very good boy. You have been so good, maybe Grandma Lee will now agree to be your real grandma and make your grandpa happy. Won’t you like that?”

BB nodded his little head.

After lunch, the boys helped clear the table. When it was time for dessert, Patrick told his mother, “Mum, your favourite cheese cake is in the fridge. There are only two slices, one for you and one for Uncle Yin. We’ll be taking ours over at Shan Mei’s place.”

After that, the young ones taking the 4 babies, nanny and the maid with them went off to Xiang Zhe’s house for meeting. As they closed the door, they shouted out to the two Seniors, “We’ll be back only after dinner.”

Once in the other house, Michael insisted to Shan Mei, “Hey, I want to take BB back with me to London. I too need a little helper to end my bachelor days. Today’s performance from BB was superb.”

Laughter rang out every where. Even BB and BR were laughing without understanding the reason why everyone was so happy. BB went up to his uncle Xiang Jie asking him, “Uncle, did BB do a good job?”

All answered he did an excellent job. His eyes and his smile were impish, as he asked, “So where’s my reward? Uncle, you did promise me double scoop ice cream? Since every one of you agreed that I did an excellent job, maybe I should be getting 3 scoops and I’ll be generous and give one to BR.”

Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei were sitting back on their love seat, relaxing and smiling at each other. There were enough helpers around to help care for the babies.

Michael took the armchair next to the love seat. He looked at Shan Mei, then rubbed at the frown just appearing on his forehead. On seeing this, Xiang Zhe smiled to himself, thinking, “Ha, now’s it your turn for headache.”

As Michael looked at Shan Mei, he paused a second before stating, “Shan Mei, you know what? I have already arranged for a small press meeting this evening at 8 in the hotel to clarify the matter.”

“Michael, can’t we simply enjoy today and start talking shop tomorrow?”

“We can’t wait. We’ve to have the meeting tonight. In tomorrow’s financial pages, the analysts would surely do a dissection of CTN, MBS and Wen Rong shares. This morning when I checked with CTN office, the whole system has been bombarded with viewers’ protests. I’m sure the same thing is happening at MBS. It’ll be very simple to say due to viewers’ demands, you have decided to postpone retirement. I’m not asking you to lie, you can say something like when you announced your retirement, from local television; you were offered an Australian posting. You simply don’t have the time to handle the two, so you chose Sydney. But because of the overwhelming support from local loyal fans, you have decided to let go of Sydney and will now remain in Seoul. Anyway, you don’t have a choice but to back me up because this will be the story we’ll spin to the press.”

Xiang Zhe laughed and gave Shan Mei a sidelong glance as he turned to Michael. “Thanks Michael, teaching my wife how to lie so convincingly. She may be wonderful at a good number of things; thank goodness lying is not one of them. You’d better watch her and keep her from talking too much. She’d start out following your script, but sooner or later, she’ll feel guilty and splutter out the truth.”

“I don’t have to stress again this is just the version I’m giving the press. I’m still waiting for the real story.” As Michael finished talking, he looked toward Shan Mei, his chin tilted up stubbornly as if waiting for an answer from her.

“I’ve discovered I like staying at home with Xue Zhang. Especially these past 3 weeks when Xue Zhang is taking his leave. I’ve realised the only time we’ve really spent any lengthy time together was when we first met in Cambridge. When we worked at MBS, Xue Zhang had to work so hard, we only met whenever Xue Zhang could spare the time.”

“…… And I totally agree with that!” Xiang Zhe smoothly finished Shan Mei’s faltering sentence.

“As simple as that? No other reason?”

Xiang Zhe placed an arm around her shoulders, a gesture both protective and possessive. Looking coolly into Michael’s dubious eyes, he drawled gently, “….as simple as that!”

Shan Mei nodded her head, without giving a verbal answer.

Michael then looked sheepishly at Junior and asked, “I wonder, whether as a 20% shareholder of MBS, I have the right to ask you to continue to work from home too? Anyway, let’s get ready for tonight’s press meeting.”

Michael then went over to where JJ was playing with BB and told him, “Well, little brother, that impacting speech you gave last night was brilliant. I haven’t had time to read the morning’s papers but I’m sure the Yins hogged all the headlines in today’s local newspapers. The English version of the news, especially your speech was also flashed around CTN’s international and regional networks.”

Chapter AW-73

It was now late March. Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei had been working from home for almost two months. The arrangement was working out very well.

Except Thursdays and Fridays, other days they shared lunch with BB and BR. And they were able to spend quality time with their twins.

The 4 seniors were now honeymooning in America. Pa and Ma went along with Father and Auntie, because when Pa married Auntie Shen, Pa thought they would visit Shan Mei in London after he retired. Before that could happen, Shan Mei had decided to buy out the noodle shop for them to manage, so they never had a proper honeymoon.

After Auntie Lee accepted Father’s proposal, the family had to decide on a suitable wedding venue with the wedding planner. Shan Mei suggested to her husband, “Xue Zhang, Cheju Island is the most romantic place for wedding and honeymoon. What do you think?”

“Is that why time and again you refuse to visit Cheju with me? You didn’t want to spend the most romantic time with me?”

“I was afraid the place would be too romantic, I’d be too carried away by your sweet talking.”

Hummpf!!!!

Xiang Zhe at once arranged with the ID people to completely refurbish their house on Cheju Island leaving no trace of Stepmother’s footprints.

Since Shan Mei mentioned Cheju Island was a most romantic spot, Xiang Zhe decided to celebrate his birthday with her on Cheju, at the same time checking on renovation work to the Yin’s villa. He recalled the drunkard tantrum he threw, when he thought Shan Mei had refused to spend New Year holidays with him on Cheju because she would be in London getting married to Michael. He hoped with this trip, he would make her so happy, he could erase any bad memories still lurking behind in her mind.

They were in the kitchen having mid-morning tea, when Xiang Zhe asked his wife, “Darling, can you take a few days off. I want to visit Cheju to check on the renovation work.”

Shan Mei went round to where her husband was sitting and circled her arms around his waist resting her head against his shoulder. Very softly she whispered into the sensitive hollow of his ear, “You mean you want to celebrate your birthday on Cheju?”

Xiang Zhe lifted a hand to ruffle her hair. “Of course. Didn’t you say it’s supposed to be the most romantic spot? I want to share some romantic time with my wife.”

On Cheju, they hired a car and went beach hopping. They collected sea shells that they would bring home for their babies, and beautiful pebbles for their cabin. They only tarried at beaches where they could get the best waves, the best breeze or the most vantage spots for star gazing. And he loved touching his fingers to her wind-blown hair, whenever a breeze rose. Each day the hotel prepared for them delicious food hampers. When they checked on the renovation work, Xiang Zhe made last minute changes to the ID plans. He wanted to partition off their private quarters from the main house, and he promised to return with his wife to Cheju for a real romantic honeymoon, at a later date.

The wedding of Father and Auntie Lee, a small family affair, was beautifully planned and executed. When BB saw grandpa putting a ring on grandma’s finger, he reminded Xiang Zhe, “Daddy, remember to get me a ring. I want to put it on mummy, like I had promised.”

Daddy was so pleased when he heard that. He turned to his wife and said, “Darling, did you hear what BB just said? My son is so like me, wanting to keep his promises.”

Shan Mei on hearing that gave a smirk. “The girls will be in deep trouble if they believe him – if his promises are anything like yours. You promise to keep me smiling all the time, but you’re the one making me cry the most.”

On hearing that, Xiang Zhe gave her a swift kiss to keep her from saying more, his laughing eyes reminding her, “It is not my fault; you’re just No. 1 cry baby.” And he quickly ran off with BB in his arms when his wife tried to hit him for his teasing.

A few weeks later, Zian Da had a meeting with Xiang Zhe in the President’s office, asking whether Shan Mei made the right decision in putting Xiang Jie as the 2nd in command at MBS.

Xiang Zhe leaned back against his chair, his hands rubbing the back of his neck as he gave Zian Da an appraising look and asked, “Why? Has Xiang Jie done something wrong? As far as I’m aware, Jae Hoon is guiding him very well. If it has anything to do with internal, didn’t Shan Mei make it clear it’s your responsibility if anything goes wrong?”

“That’s exactly it! I feel so much pressure!”

“How can that be unless you’re not prepared to discuss with Xiang Jie or to take responsibility for decision recommendation? Patrick at CTN is guiding Xiang Jie in and out of the office, and they are doing very well. Even the press has high praises for Xiang Jie, reporting he is not only presentable and cultured, he is very knowledgeable and matured beyond his years. And, you do realise Xiang Jie needs minimum supervision – only pointers. Since he has worked at MBS during his school holidays, he already has a pretty good idea the way MBS is run.”

After a slight pause, Xiang Zhe continued, “Senior Zian Da, I know what’s on your mind. You’ve always divided the Yin family into two households, and because Xiang Jie is from the other household, you think he shouldn’t be trusted to hold such a high post at MBS. No matter what, he is still my brother, and extremely capable and experienced, having received his training at CTN-UK and gained an education at Cambridge.

Or you must be thinking I’m doting on my wife too much to allow her free rein of MBS. She should stick to CTN, right? If she has stuck only to CTN, MBS would not have got such a winning morning show as PIR. How come no one complained when they get their bonuses through PIR? Shan Mei was the one who suggested handing out quarterly bonuses. Morning of Eve lost money the entire 3 years it was on. PIR made money right from its first show, and has been raking in profits ever since. The segment guests so readily accepted invitations to appear on the show only because of Shan Mei and CTN connections.

If she is not capable at handling the job, I wouldn’t have let her. The truth is she is not only more than capable, she knows how to motivate people in the right way, and she treats everyone, regardless of status, with respect and a genuine caring heart.

I think you still can’t accept she is talented because your mind is still full of the Shan Mei who was slow, forgetful and blur at MBS under your training. If you must know, those mistakes were not of her own making. Someone knew she was talented and was out to make mischief for her.”

Xiang Zhe leveled his chin and shot a withering glance at Zian Da from the corner of his eye. After only a slight deliberating pause, he decided to give it to Zian Da straight.

“I know you have always been eyeing the No. 2 job. If you’re capable of handling the job adequately well, Shan Mei will be the first one to give it to you. Why do you think she’s forcing you to make decisions every day? 2nd in command must not only make decisions but take responsibility for their decisions. You’re so lucky she’s giving you so many chances. If she has given me chances like she is giving you, I wouldn’t have to wait 8 years before she agreed to marry me. After she decided she did not want to be friends with me when she found out I was the boss of MBS, it took all my patience and coaxing to convince her of my sincerity.

She was the only one at MBS who dared oppose me in my decision to employ a big named presenter using top dollars. I had accused her of being childish and lacking judgmental skill in attracting viewers to the station. She blasted me back saying the only thing I would be attracting would be money-hungry presenters creating more problems for the station. And she was so right. We had so much trouble with that Miss Park when we tried to dissolve her contract, when she didn’t work out after the initial 3 months, and Step uncle used this incident to try to get rid of me from the MBS. I would never again use superstar presenter at big bucks. Instead of appreciating Shan Mei’s goodwill, you think she’s abusing her power as Yin Xiang Zhe’s wife. Honestly speaking, she would be the last person to use this kind of connection to her advantage.

That time when she was still with MBS, she never complained about any one of you when things didn’t go right for her. Instead, whenever I questioned her, she always blamed it on herself, saying she was not good enough for the job, and stupid me believed her. Later on, when I finally began to really understand her better, I realised she always takes the blame even though the errors may not have been her fault, or any of her doing, but it was too late then. She had already left MBS. Have you ever heard her complaining or gossiping about anyone working in MBS?

And you guys wanted to keep her away from the television screen, giving her the minimum amount of screen time exposure, sending her to the radio station. If she had no talent, how could she have become such an outstanding radio broadcaster? She never had problems there. Our radio station controller only had high praises for her. Her News and other radio programmes attracted such a large base of listeners from all over the country. You guys wanted to put her down; instead because the radio reaches such a wide base, she was able to garner loyal listeners in the millions. As soon as she was back in Korea with CTN, those fans living too far out to receive TV transmission, immediately subscribed to CTN’s Internet services. Michael told me even before CTN first aired Shan Mei’s Korean language programmes on their first day of service, CTN-KE already received hundreds of millions of Won for month of July alone in internet subscribers’ fees. And that’s the kind of monthly income they are talking about for their Internet subscribers’ services. And when CTN signed Shan Mei, they didn’t even realise the money that would be coming from that direction.

Shan Mei places such importance on these subscribers, she sends out special CTN Ambassador Vans touring the country to outreach to them. The monthly income from these outreach subscribers must by now be exceeding 2 Billion Won a month, with 8 hours minimum daily viewing. And their internet income from their Higher Education series is nearing the 1 Billion Won mark per month, with a large percentage of its subscribers coming from all over the Asia/Pacific Basin, especially China, Hongkong, Taiwan, Singapore, and Australia. Now, you know why NSK Bank gives Shan Mei special preferential treatment in everything?

Well, thanks to you guys, MBS lost out on that kind of monthly income. And don’t tell me it was all pure luck for Shan Mei. PIR, through Shan Mei’s planning, is the first MBS programme getting income from internet subscribers. That’s where your bonuses are coming from, if you haven’t realised it yet.

And I am still at a loss to understand the MBS set-up. You Zhen was with MBS long before I came onto the scene. Our station never received merit awards for our camera crew. Since You Zhen joined CTN-KE, every year he is receiving awards for his excellent photography for his locally-produced documentary features but also nominations for his editing work. Shan Mei recognises excellent work and will push for recognition. The more she is pushing, the better work her team is producing.

Didn’t You Zhen and their childhood friend An Jun Mao win some kind of award for their efforts in one episode of ‘Mission Impossible’ filming cliff side habitats of orchids and sea gulls? I watched that programme and was impressed with everything about it. Apparently this Jun Mao specialises in ‘nature’ photography, and he IS very good. After seeing that episode, I really feel like visiting that seaside area, although I am no ‘nature’ buff. I’ve often wondered why this An Jun Mao was never recruited by MBS for his services.

Senior, you’ve got to understand when we are in the office, Shan Mei doesn’t consider herself as Yin Xiang Zhe’s wife. She is majority shareholder of Wen Rong Group, and 20% shareholder of MBS, even though she is only acting as custodian for Michael Dutton’s shares.

In fact, Father wanted to give her 20% MBS share which she refused and is now holding in trust for our son. Technically speaking, she is also majority shareholder of MBS. Whatever Shan Mei says or does affect the share price of MBS, Wen Rong and CTN.

In view of this, I hope you will accord more respect to her. She has a bigger load on her shoulders than me. She only wants the best for the station. Even I get blasting from her if I am not doing right. She thought the extra money used to employ star presenters could be better utilised for training in-house talent. If there was no proven talent on the MBS staff list, she wouldn’t think of stopping me in hiring a superstar presenter, but she did insist that I should test the potential of our talents before making such an important decision like wanting to retrench some employees in favour of someone else. That’s her character. She is not afraid to voice her opinion when she feels an injustice has been done. She is concerned with the matter, and not picking on any individual. That’s why she’s so successful and well supported in her handling of problems.”

Zian Da opened his mouth, wanting to say something. Xiang Zhe lifted his hand to stop him. Since Zian Da was the one who came to him wanting to complain about Shan Mei, let him, Zian Da, hear him out, otherwise he and Yong Xi would never rest.

“You’ve always wanted to know what happened from way back Xu Ying Mei days. I won’t say much, but I’ll give you 3 examples why you should look at Shan Mei technically as your boss.

1. The ‘scoundrel’ news incident. She was not afraid to voice her real feelings. She got reprimanded by management. You as her team leader were not prepared to stand up for her. I was very disappointed in you. Luckily for her, the viewers knew her worth and were right behind her. You should have realised then her popularity with TV viewers, but you didn’t. Why? Obviously, you were very biased.

After she left MBS for London, were you aware of the number of fan mail coming in to the radio station asking where she was? And when Uncle Jin didn’t see her for one week on the MBS morning show, he immediately asked Father where she was? When told she had resigned, Uncle Jin advised Father not to accept her resignation. Last month when she announced she wanted to retire from TV screen, see the amount of mail she received asking her not to? And the amount of hate mail I received blaming me for making her retire to take care of the family? Only when Shan Mei announced she would remain, and I was the one who persuaded her to stay, did I get a reprieve. She understands TV is all about communication with the masses. That’s her success.

2. The trainees’ first test assignment. You were backing Xu Ying Mei because of Yong Xi and because you thought she was good. You were trying to influence my thinking. I am disappointed in you, when you know in our industry, the viewership rating % dictates our decisions. Shan Mei had 18.8%, as you said the highest for the week, while Xu Ying Mei had 15.2%. You never disclosed this fact. If I never asked, no one would have known. How can an executive holding a position of authority in a station be making decisions based on personal likes and not according to what the viewers want? How can this person be 2nd in command of a station, you tell me?

3. The mobile phone fiasco in the newsroom. When Shan Mei told you someone had planted her mobile phone there, you told her she was making scandalous allegations. You didn’t bother to investigate. That was why after that, many unpleasant incidents occurred in your MBS News department, including Yong Xi’s car being tampered with. Did you go investigate on the car incident when you were told the brakes had been faulty or tampered with? If I told you someone deliberately set out to create all these incidents, would you have believed me?

In fact if you had really looked at things with unbiased eyes, you could easily see that Shan Mei was the best and most hardworking of her batch.

Someone was out to make mischief for her from Day 1 because that someone knew Shan Mei was talented. If I’m not Yin Xiang Zhe, but an ordinary staff member telling you all this, you’d say I was making serious allegations and advised me to keep my mouth shut and not stir up trouble.

To this day, Father and I are still very upset about the whole thing. Shan Mei started out with MBS and should have been our most valuable human resource asset. How could we have lost her to another station? Luckily for us, it was CTN. Can you imagine the consequences if it was SGS? MBS would have been finished.”

Zian Da then stubbornly persisted, “What about Xu Ying Mei, if she hadn’t been dismissed? Of course she was very ambitious. She would make it her business to reach the top.”

“In what way?” Xiang Zhe wanted to know. “By trying to get rid of anybody in the department who stood in her way? In case Senior didn’t know, many of her project and story outlines were stolen from Shan Mei. For your information, she did way better than Xu Ying Mei when they were both at university. If you don’t believe me, you can always call up the Dean of the university to find out or check the student records. This Xu Ying Mei used You Zhen as blackmail, threatening to leave him, to keep Shan Mei quiet. Even if she was tops in MBS, what was the use? MBS was still losing to rival stations for News and other shows. Even if we had given her the best show to host, the show would still suffer poor ratings.”

Xiang Zhe let out a tired, disgusted, sarcastic short laugh and gave Zian Da a rock-hard stare. Zian Da cringed in his seat when Xiang Zhe continued unforgiving, “You made me sit through meals with this Xu Ying Mei, wreaking my brains out trying to find solutions on how to improve the ratings of Morning of Eve, silently tolerating unnecessary taunts from Step uncle when all we had to do was to remove her from the show. Maybe you refuse to accept the fact that she was not popular with TV viewers and colleagues at all, and that was hurting the station’s ratings. I found out all these from the various departments after Shan Mei left MBS. If I had known about this earlier, Shan Mei wouldn’t have left MBS, Xu Ying Mei would have been taken off News and Morning of Eve, and MBS would not have to struggle constantly with mediocre ratings. You must remember only TV viewers can make or break a television programme or show. You and I cannot determine a show’s success. We can only make decisions in our boardroom to determine which presenter has the best potential to carry a show. Obviously, where talent-spotting is concerned, we are very poor assessors. The people at SGS are different. They wanted to poach Shan Mei from CTN right from the start.”

In fact, Zhao Di had told him, since university days, Ying Mei had been stealing Shan Mei’s class work. For those she didn’t manage to steal, she destroyed.

Shan Mei didn’t know Xiang Zhe knew all the above. It was Zhao Di who told him, when Shan Mei had gone to London and he sometimes looked up Zhao Di to see whether she got any news of Shan Mei. And Chen Sui and Li Qing Xi were adamant that Xu Ying Mei was always up to mischief to hurt Shan Mei. Chen Sui had seen her acting suspiciously around Shan Mei’s PC many times on the mornings when he came to work very early.

“Zian Da, please understand that Xiang Jie is eventually going to be No. 1 of MBS whether Shan Mei puts him there or not. Father wanted Shan Mei to be No. 1 but she had rejected the offer. After an initial period of training, I have confidence Xiang Jie would be ready for the No. 1 seat, because he is actually more knowledgeable than many who have been working at MBS for several years. It’s up to you to accept the reality of the situation.

I suggest you communicate more with Xiang Jie. He could help you. Don’t look down on him just because he’s young. Didn’t you notice the way he handled those girls at the Company Christmas party? Just a toast and he kept them in their place without hurting anyone’s feelings. I wouldn’t even know how to do that when I first started out at MBS.

Just look at his P.E. show – so popular and 100% family viewing. He has become some kind of local cult hero, not only with the younger set but with those with a gripe to chew with the Public Works Department. Haven’t you noticed at many retail outlets, be they supermarkets or pharmacies – at their entrances are displayed stickers asking people to contact P.E. if they have anything to complain about the city? And the city’s taxi drivers are his best friends. Xiang Jie tells me they call him up every day to report on trouble spots. Or when they see his car in the city, they will pass on to him some notes they have made about trouble spots. His easy, friendly manners and handsome looks have garnered for him an unbelievable following of young fans.

So, now you realise how hard Shan Mei has been working on you to get you to change your mind set so you can be No. 2, some day, maybe? Apparently, you are not ready to accept the challenge. For MBS to move forward successfully, only the most qualified people will be sitting in the hot seats. No more promotions due to personal or family connections.”

Just then, Xiang Zhe’s secretary announced through intercom a Mr. Sung was on the phone.

“Hello Brother Sung, Yin Xiang Zhe here. What can I do for you?

Your mother wants to come to visit? Didn’t you speak to Shan Mei?

Oh, she doesn’t know what my schedule is? I think this Saturday afternoon will be fine. Around 4 p.m. that’s when the twins are normally up from their afternoon nap. Fine, see you!”

After he hung up the phone, Xiang Zhe looked at Zian Da and gave a soft laugh. “Sponsors are lining up for Shan Mei’s private production. The Sungs want to be godparents to BB and BR but Shan Mei is having none of that. Michael has already signed up to be godfather to all of Shan Mei’s children long before she married.”

With that, Zian Da realised the meeting was at an end. He gave a nod then quietly left Xiang Zhe’s office and went off in search of his wife. He had to let her know what Xiang Zhe had just disclosed about promotions. No more personal or family connections – only the most qualified would be considered.

As he was making his way to the News Office, he was also thinking about what Xiang Zhe had said about Shan Mei. Even though Shan Mei was major shareholder of Wen Rong and was custodian of Michael Dutton’s MBS shares and was all powerful, in family affairs, she still sought the approval of her husband. No wonder they were running such a happy household. Unlike Zian Da himself, Yong Xi was the one making all the decisions, absolving him from all responsibilities.

Talking about Shan Mei always make Xiang Zhe miss her. He decided to go into the recording studio where Two Sides To A Coin was in progress to see her. Today’s mood was different. It appeared the guests and audiences came from one entire village. They had asked Zhen Shan Mei for the special slot to voice their opinions. The whole trip was specially organised by their town mayor for the sole purpose of appearing on TV with Zhen Shan Mei. The show gave another dimension to the commoners’ lives in a smaller town, but basic human sentiments were the same. After the show, they wanted photographs with Miss Zhen. Shan Mei seeing Xiang Zhe standing on the side lines beckoned him to join them. Before the visitors left, they left many home made gifts for the Yins and Patrick Lee, promising to bring more when they return the next day for the other side of debate.

Shan Mei took two pots of kimchi, and then told the production assistants to help themselves to the remaining kimchi gifts. Any surplus, please distribute to the other departments. They went to CTN dining hall for coffee. Shan Mei left one pot of kimchi there. Seeing Xue Zhang looking at her in a strange way, she asked him, her voice full of concern, “Darling, are you feeling alright? Are you tired? Do you want to go home to rest?”

He smiled at her, wanting to tell her she looked too adorable for her own good, instead he said he had arranged with the Sungs to visit on Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m.

Shan Mei smiled mischievously at him, asking him softly, “Shall we ask Patrick and Brother Jae Hoon to join us?” Xiang Zhe gave her hand a gentle squeeze under the table, his eyes speaking volumes.

Come Saturday, Madam Sung was so happy when BB ran up to her calling ‘Grandma Sung’ just as she was walking through the main door of the Yin’s residence.

BB then took Grandpa Sung’s hand and said, “Grandpa Sung, come. My daddy bought this for me,” pointing to his little bag of toy golf clubs. He wanted grandpa Sung to putt around the garden with him. Sung Senior couldn’t get over the fact BB remembered him and his golf clubs. He kept repeating BB was so clever.

On eyeing BR who would be 2 in May, Grandma Sung couldn’t decide who was the better looking of the 2 brothers? And when she saw the twins, she fell completely under their spell. They looked so like their daddy and mummy, especially with their shy smiles. She thought to herself the Yin couple was truly blessed, having 4 such absolutely beautiful children.

Grandma Sung joked with Shan Mei, agreeing with her decision to retire. “Both of you should retire from television and start a baby-making factory instead. For a start, I’ll place order for ten babies.” She sounded serious.

Xiang Zhe shook his head shyly in amusement, then looked at his wife with such love, remembering the look on her face when she told him she loved having his babies. Well, enough babies for them. He wouldn’t risk having his wife go through another pregnancy.

The housekeeper phoned and announced, “Mistress Shan Mei, tea is ready at the big house.” They walked over. BB was holding Grandpa Sung’s hand and his little golf club, Patrick was carrying BR, Jae Hoon carrying BA, Xiang Zhe carrying his precious baby princess, the ladies carrying on conversation. Mr. Sung, following behind, hadn’t seen his parents so happy in a long while. Maybe he should consider adopting one of the Yin boys as his godson. He would wait for an opportune time to broach this matter with Shan Mei. Tea was extremely enjoyable. When Madam Sung politely asked after Yin Snr, Shan Mei told them both sets of grandparents had gone to America for holiday.

When Xiang Jie returned from the office later in the day, he brought back with him a few packs of sliced top Australian prime beef Master Chef had asked him to bring home for sister, saying the beef was marbled just right for BBQ. Xiang Zhe checked over the meat. “Darling, do you want to have BBQ tonight? The meat looks good.”

Shan Mei turned to the Sungs. “Brother Sung, if you and your family are not having anything on tonight, why not stay for BBQ? My husband is expert at grilling the meat.” She turned to give Xiang Zhe a loving look and a meaningful smile.

Later that night, in their car on their way home, Madam Sung was so relaxed, she told her son to organise a BBQ get-together at their house soon. She didn’t realise such gatherings were so much fun. She didn’t want to invite any of her cronies. All they did was gossip. (?) Sung Senior turned around to look at his wife.

Thinking back to the BBQ this evening, he thought Patrick and Jae Hoon were great guys and would make fantastic sons-in-law. But he could see his daughters were more interested in the boys than the boys were in the girls.

And that Shan Mei! He regretted he didn’t override his wife’s advice to their son not to get too seriously involved with her. She would have made the perfect daughter-in-law for them, and the perfect wife for their son seeing how loving and caring she was towards her husband and children. No wonder Yin Xiang Zhe was grinning the whole time, never once taking his eyes off his wife. Sung Senior shook his head with deep regret.

Chapter AW-74

Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei were sitting down at his mother’s burial plot, the antique wooden box the lawyer had earlier given to them, was placed in between them. After some procrastination, Xiang Zhe decided to break the seal open. Shan Mei placed her hand over his, to stall him. “Just let Mother know you’ve got her box, and the other matters regarding trust fund, etc., would be settled this Thursday, okay? I suggest you don’t open the box in front of her. Let her secrets stay with her.” Husband and wife sat there in each other’s arms, staring at Mother’s burial plot. Shan Mei was so still, Xiang Zhe thought she had fallen asleep. Feeling him stirring, Shan Mei looked up at her husband to give him a brilliant smile. He bent his head to caress her lips, slowly moulding his lips to hers.

As he raised his head, he silently prayed to his mother to rest in peace. Everything was alright. Father had last month married a wonderful lady, giving a real grandma now to their children. He thanked Mother for sending Dr. Kim to deliver the final missing piece in the jigsaw puzzle. Henceforth, he would love and cherish more than ever Shan Mei and their children, would never do anything to hurt them, would protect and be there for them always.

He got up and pulled Shan Mei up with him, holding her close to him. He whispered words of love and thanks into her ear. Then they drove off towards home after storing the box carefully in the boot of the car.

After their shower, they decided to stay home although they were missing the children terribly. Father and Auntie had returned from America 2 days ago, and they wouldn’t let the grandchildren go home. BB and BR had missed their doting grandparents too.

Shan Mei didn’t want Xue Zhang to overtax himself. She suggested he lie down for a rest, while she prepared some dinner. Xiang Zhe nodded his head in silent agreement and took the box upstairs to their bedroom.

More than an hour had passed; Shan Mei still had not joined him. Xiang Zhe wondered what happened and went looking for his wife. He saw her at her office table going over some papers.

“Darling, what are you doing? Why are you still downstairs? I’ve been waiting for more than an hour in the bedroom for you.”

She had thought it was best he went through the box by himself. “The box is left to you by your mother. Won’t it be best if you go through the items by yourself?”

Xiang Zhe looked so hurt. “Darling, I don’t want to keep any secrets from you ever again. I’ve learnt my lesson the hard way. Keeping secrets only lead to problems.”

“In that case, why don’t you come downstairs? We’ll have dinner first, okay? I’ve made you your favourite pork stew.”

After dinner, Shan Mei suggested Xue Zhang settle himself comfortably on the sofa on the upper office level before opening the box. Apart from the 3 items mentioned by Dr. Kim, his mother had left him all her jewelry, several pieces of which were of butterfly design, title deeds to their ancestral home plus several plots of land in Busan. Also a letter from his Mother apologising for her neglect of him. She had simply found it too difficult to carry on. She also advised him never to marry unless it was for true love. Better to live alone and be free than to live with someone without love and be tormented for life. She had loved him, but was unable to show it because her heart was somewhere else far away. She was so sorry.

While Xue Zhang was dwelling over the letter, Shan Mei polished the box with furniture wax. She also cleaned thoroughly the other items in the box. Finally, she took the letter from Xue Zhang, and placed it back inside the box. She had earlier cleared and cleaned the mantelpiece above the fireplace. She placed the box on the mantelpiece. Surrounding the box, she placed framed photos of Xue Zhang, Xue Zhang and herself, the children, and Mother’s photo.

She joined Xiang Zhe on the sofa, sitting next to him quietly, doing nothing, and simply offering him companionship. After a while, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, drawing her closer to him, resting one cheek on her head, in deep pensive mood. He let out a sad, heavy sigh then whispered into Shan Mei’s ear, “I’ve come through some hell to get here, haven’t I darling?”

Shan Mei put her arms around Xiang Zhe and held him close. She leaned her head against his shoulder and pressed herself closer to him. It seemed to her that he felt very cold. She did not immediately utter any words. All she did was share her warmth with him. She held him a long time. After a while she was aware that some of the tension had left him. Then she tried to calm him with soothing words. “How difficult it must have been for you. You have to deal with something so much worse than I. I thought I had suffered through the loss of my mother at so early an age but I still have my Pa, my auntie, now my Ma, and You Zhen Ge. I cannot just begin to imagine how this latest news must for you. This discovery must have been shattering.”

As she stroked his hair, she realized she had never thought a man could experience heartache as a woman could. But now she knew that thinking was wrong. Her husband had borne the weight of loss and betrayal and a permanent emotional reminder of those things. And she had been the one at the receiving end of all the love he was capable of giving. A man who could love as he did could be terribly hurt by that emotion upheaval too, of course.

He touched one of her hands that was clasped around his waist, raised his head and fixed his dark-eyed gaze on her and sobbed. “I had hurt because I loved him as my father, and now to be told of the true facts, it seems I have been hurting in vain.”

What had she suffered so far in life in comparison to his? Not much, it would seem.

“Oh my darling,” she wept softly, inner joy filling her once again as she held him close and tenderly whispered, “Now that you know the true facts, maybe you can finally bury the past and look forward to enjoying a good, honest relationship with Father. No matter what the circumstances were, he is, after all, your father. This, you must not forget.” They stayed thus for a long time until she reluctantly pulled away. “Shall we return to our bed now?” she asked.

He closed his eyes and silently offered a fervent prayer of thanks to heaven for sending him Shan Mei, who could understand what he had endured and how his world had altered.

“I hated him,” he said quietly. “At one time I hated him more than anyone or anything in my entire life.” His voice sounded faded, as if he was seeing himself in the past, seeing things through a child’s eyes.

She wanted to weep for the hurt he’d endured from these two people who were his parents and who should have loved him and nurtured him, but hadn’t really.

He was wallowing in guilt and she was appalled. She said as a matter of fact, with no hint of emotion or pity in her voice, “Your mother was a woman who could never accept the truth of things, which turned her into a victim. Such tragedy, my dearest Xue Zhang. But it’s not our tragedy. Let it remain in the past where it belonged. We’re free of it.”

“Yes, that’s all over now,” Xiang Zhe echoed her belief. She kissed him as if to promise only paradise lay ahead, no more pain and reasons for further heartaches.

It was way past midnight when Xiang Zhe decided he wanted to go to bed. He carried Shan Mei on his back. As he stood up, he looked towards the mantelpiece. The box as the centre-piece looked good. He went up closer to take a look and asked his wife, “Where’s the photo that we posed after the award ceremony for the news reporters? That photo of us really looks good.”

Shan Mei laughed. At last she was getting some normal response from her husband. She nibbled at his ear and told him to go into her office. She took that photograph from her table and placed it on the mantelpiece. “Okay my darling Boss?”

Xiang Zhe laughed softly, nodding his head. Before he made his way towards the stairs, he looked around. Shan Mei was right. The box should be up there. His mother’s painting was hanging on one wall. It seemed now Mother was guarding over them while they worked.

In bed, Shan Mei gave her husband a tender kiss, bidding him a good night’s rest. “Tomorrow I have to be up early to prepare for lunch time meeting.”

Xiang Zhe wouldn’t let her off so easily. He had missed her so much. He wanted more than a kiss. She promised him a reward after tomorrow’s meeting. “Okay,” he replied quite satisfied and they happily snuggled up in each other’s arms to sleep.

Before start of work each morning, husband and wife usually enjoyed a quiet cup of coffee out in their garden. Sitting next to Shan Mei, holding on to her hand, he really looked forward to this quiet time together with her. After she finished her coffee, Shan Mei usually left her husband to his own thoughts. This morning he was thinking what the local broadcasting scene would be like if Shan Mei had really stuck to her guns to retire. If she retired from CTN, would Shan Mei agree to take over the complete running of MBS? She would definitely appoint Jae Hoon as her deputy. Just this very possibility was enough to wake him up. “No way,” he reminded himself and he let off a deep sigh.

On hearing his sigh, Shan Mei decided the quiet time was long enough. She didn’t want her husband to dwell further on whatever he had going on in his mind. She gathered the coffee mugs. After washing them, Shan Mei went up to Xue Zhang and hooked her arm in his, saying, “Darling, let’s go say hello to our brat before he goes off to playschool, okay?” Nodding his head, Xiang Zhe smiled lovingly at her, and got up from his seat.

As soon as mummy and daddy walked through the door, there was commotion. BR wanted daddy to carry him. BB on seeing that, wanted daddy too. Xiang Zhe was about to carry the two of them, when Shan Mei stopped him. “What about mummy? No one wants mummy? Didn’t mummy say never to tire daddy? You’re big boys now. BB, you’re elder brother, so you should let younger brother go up daddy’s arms first, after that if daddy is not too tired, you can have a go. Understand?”

BB grudgingly let BR go up daddy’s arms; he went to sit next to mummy on the sofa. Mummy gave him a tight hug and a kiss. He smiled up to mummy and told her he loved her. Today at school, he would paint her a drawing.

BR also wanted hug and a kiss from mummy and slipped down daddy’s arms running to mummy on the sofa. BB immediately ran up to daddy, telling daddy he loved him, and he was going to paint him a drawing too at school today.

Shortly, Father’s chauffeur, Uncle Kang, came to collect Grandma and BB for school. BR wanted to follow his parents back to the house, but daddy told him, “Not today, sweetheart. You stay to keep grandpa company. Mummy and daddy, after finishing work, will join you after lunch, okay?”

Xiang Zhe used his office on the office floor, and was connected to Shan Mei on the ground floor by a lined phone with intercom and conference facilities. He went through the stock market on the internet, checking the prices of Wen Rong and MBS. They had dipped slightly when Shan Mei announced her retirement, went up again this past month. Looking good! He mused. He accessed his email, going through reports from his assistants at Wen Rong.

Today’s lunch time meeting was to review ratings. MBS period drama and a documentary were losing out to SGS. “Any idea why?” Xiang Zhe asked as he looked around the table.

Li Qing Xi said it was not scheduling as the programmes on the other time slots, except News, turned out favourably or evened out against SGS, so it might be story development or story content, or the quality of acting.

Jae Hoon at once said, “If that is the case, I’ll look into this later today.”

Xiang Jie then added, “I caught a bit of it last week and thought the story development was moving too slow. It didn’t hit me right away because I had to rush off for a P.E. investigation. Sometimes story line can be good but scripting or development is the problem.”

Patrick then reported, “CTN’s Mini series first hour running at the same time did very well against the other stations. The second hour did even better.” Jae Hoon wanted to know story line of current week’s CTN’s Mini series.

Xiang Jie wanted to know current standard scriptwriters’ rate on the open market, and the rate being paid by MBS to their scriptwriters. The problem could lie there. He looked at Zian Da and asked, “Uncle Zian Da, what’s the current rate we are paying our scriptwriters?”

Zian Da gave him a blank look. He smiled at Zian Da, saying gently, “Not to worry. Check on the rates when you’re back in the office and let me know later today.”

Li Qing Xi felt secretly exasperated. That Zian Da was the same, but times at MBS were different now. Before it was Yin Xiang Zhe sitting there. Everyone knew Yin Xiang Zhe had only two cronies at MBS, before it became common knowledge that their very debonair Director of Planning was also friends with Zhen Shan Mei. The cronies were Kim Zian Da and Liu Yong Xi so they could do whatever they liked. Almost everything was as per their recommendation. Yong Xi, expecting to be Mrs. Yin Xiang Zhe any day, wielded her power in the News department against those she didn’t like.

Yin Xiang Jie was different. Though young in years, he knew what he wanted and he was not afraid to voice it.

Before Shan Mei could bring up the topic, Xiang Jie beat her to it. “I realise it is a bit early to prepare for it, but since it will be something everyone can contribute to on the side, I’d like to give each one of us plenty of time to think about it!

Xiang Zhe looked at his younger brother, puzzled. “What’s on your mind?”

“In 2 years MBS will be celebrating its 31st year in broadcasting. I want to do a special documentary on this, from early days of the station up till now. I want Brother You Zhen to assist; permission will have to come from Sister. Before that, of course the President has to agree that I can do it.”

Xiang Zhe was so pleased and grinned broadly. He had earlier decided to earmark the 31st year MBS anniversary in memory of his mother who began running the station when she was 31 years old.

Shan Mei smiled her sweet smile. “Of course You Zhen can help you. But I want the Special to focus more on MBS achievements rather than emphasize on personalities. It will be nice for the public to know when MBS was started, how many other broadcasting stations were there simultaneously. Throughout the years what happened, and the positioning of each of them.”

“Great idea! Any idea of budget you will need?” asked Xiang Zhe.

Xiang Jie said for a start, all information would be coming from voluntary sources, so no money involved. “We can safely assume the money to be spent will be negligible, since most of the information will also come from government archives. I’ll ask Brother Jae Hoon to get his university students to work on this project as their thesis. I foresee the only expenses involved will be travel expenses to do research or cost of photo shoots.”

The meeting concluded on that note. Xiang Zhe told them no meeting tomorrow and Thursday. “The next meeting will be Friday morning after PIR at MBS conference room.”

After seeing their colleagues out, husband and wife went back to their seats in the patio. They both looked at each other, and then laughed at the same time, Xiang Zhe shaking his head, rubbing at his forehead, complaining. “That Zian Da is really hopeless.”

Then Xiang Zhe looked at his wife in a funny way, and chided, “Hey, don’t you laugh too. Do you know the current scriptwriter’s rate on the open market?” Shan Mei nodded her head, and laughed some more recalling Zian Da’s blank look.

She let her husband in on a secret. “Xue Zhang, tell you a secret. Xiang Jie is aware of the rates, too.”

Xiang Zhe was surprised. “Really?”

“Xiang Jie wanted to get Zian Da involved in the meeting so he gave him the easiest part, to simply name the rate, no need to make recommendations taxing his brain. Yet he couldn’t do it!”

Xiang Zhe shook his head as he recalled the expressions on the other participants’ faces. This Zian Da!

Husband pulled wife up from her chair. “Let’s go check on our babies.” As they walked over to the mansion, Xiang Zhe drew his wife lovingly up to him, trying to plant a kiss on her cheek.

Shan Mei tried to wriggle out of his hold and laughingly asked, “What’s the rate for a kiss from Zhen Shan Mei on the open market?”

“A black eye for anyone, except me, who dares to accept the kiss!”

Chapter AW-75

They had been working since 7.30 this morning. Xiang Zhe decided to have a coffee break. As he came down the stairs, he caught the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee coming from the kitchen. Shan Mei was placing some cookies on a plate. He walked quietly in to stand behind his wife, giving her a kiss on her nape, his arms tight around her waist. She asked, “Xue Zhang, do you want me to prepare some snacks when your assistants come later?”

“No need. I’ve cancelled the meeting.”

“President Yin has other plans?”

Grinning wickedly at his wife he murmured, “I plan to have afternoon meeting with my wife.”

“Have you forgotten your wife is going to have conference meeting with UK office and Sydney sponsors this afternoon?”

Giving her nape another peck, he took the plate from her and went to the kitchen table. While he sipped his coffee, he stared at her. Shan Mei went round to him. She hooked her arms around his neck and whispered into his ear. A grin slowly appeared on his face as he drew his wife close to him with his arm around her waist.

Later that afternoon, after her conference phone call, Shan Mei was sitting in her chair deep in thought, running her fingers through her hair, as Xiang Zhe walked through the French windows. He was all hot and sticky after running around the garden with BR. After leaving his son with Auntie Lee, he wanted to check with his wife her plans because he saw Auntie Lee giving her some boxes of food when they were there after the luncheon meeting. Shan Mei didn’t hear him and was startled when Xiang Zhe asked her, “Darling, is everything alright?”

She gave him a smile, asking him, “Are you going for shower? I want to join you.”

Xiang Zhe was so happy he ran up the stairs to get the water ready at the temperature his wife liked. Shan Mei loved the foam massage her husband gave her under the shower. While they were drying themselves, Shan Mei asked her husband, “Do you want to spend the night at our cabin?”

Xiang Zhe walked slowly towards her with a faint smile on his face, and began kissing her fervently. “I thought you’ve forgotten we have a love shack. I have been waiting for you to ask.” And kissed her delicate jaw line with the most tender touch.

After packing some food, they drove off. Xiang Zhe opened up everything to air the cabin. Since the time when Shan Mei wasn’t well, he had been at the cabin to air and clean it occasionally, hoping they could spend time there after the twins’ birth. Then the weather became too cold to visit, and after that it was his turn to shut himself away.

Xiang Zhe prepared some champagne peach juice cooler, while Shan Mei had some rice cooking in the rice cooker. With drink in hand, they enjoyed the beautiful panorama while lying down on their sun lounger specially built for two. Shan Mei felt so good lying in the crook of Xue Zhang’s arm watching the clear sky blue above. She wondered whether they would have time to enjoy such bliss when CTN took Two Sides To A Coin to Australia? Xiang Zhe kept quiet and looked contemplative, as he took a few sips of his cooler.

He didn’t want to be the one who wouldn’t let her go but he was afraid. Afraid he wouldn’t be able to suppress his jealousy knowing Patrick would be with Shan Mei; afraid he wouldn’t know how to handle irresponsible gossip magazine reporting; afraid he would hurt Shan Mei again with his jealous outbursts. He wondered what had transpired over the conference phone conversation? Shan Mei didn’t sound too confident.

When they were ready for bed, Shan Mei wanted to spend the night outdoors. The stars were too enticing. Xiang Zhe pulled the quilt over them and began enjoying the open fresh air, the winds softly whispering around. Shan Mei snuggled up to her husband, inhaling his familiar scent, the scent she always associated with Xue Zhang who was always there to love her, to protect her, to ensure everything was alright for her.

Xiang Zhe burrowed his face in her hair, softly kissing here and there. He couldn’t help himself, when he softly asked in her ear, “When will CTN be taking 2STAC to Australia?”

Shan Mei raised her eyes to him and answered, “Whenever Xue Zhang can spare the time.”

Xiang Zhe was puzzled. “What do you mean?”

“Michael knows I will go only if he includes Xue Zhang in the sales package. The sponsors have accepted. Due to our Seoul 2STAC on Thursdays and Fridays, CTN has proposed for Sydney Mondays and Tuesdays. The sponsors want Patrick and me for 12 weeks, after which they will accept Australian co-hosts. Xue Zhang is to go along as consultant producer. I feel it won’t be fair to take Xue Zhang away from your work at Wen Rong for almost 3 days a week for 12 weeks. Very unlikely 2STAC will now go to Australia unless sponsors agree to have another co-host.”

On hearing this Xiang Zhe was in high spirits and so relieved. He cried quietly into her hair, “I thought you were going to leave me behind.” He reasoned with his wife, “I am now working from home Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays anyway. I’d love to join you if you are sure I won’t be in your way.”

She was ecstatic on hearing this! “Are you positively sure?”

Her husband nodded his head giving her an indulgent smile.

Hugging him tight to her, she cried, “Xue Zhang, you’re the best.”

Xiang Zhe began kissing and caressing his wife in intimate ways; very soon they were lost in their own little world.

Today was Founding Day 29th Anniversary. Yin Xiang Jie was the emcee for the luncheon celebration. He was extremely jovial and popular with the guests. Father looked on at the proceedings full of pride. If someone had told him the man standing out there was his younger son Xiang Jie, he wouldn’t have believed it, if he didn’t see it with his own eyes. Xiang Jie was so relaxed, confidant and in total control of the celebratory mood. Father looked at him, and wondered which part of him attracted Shan Mei initially to him to see beneath the surface to detect the potential in him.

Very soon came the obligatory cheque presentation and cake cutting ceremony. Xiang Jie welcomed Mrs. Yin Xiang Zhe and the university dean out to the front. Today they would also be welcoming a very special guest to participate in the event. On cue Xiang Zhe appeared beside Shan Mei with their second son Yin Bao Rong in his arms. Xiang Jie introduced BR, who made his first appearance into this world on Founding Day 27th Anniversary. They had invited him up to assist his mother. The guests found him just as captivating as his mother and handsome as his father. He was so polished that he even extended his little hand for a handshake after presenting the cheque to the university dean. After helping with cake cutting, he blew several kisses to the guests, telling them he loved them. After giving daddy a big kiss, he wanted daddy to let him down. He ran up to Grandpa, climbed onto his lap, gave grandpa a kiss on his cheek, and then buried his face shyly into grandpa’s chest.

Taking Shan Mei’s hand, Xiang Zhe led her back to the table. His eyes misted. During his childhood, he remembered his father acted very aloof. They were never affectionate. The only emotion he remembered was his mother’s tears after his father left. Even when he went to stay with Father while Shan Mei was in London, the four of them in the Yin household usually sat down to meals in silence. Then Xiang Zhe focused his thoughts on Shan Mei. She was so shy when they first dated, he had no clue what to expect out of married life with her except to make reality his burning desire to love and protect her, to make her happy.

It was completely different after they married. At first Shan Mei was very shy about the intimate side of marriage, otherwise, she was affectionate with her hugs, in private of course, same way she was dispensing her kisses and hugs to her Pa. Xiang Zhe and his wife were always touching. Seeing how free and natural his children were with their love, hugs and kisses, he often wondered how he ever got through those bleak lonely years of the past. Now, if Xiang Zhe had to go through a day without his wife’s loving touch, he would have to hear her sweet voice at least several times a day.

Yong Xi, looking at them from her table nearby, couldn’t help but wonder how someone could be so blessed. Shan Mei was just average when she started out at MBS. Yet she was the one who managed to win Xiang Zhe’s attention and love. After so many years of marriage, Xiang Zhe’s love for his wife hadn’t diminished one bit. In fact, he seemed to have become more hopelessly in love and devoted to her. She gave birth to two boys, which raised her status in the family, according to Asian family tradition. Then to a pair of twins, giving Xiang Zhe another son, and a daughter. Xiang Zhe who used to say he didn’t want children was now relishing the role of proud and doting father. Shan Mei’s career had not only gone up, up, and up, her husband and father-in-law were 100% supportive of her. She was looking more beautiful and radiant. Soon she would be further enhancing the reputation of CTN-KE and MBS overseas. The amazing part was she remained the same shy, unspoilt, gentle and caring Shan Mei, without one wicked bone in her body. Unbelievingly, her husband had become another person, more tolerant, always smiling, and openingly affectionate with his wife. He used to keep to himself like an island, never wanting to say more than what was necessary. He never smiled unless he was talking with Shan Mei.

With Shan Mei, he couldn’t stop talking to her, even if he had to communicate with her in whispers, he would, not wanting to wait. How did Shan Mei manage all these? Yong Xi asked herself.

Yong Xi, in her heart, was silently angry with Shan Mei. If Shan Mei did not appear, Yong Xi still believed Xiang Zhe might have eventually settled for her. Xiang Zhe had always maintained he didn’t understand what love was and he was incapable of loving a person, she accepted it and agreed to date Zian Da after Xiang Zhe had shown her at MBS 20th founding day anniversary he was not interested in her. But seeing the way Xiang Zhe loved his wife, she had chastised herself for not waiting for him to buckle under family pressure. She wouldn’t then have settled for Zian Da. She had thought it was better to be loved, than be the one to love. After her marriage, she found she was still secretly carrying a torch for Xiang Zhe and had hoped the Yins’ marriage wouldn’t work. Xiang Zhe would then realise he had made a gross mistake by not choosing her. If Xiang Zhe divorced Shan Mei and came to her telling her he had made a mistake and wanted to marry her, she knew she would drop Zian Da, without hesitation, like a ton of hot bricks. She wouldn’t care what the gossip mongers would say.

At the end of the night, both Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei lay down exhausted in bed. The buffet and Korean BBQ in the late afternoon they had to celebrate BR’s birthday was a tiring affair. The Sungs remembered it was BR’s birthday, seeing it was also MBS Founding Day anniversary, invited themselves to the party when told of BBQ. You Zhen and family came with his son Alan. Zian Da was there too with his wife and daughter.

BB worked himself into a tantrum. He was not happy seeing BR getting so much attention. And when Daddy carried BR around all the time, he was crying complaining to mummy that BR had stolen his daddy. No amount of humouring from Grandpa and Xiang Jie could appease him. Xiang Zhe wanted to carry him too. Shan Mei would have none of it. He was elder brother, he had to learn to take care of the younger ones, not try to get his own way all the time. Shan Mei took him into his room. After a while, when Shan Mei and BB emerged from his room, he was all smiles. He went up to Daddy and BR and gave each of them a kiss and a hug, telling them he loved them very much. The Sungs, Yong Xi and Zian Da looked at one another in awe.

Now in their bed, after Xiang Zhe placed his wife’s head in the hollow of his shoulder and held her lovingly in his embrace, he asked, “What secret discussion was going on between you and Sung?”

“Brother Sung wanted to be godfather to BR. Didn’t Xue Zhang see the priceless birthday present he brought for BR? I told him I needed to discuss with you, but we will seriously consider the idea.”

Xiang Zhe remarked, “If he becomes too persistent, let him be godfather to BR. I already expected something like this.”

He laughed, “BB would surely have the backup of Michael Dutton, BR the backup of the Sung family, BZ the backup of me and BA the backup of you.

Don’t think I haven’t noticed. You’re doting too much our youngest child.” Xiang Zhe of course doted on his only daughter BZ, naming her Precious Pearl, reflecting the way he felt about his wife.

He again thanked his wife for giving him four of the most adorable children. Zian Da and Yong Xi’s daughter was spoilt like her mother.

Xiang Zhe remembered when they were young, whenever Yong Xi visited his house, she wanted to have her way all the time. So much so, that every time she was at their house, he would hide in his room refusing to come out even for his meals. Later on when he realised he was expected to marry her, even though he was only in senior high school, he ran away to London and stayed there.

After she graduated from university in Seoul, her parents sent her for a year of studies in London, hoping to use this as an excuse for their engagement. At the outset, he had refused to be engaged to Yong Xi. When Yong Xi said she would wait because she loved only him, he professed he was not interested in marriage and would never marry because he was not interested in girls.

Yong Xi had always considered him her private property, even though he had always treated her only like a sister. That was why when she first found out Xiang Zhe was interested in Shan Mei, Yong Xi made life difficult for her. Thinking back on this, he was so sorry; because of him, she had to suffer. He assured his wife all that was history. No one would dare hurt her ever again.

When he looked at her, he saw her eyes wet with unshed tears, and so much love flowing forth. He had to kiss her. He wanted to kiss away those tears, those unhappy memories.

Chapter AW-76

Xiang Zhe accompanied Shan Mei and Patrick to the airport for their flight to Sydney. He was supposed to go along for the promo trailer and press interviews. However, Wen Rong’s shipyard in Busan was having disputes with their union, and as violence was expected any day between the parties involved, Xiang Zhe decided to stay back in Korea.

Shan Mei was so reluctant to leave her husband behind. Knowing what was going through her mind, Xiang Zhe quietly assured her, “Darling, don’t worry. Everything is going to be alright. Just go off to do the necessary, and hurry back to me.” As he said that, he gently adjusted the rose pendant necklace on her neck, to make sure the pendant sat in the hollow of her neck.

Patrick left the couple in a quiet corner, to say their goodbyes. When they passed through immigration and were out of sight, Xiang Zhe was missing his wife already, even though he consoled himself they would be gone only 3 days, returning early Wednesday morning.

When he arrived back home, he went over the reports his assistants had prepared for him regarding their Busan shipyard problems. Even though the shipyard manager had predicted profitable forecasts for the past 5 years, none had eventuated. Every year the shipyard was suffering heavy losses. The union was the one making good money. Tomorrow morning, he would discuss with Father whether it was advisable to close the shipyard? The repair jobs for their fleet of freighters could be outsourced.

He would loathe to take this route, the shipyard being the first business venture, no matter how small time, of his great-grandfather. That time many of his contemporaries were escaping from the north using the sea route. They landed along the eastern coastline of the peninsula. Great-grandfather did repairs for boats and small ships that wanted to continue onward to China or Japan or some islands around the Pacific Basin. Business was very good, and he employed several friends who had escaped to the South with him. Later on he was asked to make toolings for small machine parts that had broken down. That side of the business became the forerunner of Wen Rong Heavy Industries. With some money saved, great grandfather invested in one old freighter leasing it out to fishermen wanting to go further asea for their catch. That was how the fleet expanded. With the influx of more immigrant arrivals, great grandfather also acquired some land to build affordable housing, and that was how things snowballed.

It was only during his grandfather’s time that, they really hit the big time, like what Dr. Kim had told him. His grandfather came into a sudden anonymous inheritance that gave him government contracts to build army quarters for the army; and housing estates for war veterans. A lot of land where army units were built belonged to his grandfather; the source of this land came from a mystery benefactor. Soon, Grandfather moved his base to Seoul. Later, he was given a broadcasting licence. According to Dr. Kim this also came from the mystery benefactor. The Busan arm of the business slowly became less prominent, though their fleet of freighters, carrying cargo, plying between the various local fishing ports was profitable.

Xiang Zhe was having a headache. He wondered whether Shan Mei was able to sleep on the plane. If she managed to fall asleep, was Patrick next to her? He knew how she hated people watching her while she was asleep. Besides, only he had the right to watch his wife while she was in slumber.

It was almost 4 in the morning. He’d better catch some sleep himself.

He immediately checked his mobile phone when he awoke. Shan Mei had sent him a message an hour ago letting him know that they had arrived and were on their way to the hotel, to catch some sleep. Patrick and she made use of their time on the plane for discussion. They would be collected from their hotel later in the morning. He desperately wanted to call Shan Mei but he must not disturb her beauty sleep.

He went over to Father’s place, to see his babies. BB was having breakfast. When he saw daddy, he gave daddy a kiss, then wanted to know, “Daddy, where’s mummy? Have you hidden mummy somewhere?”

“Mummy has gone shopping.”

BB was excited, thinking of all the toys mummy would be buying for him. Suddenly he asked, “Daddy, who is driving mummy around?”

Xiang Zhe was saved from answering because BR chose that time to make his appearance and ran up to daddy giving him a big hug and kiss. “Where’s mummy?” He ran into the nursery, but mummy was not there and he looked at daddy with quizzical eyes.

“After shopping, mummy has work to do. You must be good and not fight, otherwise mummy will not come home.” On hearing that their mummy might not be coming home, the two boys started sobbing, and wailed they wanted their mummy. Xiang Zhe kicked himself hard, for being stupid, and talking nonsense scaring them.

“No, No, mummy is not coming home today. She will be back tomorrow after she finishes her work.” No amount of sweet talk would quieten them.

Grandma walked in and tried to comfort them. “BB, don’t you want to go to school ? You haven’t seen your friends over the weekend, don’t you want to go play with them? Have you forgotten Monday is ‘gifts exchange’ day?” BB agreed to go to school. Before he went off, he told BR to take good care of daddy. The two brothers then went up to daddy, hugged on tight to him, not letting him go, telling him they wanted to sleep with him that night.

“Okay, okay. Now, go to school.” Xiang Zhe told BB.

After a while, Yin Senior appeared for breakfast. Xiang Zhe began discussing with him the shipyard situation.

Father heaved a sigh. “Aiyo, I also don’t know how to handle the situation, because that time the elders down in Busan never respected me. The elders believed I married your mother for her money. Even though I was young and had no money, family or status of my own, I truly believed the marriage would work if I was sincere. That was why they separated the tooling business from the shipping and ship repair business. The tooling and machinery business involved long working hours and generated very little profit. Your grandfather gave me that business to handle, not letting me touch the other businesses. In order to expand the tooling business, I brought in Uncle Jin and Uncle Liu, my two closest friends from army days to help out. Now, if I allow the shipyard to close, the workers will surely think I’m avenging their snub. Son, for the time being, I suggest we just take a ‘wait and see’ attitude.”

It was Tuesday afternoon. Michael, Shan Mei and Patrick had just finished a press interview. The sponsors were very happy because the reporters appeared to like the idea of two Asian co-hosts hosting a local chat show. A very novelty idea indeed. And Miss Zhen Shan Mei already came with a reputation. Two Christmases ago she carried off the Best Overall Anchor at the Australian Broadcasting Industry Annual Ball, and the BBC representative who lost out to her had only praises for her.

As they were clearing away their papers, Shan Mei received call from Xiang Jie. He sounded frantic, at times, incoherent. “Xiang Jie, calm down and tell me precisely what exactly had happened.”

“Sister, Elder Brother is hurt in Busan when he flew down there this morning to mediate in the shipyard dispute, and has just been admitted to hospital.”

Shan Mei tried to appear calm but her face had turned ashen. “Xiang Jie, get together with Jae Hoon and gather details of what the dispute is actually about.” She gave him details of her arrival flight at Inchon. He was to arrange for a connecting flight from Inchon to Busan. “I want Jae Hoon to accompany me down to Busan, and bring with him all paperwork. Yes, please ask him to contact Mr. Pei, to meet us at Busan airport.”

“Who is Mr. Pei?”

“Jae Hoon will know who Mr. Pei is.”

“Can I go with you to Busan?”

“No, you’re not allowed to go to Busan this time, another time maybe. I need you and Patrick to stay in Seoul, in case we need more information. And remember to pack for me in an overnight bag some changes of summer clothes because I now have only winter clothing with me.”

Seeing that worried look and Shan Mei talking so rapidly, Michael knew something not good had arisen, but he never expected something so serious when Shan Mei repeated what JJ had told her. Her eyes were swimming in unshed tears. She wanted to check out of hotel immediately and go wait at airport for their flight to Seoul.

Seeing Shan Mei like this, Michael wanted to accompany them back to Seoul but she wouldn’t let him. “No, it’s not necessary. Stay back to finalise everything with the sponsors and the production team. The show will commence first Monday of July as originally scheduled.”

“Don’t worry Michael. I’ll make sure Shan Mei is okay on the flight back to Seoul,” Patrick assured Michael.

Xiang Jie and Jae Hoon were at airport to meet them. After getting her overnight bag, Shan Mei and Jae Hoon immediately checked in for flight to Busan. Inside the departure lounge, Jae Hoon confirmed Mr. Pei would be meeting them. “Not only he himself personally but he has contacted the underworld Elder for that territory to accompany us, in case the union leaders are out to make more trouble for President Yin. As far as he understood the situation, the union leaders were the ones who instigated the violence.”

Shan Mei only nodded her head in silence when being told of this.

When Mr. Pei’s car drove up to the entrance of the shipyard, many bystanders gave Shan Mei and her group curious stares when she stepped out of the big black car. On closer inspection, they realised it was Zhen Shan Mei, the host of Two Sides To A Coin. There was excitement all around, as word soon spread around that Miss Zhen Shan Mei was in the yard. She went into the office, and used the public address system to get everyone’s attention. “Good morning, I’m Zhen Shan Mei. I represent Wen Rong Group. Please appear in the front yard if you want a meeting.” The union leaders were alerted.

Within half an hour, all were seated in their respective positions. Shan Mei introduced herself. Many would know her as the co-host of Two Sides to A Coin, few would realise she was also the wife of the man they hurt yesterday.

“I want one representative from each side to come forward so we can resolve the dispute as best and as quickly as we can.”

The workers were complaining they were not getting paid enough. They wanted at least 10% increase in wages. The Union claiming to act on behalf of the workers, wanted 15% which would include their 5% handling fees if the increase for the workers was approved.

Jae Hoon displayed a chart that showed workers’ basic wages plus the 10% increase requested by them. It also showed the present amount paid by Wen Rong to the Union. If Wen Rong acceded to Union’s demand, Shan Mei explained the amount to be paid to the Union would result in further losses for the shipyard.”

After a deliberate pause, Shan Mei continued, “According to company history, in case the present workers and union leaders have forgotten, the union was initially set up to safeguard the benefits for the workers because many of the initial founding fathers weren’t educated and couldn’t liaise with the government departments properly. The money Wen Rong has been paying to the Union would cover the Union’s running expenses, as well as payroll for the workers. Since inception of the Union, the union has done nothing for the welfare of the workers, whereas Wen Rong has built schools, a hospital, play grounds, day care centres and senior citizen welfare centres. So what has happened to the money paid by Wen Rong all these years to the union to take care of its workers?” Shan Mei wanted to know.

The workers began whispering among themselves but quietened down when Shan Mei continued. “Since the union is started by the shipyard workers themselves, and if the union is not effectual enough to handle the shipyard’s financial matters, the union can be deregularised. Wen Rong’s legal advisors will take care of everything. Once the union is no longer in existence, if you study the chart carefully, you can see your wages will automatically increase by 10% or more.

In case you still insist on having the union, and want also the 10% increases in wages, plus 5% increase for the union, I will recommend to Wen Rong’s BOD to close down the shipyard.”

Jae Hoon displayed a second chart which showed forecasted incomes against actual incomes earned by the shipyard. “For the past 10 years, the shipyard has been losing money. For the last 5 years the Shipyard Manager has made glowing reports of potential performance, which in actual fact, has underperformed. Not only has business not done well, productivity is very poor.” Shan Mei pointed out the disparity which was shown very clearly on the chart.

Jae Hoon displayed a third chart, giving comparisons from 3 shipyards. The other two showed same job completed in 50% less time for 40% of the cost.

Shan Mei used this chart to good advantage, trying to prove it was not profitable at all to keep the shipyard going. “It will be more efficient and profitable to outsource all ship repair jobs. I want you to spend one night thinking about what I have just presented. You can bring in your expert mathematicians to assist you in arriving at the various deductions.”

Jae Hoon displayed the fourth chart. Shan Mei pointed to this chart and advised the workers to study it carefully. “As you can see from this chart, we have given you a choice. If you want the shipyard to continue, you must do away with the union. For those who want other job opportunities, send in your resumes stating basic personal data. For those who will not mind being relocated for their new jobs, please also indicate. If Wen Rong decides to close the shipyard, only a minimal team of staff will be needed. I want all information and answers when we return tomorrow at 9 a.m. For those not returning answers, I will consider their silence as resignation.

For those needing help in understanding the set up, be at the front yard at 9 a.m. tomorrow when my team will explain further.”

With the day’s main business on the agenda thrashed out, Miss Zhen Shan Mei now wanted to pursue something of a personal nature.

Chapter AW-77

She wanted to know who threw that bottle at her husband yesterday? “I am not here to find the culprit or to punish that person. I want to know, because for a stranger to harm a person as gentle and with such goodwill as my husband, that person must be harbouring a lot of frustrations and anger.”

Shan Mei paused a moment to rein in her emotions.

“The shipyard is my great-grandfather-in-law’s first venture in South Korea when he first arrived. I understand he started it with friends who had escaped with him from the North. It started out like some kind of family venture to take care of others escaping from the north after him. To feel such anger, against the only great-grandson of a pioneer who through sheer hard work, toil and foresight, wanted to bring a better standard of life to their descendants, I want to talk to this person, to see how we can work together to improve the situation. And not just that, that man has hurt the person I love most. If I have done the same to the person you love most, how will you feel?”

By this time, Shan Mei was having great difficulty containing her tears. Jae Hoon dared not offer her comfort. As soon as he did, he knew her tears would flow non stop.

Soon a 20ish year old man stood up. Shan Mei beckoned him to come forward. She admired his courage for admitting his guilt, but admonished him for not taking the non-violent way. She wanted to receive a letter from him, listing down clearly what he was so angry with. But for now, she wanted him to accompany her to the hospital to apologise to her husband.

“I had come straight from the airport. I still have not seen my husband, and have no idea of his present condition.” With that, the group got into the limo and left for the hospital.

As soon as Shan Mei saw her husband on the hospital bed, his head and half his forehead bandaged, she flew to him sobbingly. She caught his surprised face between her hands and kissed him, and kissed him. Xiang Zhe was kissing her back, deliriously happy. He had told Zian Da and Xiang Jie not to let Shan Mei know, knowing she would abandon everything in Sydney and fly straight home. Now, holding her in his arms seemed like a dream.

Wiping away the tears as best as she could, she broke free from her husband, then beckoned to the man standing at the door to come forward. She introduced Xue Zhang to the man, one of the workers at the shipyard.

“Darling, this man has a nasty habit. He likes playing with flying bottles. He has come to apologise.”

The man was remorseful and became very apologetic. Xiang Zhe smiled and told the man not to worry. After a short exchange of small talk, Shan Mei walked the man out of the room, followed by Jae Hoon. She told the man, “Please write down everything clearly, everything that you know or want us to know. We want to know not just your own but the other workers’ opinions.”

The man fidgeted about uncomfortably on his feet. When Shan Mei looked at him, he then confessed, “I can’t write.”

“Don’t worry. After lunch, you can tell Mr. Han here everything, and he will write it down for you. Remember, it is not a confession from you, but for Wen Rong to be able to help, we must know what has been going on at the shipyard.”

While Shan Mei and Jae Hoon were out of the room, Mr. Pei asked after Xiang Zhe’s health, then introduced his chingu Mr. Ang. They told Xiang Zhe, “Wow Brother, your wife was simply terrific this morning at the shipyard. We are confident everything will be resolved by tomorrow. Mr. Yin, you don’t have to worry a thing. We are here to protect Shan Mei.” Xiang Zhe was surprised to know that Shan Mei had already been to the shipyard.

When Shan Mei returned to the room, she told Mr. Pei that she would stay in the hospital with Xue Zhang. “Mr. Pei, can you please help Jae Hoon check into a decent hotel near by, after taking him and the shipyard worker to a late lunch.”

“Aiya, Shan Mei, no need for hotel. Jae Hoon can stay at Mr. Ang’s place. It is big like a hotel.”

Jae Hoon thanked Mr. Pei and Mr. Ang for their kindness but declined saying he needed to have a long talk with the shipyard worker and take some notes from the man.

Mr. Pei laughed saying, “In that case, you definitely have more reason to stay with us, because sometimes the Busan dialect is very difficult to understand.” So it was thus decided. Mr. Pei then turned to Shan Mei and confirmed, “Shan Mei, I’ll be here tomorrow morning at 8.30 to collect you.”

When Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei were alone in the room, Shan Mei informed the nurse on duty that she would need an extra portion of afternoon tea served, when she was told that lunch had already been served.

As soon as Xiang Zhe realised the others had left, he began acting like a baby, and wanted Shan Mei’s full attention, especially when tea was served a short while later. While they had their tea, Shan Mei told her husband what took place in Sydney.

In the evening, after a warm shower, Shan Mei had her dinner delivered to the room. As she was about to feed her husband his dinner, he coaxed quietly, “Darling, why don’t you sit next to me on the cot?”

“It’s too narrow. It’ll give you more discomfort.”

“If you don’t sit next to me, I’m not going to eat.” He began whining and wanted Shan Mei to take her dinner same way, pulling the movable serving table right up to his chest.

Shan Mei acceded to humour him, yet she had not dared to touch the front of his head.

“How many stitches?” she asked softly, her heart already twisting with pain.

“Sixteen stitches,” Xiang Zhe answered bravely, striving to keep the pain from swamping his brain.

“Were all glass fragments taken out?” He nodded his head and looked so pitiful, Shan Mei couldn’t help it but gave him a long, deep kiss, hoping to ease his suffering a bit.

Soon it was local TV news. The newscaster gave a report on the latest development on the Wen Rong shipyard dispute.

“This morning Miss Zhen Shan Mei representing Wen Rong Group was at the shipyard and immediately called meeting of workers, union leaders and members. She read out from the original Charter of Union Regulation set down by the Wen Rong founding fathers, namely her great grandfather-in-law. Because the union had strayed too far from its original intentions, to resolve the dispute, Miss Zhen would take two ways: abolish the union, or shut down the shipyard. She had given the workers one night to consider Wen Rong’s offer. She also gave new job opportunities for those workers wanting new jobs and new home relocations.” Then the news episode showed the reporter on the site asking the workers standing around. And many felt the choices proposed by Miss Zhen Shan Mei were fair. When asked whether any worker had made any decision, the worker being interviewed said he would accept new job and didn’t mind where he was being relocated.

Xiang Zhe was so surprised. What Union Charter? He never knew of this?

In face, he had never even heard of it!

“Dearest husband, remember the project Xiang Jie was researching for MBS 31st Anniversary? One of Jae Hoon’s students came across it by accident in a long-forgotten government file. Now, we can get rid of the trouble-making union once and for all. Because the Charter was registered with the regional government when the union was incorporated before a certain year, no law in Korea can dispute it whatsoever. And now that Mr. Pei and Mr. Ang are standing up for us, no black hats, in their system of brotherhood, are allowed to assist the union leaders in any way.”

“What new jobs does Miss Zhen Shan Mei have in mind for the workers wanting to leave the shipyard?”

“Remember two of the few plots of land from your grandfather’s land portfolio? They were located in such areas we found were not suitable for housing development? And from Mother’s treasure box, there was a paper sticker with brand of some kind of wild honey? Maybe she liked the honey so much she kept the sticker. I suspect she kept the sticker because she was there with someone special. We could use one plot to set up a special wild honey farm. My worry that time was how to get workers to work there. On the plane this morning I got my answer. I realised for them to stay on in the shipyard, under the control of the union, their future would be bleak. We could run the beekeeping farm as some kind of cooperative farm. It would be like the workers’ own little business, supplying exclusively to us. This could be a profitable business for us if we market it properly.”

Xiang Zhe let off a sigh of relief. Now, may be they could shut down the shipyard. It was draining company resources. The land was prime land and could be sold off for a tidy sum. The only reason keeping the shipyard was for their fleet of freighters docking for repairs. Shan Mei suggested if some workers wanted to stay, they could, but they would have to work according to what the other shipyards’ were paying. In such a situation, it would be worthwhile to keep the shipyard going.

“I have a copy of the Union Charter with me, but Xue Zhang is not allowed to read it until you have fully recovered. You are not supposed to strain your mind or your eyes. Now, take your medication and go to sleep.”

“But I’m not sleepy yet. I was missing you so much last night, I couldn’t sleep without you at all.”

Shan Mei went out to the Nurse’s Station. When they realised it was Zhen Shan Mei of CTN, they got excited and started asking for autographs. Shan Mei asked if they could help her find a larger bed than the cot presently occupied by her husband. “Nurse, I’ll be spending the nights here until my husband is discharged. He is like a baby and wants me to hold his hand in bed before he can sleep.”

The nurses giggled understandably, saying no wonder he couldn’t sleep the whole of last night. “For Zhen Shan Mei, we’ll do anything. Just wait in your room. We’ll find the bed and as soon as we have fresh bed linen changed, we’ll bring the bed.” Shan Mei thanked them profusely and promised to have photos taken with the nurses if they brought in their cameras. They all giggled away excitedly. They then went to the suite specially reserved for the President of Korea and rolled out the double bed.

Back in the room, Shan Mei asked her husband to put on a robe. “A few pretty nurses will be visiting you soon with a present.”

“I don’t want pretty nurses, I only want my wife.” Nevertheless, he sat down on the armchair watching the television, the way his wife wanted him to. Soon a few house nurses rolled in the double bed specially reserved for the president, and rolled out the narrow cot, and shyly bid the couple goodnight. Xiang Zhe rolled his eyes wide at his wife. “You should have been here at the hospital yesterday. The cot I was sleeping on was so uncomfortable. Good riddance, finally!”

Shan Mei looked at him lovingly. “No more complaints? Now be a good boy and take your antibiotics and painkillers.” He wanted kiss first. Shan Mei smiled indulgently at him, shaking her head at the same time, before giving him a sweet kiss. After they settled down comfortably, she switched off all but one of the lights. She was tired, but kept awake until she was sure Xue Zhang had fallen asleep.

During the night, Xiang Zhe moaned in pain – he couldn’t stop himself. “Shan Mei,” he whispered and reached out for her hand. Shan Mei immediately got up and soothed him.

“I’m here,” she said gripping his hand. ‘You’ll be alright, husband. I promise you.” He thought seeing his wife was a dream until Shan Mei held on tight to him, and gave him several kisses.

She gave him a pain killing tablet. “Darling, I’m hurting because I’m fraught with worry.”

“What’s there to be worried about?” she asked, looking at the wound.

“I’m afraid when I wake up in the morning, you’ll be gone.”

“Silly goose, how can that be? Even if the doctor throws me out, I’m not going to move. Don’t you believe me?” He nodded his head and took the tablet.

He smiled. His wife was holding herself up with admirable aplomb. “I love you,” he said and tried not to crush her fingers when a wave of pain silenced him. After that she had a hard time coaxing him back to sleep.

Reporters and their camera crew waited outside the hospital for Shan Mei, but she refused to accept any interview; and when she arrived at the shipyard, the whole place was surrounded by paparazzi that had been camping there overnight.

Mr. Ang had brought along many helpers. These helpers could explain the situation to the workers who were not too well informed or had not understood the relocation scheme properly.

Shan Mei kick-started the meeting by explaining about the Original Union Charter signed by the founding fathers. “From the conditions set out in Union Charter, Wen Rong has the right to abolish the union, without notice, if irregularity was suspected and since yesterday, we have discovered many irregularities. President Yin has decided to stop all activities of the Union, pending further investigation.”

The Union leaders were against the decision, but Mr. Ang, his helpers and two accountants escorted the union leaders to the union offices, where they were forced to hand over the keys, to allow the accountants to do immediate auditing of union accounts.

Back at the shipyard, 20 older and young workers opted to take new jobs, while the remaining 40 workers decided to stay behind because they had lived around the area all their lives.

Shan Mei explained a little bit about the wild honey farm venture. Those who wanted new jobs were excited. Those who stayed would have to work according to new wage scheme comparable to the other shipyards. Shan Mei believed they could make a good living without the union taking a cut off their wages. Furthermore, there would be no more shipyard manager. They would have to supervise themselves. The more money saved, they more they would earn.

“My husband and I will personally be responsible for the operation of the shipyard. We’ll station one of our trusted assistants on site. We want communication at all levels, whether good or bad. Don’t forget the President of Wen Rong is one of you, a direct descendant of one of the founding fathers. We are all family. When the new system is in force, the first year the shipyard makes money, to celebrate, we’ll come and visit. But before that can happen, you must be able to give top quality standard of work. I suggest the seniors who are very experienced to stay back till end of the year to train the remaining workers, so every one apart from his specialised field can also help one another with their expertise.”

The dispute was peacefully resolved, because the root of the problem was money – the workers were not making enough to sustain a passable livable standard

Chapter AW-78

After the meeting was successfully concluded, many of the family members who were waiting on the sidelines, rushed forward wanting to have photos taken with Miss Zhen Shan Mei. And they were remorseful her husband was hurt by one of their own men.

Shan Mei wanted to return to the hospital to see how Xue Zhang was doing.

Jae Hoon told her, “Shan Mei, you don’t have to worry about things over here. I’ll stay back to tie up all loose ends. Mr. Pei and Mr. Ang will assist me.”

To the press waiting around, Shan Mei refused all interviews, saying it was not the right time to speak. “Please be patient and not be speculative. Wait till the accountants have finished their auditing of the union accounts. The President of Wen Rong will issue a statement at the proper time.”

Xiang Zhe had just finished his lunch with Shan Mei. She was getting the fruit platter ready for him, when there was commotion outside the room. On checking, it was the grandmother of the shipyard worker who had thrown the bottle at Xiang Zhe.

“Mr. President, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know about the incident until my neighbour informed me this morning when we were assembling at the shipyard. I came straight away, to apologise and ask for your forgiveness for my grandson.”

Knowing that Mr. Yin had left instructions not to be disturbed, a nurse came quickly to assist. The nurse escorted the old woman to a sitting room. Soon Xiang Zhe appeared with Shan Mei.

Xiang Zhe told her, “Auntie, do not to worry. All is forgiven. In fact my wife has told me your grandson has been a great help to her. Because of him, Wen Rong now understands many of the problems that brought on the dispute with the union people. With the new working system the company plans to put into place, hopefully there will be no more problems in the future.”

The old woman had brought some special home-made seafood kimchi as present for Shan Mei. “Mr. President, the workers simply love Mrs. President and are looking forward to her promise that the first year the shipyard makes a profit, she will come down to Busan with her whole family. Even if I have to beat my grandson everyday, I will make sure he works hard.”

Xiang Zhe looked at his wife lovingly, then assured the old granny they would definitely come down. “In fact, I understand my great-grandfather has an old house somewhere near the shipyard. My wife likes Busan very much, we may maintain a household here since my wife has given her promise that we will personally be responsible for the welfare of the shipyard.”

Shan Mei accompanied the old granny out, and on seeing Mr. Ang’s limo at the front of the hospital, she asked the driver to please drive the granny home.

Xiang Zhe remained in the sitting room waiting for Shan Mei. He leaned back against the armchair. Shan Mei always maintained he was the Brains. If he was the Brains, then she definitely was the Heart. She had such a commoner’s touch – she could win people’s confidence very quickly and very easily. He remembered the time he was in London wanting to convince Shan Mei to return to Seoul, and the conversation he overheard in gugu’s parlour. After he returned to MBS, he spent most of the time walking around the building corridors. He overhead many employees lamenting the resignation of Shan Mei. “If only Shan Mei is still here” was the common phrase he heard most often. This was not only in the News Department where she worked. Even the tea- and cleaning-ladies were missing her. The only people not missing her were probably MOE producer, Yong Xi, Zian Da and his step Uncle Jin Enqi and his cronies.

One time when he missed hearing Shan Mei’s sweet voice on Musical Postcard, he dropped by the studio quietly. He saw the production team sorting out fan mail that was still coming in for Shan Mei. He overheard members of the production team in the radio recording studio who missed her the most, blaming themselves for letting her do the recording that night she fainted, when she felt so unwell. Shan Mei insisted on going on air, because she said someone had earlier in the day complained that she was not serious enough about her work. They wondered aloud, “Who can that idiot be, saying something so irresponsible? That idiot should be going after those who are pretending to work hard in front of the boss. Shan Mei, being so innocent and honest, doesn’t know how to put up pretences. Why didn’t she stand up for herself when she was so wrongly accused? She was the one who worked the hardest in MBS. So, now good, MBS had lost its best and hardest working and most helpful employee, thanks to that idiot!” Xiang Zhe slipped out of the studio with so much guilt in his heart.

After his second trip to London and hearing what Michael Dutton had said about Shan Mei, out of curiosity, one time when Xiang Zhe was watching from the control room when Yong Xi was reading the 9 pm news, he asked the production team, “Who in your opinion is or has potential to be the best news reader so far from MBS?”

“Zhen Shan Mei, of course. She has natural flair. She doesn’t need script to do a running commentary. All the commentary she made for Music Stage Show was made without scripts. Remember the ‘bunch of scoundrels’ incident? She just reeled off out of the blue using the right words with the right degree of emotion at the right timing that her words caught the viewers’ attention. She made MBS famous. When she was taken off 7 p.m. news, her fans were disappointed and supported her whole heartedly in her other programmes, be they television or radio.”

When Xiang Zhe told the production team that Zian Da said Xu Ying Mei, before she left MBS, had the potential to be the best, they laughed in derision. “That Zian Da himself is not that good, how can he tell who has the best potential? Xu Ying Mei’s eyes looked too hard and came with too many irritating facial expressions, whereas Shan Mei’s eyes were soft and honest, and her reading genuinely full of ‘heart’. Xu Ying Mei was not popular with the viewers and almost all her colleagues. That Zian Da was very pro-Ying Mei, do you think something fishy was going on with them? She was not popular with viewers – that was why MBS always lost out to rival stations when it come to news time and her other shows.” Again they laughed when they thought of Zian Da.

Xiang Zhe now had a pretty good idea how to re-organise the training chart in News Department. Apart from PIR, P.R., Zian Da would only be called to read the News only when the need arose, and he would go back to Training. The people giving the grading would be the various production teams from the production room. In this way, no one could abuse the system. Good, he would suggest this idea to Xiang Jie.

As soon as he felt the tender touch of his angel’s hands on his cheeks, he moved his hands to cover hers. He didn’t want her to let go of him. Slowly, he opened his eyes. Shan Mei was staring directly into them. Letting off a mischievous laugh, she gave him a swift kiss, and led him back to his room. She prepared a fresh slice of melon for him, reminding him to ask the doctor whether he would be fit enough to fly on Sunday morning back to Seoul.

Back in Seoul, television and newspapers were full of news of Zhen Shan Mei’s escapades in Busan. You Zhen on seeing Mr. Pei accompanying Shan Mei every where in Busan began to wonder whether Shan Mei was really an angel as Xiang Zhe had maintained all along. It was by perchance that she came to befriend Mr. Pei, yet on many occasions he had cropped up in her life at the most opportune time. Last time when Xiang Zhe asked for Mr. Pei’s full name, were they already experiencing problems in their Busan shipyard? They needed Mr. Pei’s assistance? Mr. Pei always had a soft spot for Shan Mei. He was clearly the right person to protect her under such circumstances.

Pa and Ma, on recognising Mr. Pei on TV, kept quiet. They didn’t even want to pretend they didn’t know Mr. Pei. The less said the better and safer. You Zhen concentrated on the footages on the screen. The shipyard looked interesting. Xiang Jie’s MBS 31st anniversary project was planned in time. The next time Shan Mei would be down in Busan, he would go along to film some footage for the MBS Special. Seeing the way Shan Mei handled the dispute, he was so proud of his little sister. The love and pride she had for her husband and his family was so evident in the way she appealed to the shipyard workers, it touched their hearts too. Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei really matched each other perfectly. Their hearts were really made out of pure gold! He looked at his son, and suddenly hugged the precious bundle close to him, saying a silent ‘thank you’ to Shan Mei, Xiang Zhe, Jae Hoon, and Mr. Pei, the four of them now in Busan, wishing them a safe journey home.

Finally, the following Sunday, Yin Senior could relax when he informed Dr. Kim, Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei would be flying in from Busan early Monday morning. “Dr. Kim, can you be on standby at the hospital to do a complete check up on Xiang Zhe? Xiang Jie has managed to obtain clearance from Aviation Department to let Xiang Zhe clear through via VIP exit to avoid the press.”

To avoid the attention of the paparazzi that had been camping out at the airport since Friday, Xiang Jie and Patrick went directly to the hospital, bringing BB and BR and the seniors with them.

At the Wen Rong Hospital, the babies were so happy to see their parents. BB at once clung on to mummy, while BR clung on to daddy. They wouldn’t let go, telling their parents how much they had missed them and loved them, and kissing them non stop.

BB told Shan Mei, “Mummy, I’m going to beat up the man who has hurt my daddy,” and he started doing the karate moves like his favourite Japanese cartoon character Dragonball that Shan Mei had trouble keeping him still in her arms.

Dr. Kim soon came along and told Shan Mei he needed privacy with his patient. When the babies realised they had to leave daddy, they refused and started crying very loudly, accusing the doctor of trying to steal their daddy again. Even ice cream couldn’t bribe them. Finally, Dr. Kim relented and said they could stay in the room with their mummy, but they must remain very quiet, otherwise, their daddy would disappear. They nodded their little heads in understanding. Mummy wiped away their tears. Shan Mei was relieved. She didn’t want to leave Xue Zhang too. She couldn’t bear to be away from Xue Zhang, not knowing what the good doctor would do to him.

Out in a private sitting room the doctor had arranged for the rest of the Yin family to wait. Jae Hoon related these past few days’ events, and how everything was settled. Shan Mei took a gamble on her gut feeling that paid off.

The young worker who threw the bottle at Xiang Zhe actually gave Shan Mei a lot of information on the illegal activities being carried out by the union leaders. None of the union leaders were related in any way to the any of the founding fathers. This fact alone would give Shan Mei the right to immediately terminate the activities of the union, citing it an illegal organisation. The young worker was angry the head office was not doing anything about the clandestine activities of the union leaders. The shipyard managers were just as corrupt. Anyway, the workers had accepted in good faith the promises made by Shan Mei. Without the union and shipyard managers, they knew they could do a better job and end up with a better deal.

Yin Snr was so relieved, that matter was resolved so well. Due to various family misunderstandings, he couldn’t handle the shipyard problems directly. Xiang Zhe had to go alone. Thankfully, Shan Mei had behind her a team of very knowledgeable supporters who helped her through. Jae Hoon began to laugh softly. “Actually it was Shan Mei doing the work. She used to say she was shy and didn’t know what to say. But when it came to crunch time, she always said the right things.” He shook his head in disbelief. It took 3 cartons to pack all the boxes of kimchi the families of the shipyard workers had given her.

From the doctor’s examination room, Shan Mei phoned Xiang Jie. “Xiang Jie, your brother needs to go for x-ray, so maybe you can come in and help take the babies somewhere for ice cream.” Shan Mei looked at Xiang Zhe.

Her husband got the cue and then told his wife, “Darling, can you ask Xiang Jie get 2 scoops of ice cream for my precious babies because they have been so good? They deserve treat. Don’t forget to get one for daddy. Daddy has been good boy too. Daddy wants strawberry flavour, okay?”

BB and BR agreed and they went off happily with Xiang Jie and Patrick as soon as they saw the uncles.

In the examination room, Dr. Kim was impressed by the work done by Dr. Park in Busan. However when his fingers ran carefully over the stitches, Xiang Zhe winced, his mouth closing over his moan. He heard Shan Mei’s voice, so soft and comforting, whispering to him and he found that if he concentrated on the sound of her voice, it did ease the pain. He saw her smile, then she leaned down and gently kissed him. “You’ll be alright. You’re my husband and I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Xiang Zhe then again laid down quietly, Shan Mei seated beside him on the bed. He managed a ghost of a smile and asked Dr. Kim, “Good doctor, do I need further patching up?”

“Young man, sleep and rest are the best things for you at this time. Shan Mei, if I send him home today, can you keep him in bed?”

“Certainly. If he knows what’s good for him, he will listen.”

Dr. Kim chuckled and Xiang Zhe groaned.

It was late morning, damp and drizzling. The bedroom was gray and gloomy as the outdoor weather. It had been 3 days since they were back from Busan.

Xiang Zhe was smiling when the door to the bedroom quietly opened and Shan Mei entered bringing tea and sandwiches on a tray. She was followed by Dr. Kim. The sight of the doctor brought a grimace to Xiang Zhe’s face.

“You’re awake, I see,” Shan Mei said softly and then leaned over Xiang Zhe to give him a light kiss. Her expression was the softest, sweetest look he had ever seen.

“Hello,” she said smiling, and gently smoothed his hair from his forehead and around the wound.

“Hello yourself, darling. I see you allowed the flesh torturer to follow you up.”

“Yes, but Dr. Kim won’t hurt you. He’s here to check how your wound is healing.”

A moan of pain slipped out of Xiang Zhe’s mouth when the doctor chanced to unwittingly jerk a strand of hair caught near the scab of the wound.

Shan Mei said sharply to Dr. Kim, “Please do pay heed, doctor.”

Dr. Kim apologized and said, “Excellent progress, Xiang Zhe. You’ll be back to your full activity in about 2 weeks, I’d say. Another 3 or 4 days in bed, then the stitches will disappear a week or so after that.

After Dr. Kim left, Xiang Zhe looked at his wife who was now cleaning up the tea tray.

“Come here and sit beside me. My head is aching.” His voice had risen to a near whine.

“Okay. Just close your eyes and I’ll massage your temples.”

“It hurts here,” he said pointing to a spot quite close to the wound.

“Is this better?” Her voice was soft and warm and her lightly pressing fingertips were sheer magic, even though his head wasn’t aching at all.

“Just a little better,” he said.

After a little while, he continued in a complaining voice, “I want you to rub my back. I hurt just lying here like a lump.” Shan Mei immediately went around to his side to try to prop up more pillows behind him.

“Life,” he slowly announced in the semi-darkness of the room, “life is having Shan Mei for my wife and loving her until she’s silly with it and having her take care of me. Hey, speaking of care, what about the back massage you promised me before you ran off to the kitchen this morning? I want the one where you began with kissing my spine!”

Shan Mei laughed and made an aim for his stomach with her forefinger.

Since the Busan shipyard incident, Xiang Zhe worked from home. His father resumed some of the duties that he had earlier passed on to him.

Xiang Zhe had Breakfast meetings 3 mornings a week 7.30 to 8.30, with Wen Rong, Lunchtime meeting with MBS Mondays. On Thursdays and Fridays, Shan Mei went off to MBS by company car. Musical Postcard was pre-taped.

He was now at home going over auditors’ reports on the Union’s accounts. Lots of discrepancies and irregularities of a fraudulent nature had surfaced. They also had to check whether the bank in Busan was involved in the conspiracy. Right now, Xiang Zhe had not involved the police. Maybe he would discuss the matter with Mr. Pei and see what he recommended. He wanted to resolve the matter, but he didn’t want any messy trouble from the union leaders.

He put a call to Mr. Pei, giving him some idea of the fraud the leaders had committed. He wanted Mr. Pei, through his connections, to check on the bank, and also the background of the leaders and the shipyard managers. A lot of money supposedly held in trust by the union was unaccountable. The accountants were still tracing the routing of the money. Wen Rong had been paying wages and bonuses into accounts for employees who were no longer alive.

On hearing this, Mr. Pei became furious. “These people stealing from the workers who had worked hard to eke out a living? Don’t worry Brother Yin. I’ll ensure these crooks will eventually return every cent.”

When Xiang Zhe hung up the phone he released a loud sigh and pinched at the ache gathering at the bridge of his nose. He had to admit Wen Rong had to bear some responsibility for this. They had been too complacent in the shipyard business. He should have gone down to visit the Busan shipyard as soon as he took over as President of Wen Rong. Because his father had seldom talked about the operations of the shipyard, he had assumed all along that it was simply a gesture of goodwill to keep the shipyard running in memory of Great-grandfather.

Xiang Zhe looked at his watch. It was just a little after 5. The chat show finished at 4. Shan Mei should be home soon. He wanted to surprise her with some sandwiches he had lovingly prepared for her. Coffee was ready to be served in a pair of Peter Rabbit coffee mugs from their latest range.

Chapter AW-79

A few evenings later, Shan Mei received a telephone call from Uncle Park in London. Shan Mei sounded very worried thinking something had happened to Auntie.

“Uncle Park, is everything alright with Auntie?”

“Shan Mei, we are all blooming healthy over here. It’s the news I’ve read in the Korean Times about the Busan shipyard dispute. I know those shipyard managers. They were doing private business using shipyard resources. Do you want to get them?”

Shan Mei said Xiang Zhe didn’t want to pursue. They were no longer with the company so could no longer do their funny business.

“In that case, I’ll advise my associates in Korea not to deal with them anymore. As for leasing of freighters, to contact directly Wen Rong,” Uncle Park reassured Shan Mei.

He then continued, “As for the union leaders, I also have information on them. A few years ago, they approached me, asking for help in transferring a large sum of money to an English bank, saying the money was trust for the shipyard workers. I still have the remittance papers somewhere. Once I locate the papers, I will fax to you.”

After reading the article in the Korea Times, Mr. Park realised he was also great-grandson of one of the early settlers in the community headed by Xiang Zhe’s great-grandfather. “Shan Mei, don’t worry. I’ll assist in whatever way possible. I was also very happy to read that you intend to make Busan one of your home bases. At this moment I want to reassure you of security in Busan. I’ll instruct my brothers to take good care of you and your family wherever and whenever you may be in Busan.

Now I want to know what gave you the inspiration to start a wild honey farm? I myself wanted to do that before I migrated to England. Do you have any experience in keeping bees?

Shan Mei giggled with conscious embarrassment. “Uncle Park, it was just an idea. I am now trying to locate an expert to train the shipyard workers who want to enter into this venture.”

Uncle Park laughed heartily and told her, “Not necessary to look further. I have an old uncle who is an expert. For wild honey, he knows exactly the types of flowers to plant to attract the right species of bees. I’ll fax to you his name and contact details. If this old uncle agrees to help, Shan Mei, you will be assured of harvesting the best grade wild honey in Korea. I can help to market the stuff in Europe for you, selling in bulk to the packers in Belgium and France.”

Shan Mei was all excited, and promised to get to work on this project immediately and thanked Uncle Park profusely.

“My wife always maintains that you’re like a daughter to her and a sister to Xiang Jie, so I have to help, right?”

As soon as Shan Mei hung up the phone, she began to dance around the room, down the flight of stairs and then danced into their bedroom and right up to her husband who was lying in bed, gave him a swift kiss telling him he was the best! Then she waltzed into the bathroom, closing the door after her.

Xiang Zhe, in bed reading a financial magazine, wondered what had come over his wife. When he heard the shower water running, he got out of bed. Why was Shan Mei taking shower again and not inviting him? He removed his shorts and went into the cubicle to join her. She was surprised.

“Haven’t you taken your shower already?”

He looked at her nonplussed and declared, “So have you, about an hour ago?”

They laughed at each other, Shan Mei beating her hand against her forehead in jest. Xiang Zhe couldn’t contain his curiosity any longer and asked, “Darling, what’s the good news that’s making you float around?”

Shan Mei gave her husband her special smile, circled her arms around his waist and told him an angel from across the seas wanted to take her to a land far away, a land of fruits and honey, a land full of the most beautiful flowers.

Xiang Zhe didn’t understand what she was saying, then suddenly asked her whether Michael was sending her to England, recalling the beautiful flowers in bloom all year around in Kew Gardens in southern England.

She laughed hysterically – eyeing him in a funny way, and then she gave his buttocks a loving smack, before turning off the water and running off to look for a towel. Xiang Zhe was after her, took the towel from her, began drying her, and kept asking her whether she was going to London? She cradled his face lovingly between her palms, and told him softly, “I’m not going to London; we are going to our cabin, NOW!” Xiang Zhe quickly dried himself; they then changed into their pyjamas.

The night was simply too beautiful, lying on their quilted mat, looking up at the zillion of stars twinkling all above and the quietness surrounding them, brought an instant feeling of peace and serenity.

Xiang Zhe turned to his wife, and kissed her deeply and tenderly, asking her whether she would be taking him with her to this special place? She looked into his eyes, and told him she wouldn’t dream of taking anybody else. He was happy and snuggled up to her. He was curious, but he didn’t probe further. He knew she would let him know in her own time. She shifted about, propping herself up. She wanted to check on the wound. It was healing well. The patch of short hair was slowly growing back. Xiang Zhe closed his eyes, enjoying the soft touch of her sweet lips running along the wound and his forehead. He felt so loved.

Next month would mark the 6th year of their marriage, yet it seemed like only yesterday that he carried his beloved bride across the threshold of the door into their new home. They were closer and more in love than ever, and their children had brought their family such joy, love and happiness. In that magical state, he prayed each and every one of their children would meet their true love in this lifetime, lucky like their parents.

The night was perfect – they had their stars, gentle breeze and quietness.

Shan Mei settled down beside her husband, throwing her arm across his broad chest, and Xiang Zhe embraced her tightly. They lay there silently enjoying the night. Soon they fell asleep.

They slept so well. They felt completely refreshed when they awoke the next morning. The crisp morning air was so invigorating. They quickly packed and locked up the place and drove back home, to get ready for Wen Rong meeting.

Shan Mei and Xiang Zhe were enjoying their second cup of coffee after their colleagues from Wen Rong had left. Shan Mei went to her fax machine, to check on incoming faxes. There were 4. She smiled satisfactorily as she glanced through them. She went to look for Xiang Zhe who was still out in the patio enjoying the fresh air and scent from the roses.

Showing him the faxes, she explained:

“The first copy listed the companies that wanted to lease freighters to carry their fruits to the various local ports when the shipyard managers were still with the shipyard;

The second copy was the remittance slip that the union leaders asked Uncle Park to help them transfer the money to London several years back. They told Uncle Park the money was to be held in trust for the shipyard workers otherwise Uncle Park wouldn’t help them. It seems Uncle Park is also great- grandson of one of the early settlers under Xiang Zhe’s great-grandfather.

The third copy shows information on some of the businesses the union leaders carried on in Japan, mostly pachinko gaming parlours, most probably using Wen Rong money as start-up cash.

The fourth copy contains contact for beekeeping for wild honey. This man is Uncle Park’s old uncle and an expert. In fact Uncle Park wanted a wild honey farm before he migrated to England. He has contacts in Belgium and France that will buy in bulk. Darling, I suggest we bring this old uncle to our beautiful hilltop area and see what he will recommend.”

Xiang Zhe kissed his wife for being a clever girl. With this information, the accountants and lawyers would be able to trace at once. He finished his cup of coffee and very happily went off to his office, while Shan Mei went off to hers, reminding her husband she would be leaving the house at noon for Friday’s chat show. He asked her to wait for him because he wanted to drive her to the office. This morning he had informed the driver not to come to the house.

After he finished his work and was ready to leave, Shan Mei was worried. “Aren’t you tired after this morning’s meeting? May be you should stay home and rest.”

Xiang Zhe protested at once. “I am having none of it. I am fit enough to take my wife out.” In truth, he wanted to go shopping for a birthday gift for his wife, and also get Master Chef to prepare some food for next week.

They were in the CTN executive dining room, when Shan Mei received a call from Uncle Jin informing her he had found a suitable candidate for the position of assistant for the Busan shipyard.

“Uncle Jin, can an interview be arranged for later this afternoon, since we are already in town office?” She looked at her husband who gave her a nod.

“We’ll be in Wen Rong office at 6 p.m.”

“The young man, about Xiang Jie’s age, has no actual job experience, but has helped out in various departments at university. He has the most all round technical knowledge. In fact, I chose him from my list of new recruits. When I told him he was going to work with Zhen Shan Mei, he was very excited and didn’t mind being stationed in Busan.”

Shan Mei laughed and joked if that was the case, she’d better dressed up to impress him. When Xiang Zhe heard that his wife wanted to dress up to impress another man, he was not amused.

When they arrived at Wen Rong office, Uncle Jin was already there with the new recruit, Mr. Roh Bin. When Uncle Jin introduced them, Xiang Zhe could see the boy was all excited and impressed with Shan Mei. He was quite good looking. Xiang Zhe couldn’t read Shan Mei’s real feelings. She was as usual all smiling. She was more interested in the personal details of the boy, voicing her concern about someone so young going off to a new place.

“Mr. Roh, won’t you miss your family and friends if you take the job and get relocated to Busan?”

“Mrs. Yin, I’m an orphan. My parents died in a traffic accident 7 years ago. My grandmother is the one who brought me up and put me through university. It is better for me to get to some place new. I understand housing will be provided. I will be able to save more money to repay my grandmother. We live in a village; to work at Wen Rong in Seoul I will need to rent a small room in town.”

Shan Mei told Mr. Roh, “Before President Yin can make a decision, we’ll need to meet your grandmother. Please bring your grandmother into town on Sunday for a 3-day visit. Bring your grandmother in to the Wen Rong office, on Monday morning, so we can have a talk. In the office, you will have to work 2 days. All expenses for the trip will be borne by Wen Rong. A secretary will phone you tomorrow giving you name of hotel you will be booked into. You have to understand you will be working with minimum supervision at Busan. So for the 2 days at Wen Rong, I’ll let you know what I expect, and you have to work independently. You are not to worry about things you don’t understand. We simply want to see how well you can cope on your own.”

After Mr. Roh left, Shan Mei thanked Uncle Jin profusely for recommending the boy. “He seems to have great potential and the right attitude and would be good for either Wen Rong Heavy Industries or the shipyard. It won’t be right to take him away from his grandmother. If his grandmother does not mind moving to Busan with him, we will immediately employ him for the shipyard. If due to various commitments, his grandmother can’t leave her village, Uncle Jin can keep him for your own machinery division. Maybe Wen Rong can help him partially with rental of the room he will have to take in Seoul. Uncle Jin, does this sound like a fair arrangement?” Jin was very happy with Shan Mei’s decision.

Over dinner at Cream House, Xiang Zhe wanted to know why Shan Mei didn’t ask his opinion about the boy? She smiled sweetly at him but didn’t answer. He continued to stare at her waiting for an answer.

“Because he is quite good looking! I’m afraid Xue Zhang will overlook his good character and excellent paper qualifications and not agree to have him work with me. If his grandmother agrees to move to Busan with him, I won’t feel guilty about separating the family. In fact we can assure them of a good life. Since he is an orphan he can settle down anywhere. Later, I hope he will meet a nice girl, get married and settle down in Busan, then we will have no more problems with the shipyard. Later on, based on his good performance, I’ll recommend to the President of Wen Rong to let him run the shipyard. From the way he was conducting himself at the brief interview I can see he has very good leadership and inter-personal skills. I can already expect great things coming from him by 25 years of age. His grandmother’s hard efforts and hopes won’t be in vain.”

Xiang Zhe smiled and looked at his wife, secretly amused. The interview lasted only 15 minutes, yet his wife had already planned Mr. Roh’s life from moving him to Busan to getting him married off to some girl. He laughed silently to himself; most probably she would ask her Uncle Park to introduce a good girl. That stepmother and her new husband already treated Shan Mei like their own daughter, holding same status as their son Xiang Jie. And she was right. He would not have been so agreeable to employ Mr. Roh, suggesting may be they should be talking to a few more other candidates before making a decision.

Chapter AW-80

Today was Shan Mei’s birthday. Xiang Zhe insisted on sending her to MBS for the chat show, because he wanted to have lunch with her. She had refused to have dinner out at some fancy restaurant later in the evening because she didn’t want to tire Xue Zhang unnecessarily. “And you’re not to wait around the studio for me but to go home and rest. I’ll take the company car home.” After lunch, she bade him good-bye with a kiss before she made her way to her office.

After the chat show, Shan Mei had a meeting with Jae Hoon, letting him know they had just employed an assistant for the Busan shipyard.

“The boy is about 23 years old. He is an orphan and lives with his grandmother. I put him on test for 2 days at Wen Rong, and he worked out very well. Next week he’ll report for work at Wen Rong for one month, before we’ll send him down to Busan. Brother Jae Hoon, can you please help to kit him out completely from haircut down to shoes, so he’ll make a good impression at Wen Rong and Busan? You know how mean and unkind some people can be towards the less fortunate?”

Shan Mei gave Mr. Roh’s phone number and an envelope containing some money to Jae Hoon. “Mr. Pei has rented a small apartment very near by the shipyard for Mr. Roh and his grandmother. I would like you to accompany them down to Busan and help them get settled. Xue Zhang, Patrick and myself would be busy for the next 3 months with our commitment in Sydney. When you are ready for Busan, Uncle Jin will go with you, to ensure everything is in order at the shipyard.”

As usual Jae Hoon could be trusted to do his best. After the Busan episode, Shan Mei had become his idol. He knew he would never marry unless he could meet someone like Shan Mei in this lifetime.

“I’m home,” Shan Mei announced as she walked through the door of the house but Xue Zhang was nowhere around. He was most probably over at Father’s place playing with the babies, she thought. She went upstairs to the bedroom for shower and change. Their bedroom was filled with roses. She smiled sweetly to herself – this husband of hers was just as romantic as ever – remembering the first rose from him some ten years ago. Her eyes misted thinking of the time he started to have roses delivered daily to their special table at the noodle shop. Since they now have their greenhouse, he had stopped delivery, but they had asked the gardener who lived close by the park, to come by the noodle shop to help out every afternoon, except Sundays. The arrangement worked out very well. When she entered the bathroom, she saw the tub filled with warm water and fresh rose petals floating atop the water.

At precisely that very minute, her husband walked in, ready for bath. After removing their robes, they stepped into the tub. As he planted a kiss on her cheek, he asked, “What took you so long? I was missing you so much I was on the verge of driving out to MBS to look for you.”

She teasingly replied, “If I didn’t stay back, how would I know you would be missing me so much?”

“Imp,” he snorted and tweaked her nose lovingly.

He forestalled her question by confirming he was fully rested. After they gave each other back rubs, they enjoyed a long and luxuriant soak in the tub. Shan Mei felt completely relaxed.

After they dressed, Shan Mei thought she would peep in on the babies. She was walking towards Father’s house, when Xiang Zhe pulled her back and led her to the car, whispering into her ear, “We’re going to the cabin.” She giggled excitedly, wanting to know what mischief he had planned for the remainder of the evening.

When they arrived, she knew he had been at the cabin earlier in the day. The table was placed in one corner of the garden, and their lounger was near the table. Xiang Zhe brought out 2 portions of salmon steak with avocado salad and Shan Mei’s favourite champagne peach juice cooler. Master Chef surpassed himself this time, the sauce for the salmon steak and salad was simply divine. Xiang Zhe was laughing deliriously when Shan Mei leaned over to him, licked her tongue around his mouth, and then gave him a deep delicious kiss. This was the first fun meal they had since his accident about 3 weeks ago and they enjoyed themselves thoroughly. Shan Mei insisted on doing the washing up, since her husband had been working hard this afternoon. She made him lie down on the lounger, brought out a damp towel to wipe him clean. She brought his drink to him, reminding him to leave some space for her on the lounger.

When she joined him on the lounger, Shan Mei was so happy, thanking her husband lovingly for such an enjoyable birthday meal. She kissed him deeply, reaffirming her love for him. They were clasped in each other’s arms. Shan Mei was carried away by his closeness.

Shan Mei was awakened some time in the night by a light breeze that was becoming quite chilly. Her husband was sleeping soundly. She eased slowly out of the lounger, not wanting to disturb him. She was worried whether the loving they shared had tired Xue Zhang. Because he didn’t want to worry her with his complaints, he had told her he was feeling okay, but several times over the weeks she had caught him wincing as if in pain if his head was placed at certain angles. In less than four weeks they would be spending 3 days a week in Sydney for 12 weeks. She wanted him to rest at home, but if he was not with her in Sydney, she would worry. Tomorrow, she would insist he went back to the specialist for check up on Monday for peace of mind.

Suddenly, recalling an earlier conversation with Granny Roh, when they met with her and her grandson at Wen Rong office last week, the wise old lady did mention giving Xue Zhang fish soup boiled with a type of medicinal plant root to dispel internal wind from the wound, otherwise he would feel ache from time to time. And he had to keep that part of the wound dry for at least 2 – 3 weeks, meaning no hair wash. When Shan Mei repeated this to Xue Zhang, he had laughed at that as being old wives’ tale. Shan Mei didn’t care; she would insist he at least try the remedy.

She went to the cabin to switch on the floor heating. The approaching early morning dew was supposed to cause internal damp to humans. She began laughing at herself. When did she become such a superstitious old lady? She never used to take such old-wives’ stories seriously. But now, faced with the reality of the situation, she would try anything to ensure her husband had good health. It was the frightful realisation that a person’s life could be so fragile and change in an instant. Her Xue Zhang looked perfect, now he would be faintly scarred just because he happened to be in the right place at the wrong time. She thanked her Mother for her protection. If the bottle had hit at him lower, he might be blinded in one eye, and that would have been tragic. His beautiful eyes were the mirrors of his very soul.

Were Xue Zhang’s forefathers directing them to the south, hinting they had neglected their early roots? It was time to re-assess their position? Shan Mei wondered whether there were business opportunities for Wen Rong in the south. This would be a better option than going to China, participating in government contracts that yielded little profit, according to her husband.

They were so heavily concentrated in Seoul, Shan Mei didn’t know the extent of the broadcasting industry in the south. At the conference she attended with Xue Zhang in London, one Korean participant was a TV broadcaster from Busan. She would research further. Maybe there was opportunity for cooperation or expansion? Wait till Xue Zhang got better!

Shan Mei could feel a little of the damp coming. She kissed her husband lightly on his lips, and began stroking his back gently with her hand under the quilt. Soon he was murmuring for his wife, and feeling around the surface of the lounger for her. He half opened his eyes, asking sleepily whether it was already time to get up. She apologetically told him, “Darling, it’s time to move house.”

After he sat up, she gathered up the quilt and helped her sleepy husband up the steps into the warm cabin. He sighed contentedly as soon as he lay down on the mat. “Oh, the warm mat feels so good.”

Shan Mei laughed softly saying, “We are no longer young for sleeping outdoors.” Then she gave her husband a tender kiss. Soon her soft laughter quickly turned to quiet tears.

Xiang Zhe looked puzzled. “What’s the matter, darling?” he asked softly as he stroked her hair and then brought her protectively within his arms.

“Now I realise how precious time is. Once gone, it is forever lost and can never return. We have known each other 14 years, but have been married only 6, with a lot of heartache in between. Xue Zhang, you’ve made me so happy since our marriage. If we had married one or two years after we first met, we would have at least enjoyed a few more years’ of happiness together. If I knew my Xue Zhang is so perfect, I would have stayed on in London and not returned to Seoul.”

Xiang Zhe became fully awake and looked at her with accusing eyes. “Now you tell me! That last farewell dinner in London when I toasted you a beautiful future, I’d toyed with the idea of asking you to stay back, take up a 3-year course at Cambridge or something. Then I remembered you telling me your father agreed to let his precious daughter come to Cambridge only because the English course was a short course. He couldn’t bear for you to be away too long. That Christmas when I was wandering around Trafalgar Square thinking of the times we were there in summer, I was so tempted to fly back to Seoul to ask you to marry me. But knowing how much you love your pa, I realise no father would let his daughter marry and then go off with a guy she just met a few months ago. I could not risk having him refuse my proposal of marriage, and then there would be no second chance for me. I wanted to make you forget your You Zhen Ge first but I was afraid I would scare you off. You were the only one I wanted to marry. If you had rejected me I didn’t know whether I would have the courage to ask again.” He then very tenderly wiped the tears away from her face, and kissed her deeply, drawing her back into his warm embrace.

Shan Mei regretted the lost years. But knowing her husband loved her was good enough. From now onwards, every day would be a special day of love for them. Her husband was the most important person in her life and she loved him deeply.

The next morning, Shan Mei tried to convince her husband not to get his hair wet. “Then how do you expect me to wash my hair?” he asked.

“After your shower, I’ll wipe your hair clean with a damp towel. Even though you try to hide from me the truth, I know you are experiencing pain around the wound sometimes.”

He kept quiet, and let her have her way. She kissed him, telling him she loved him very much, and was thinking only of his well being.

Shan Mei had cancelled the meetings at their house for Monday because they would be at the doctor for check up. The specialist confirmed the wound was healing well. It was common to feel pain; he would dispense some more pain killers for President Yin.

They then dropped by Wen Rong office. Xiang Zhe went with Shan Mei to check on Mr. Roh. At that moment, Roh was bringing out all the old Shipyard files from the cabinets, trying to organise them into some kind of order. One look at him from afar, Shan Mei smiled. Jae Hoon had done an excellent job. Xiang Zhe was surprised on seeing the new, smartly attired Mr. Roh. His new hair cut suited him very well. No wonder Shan Mei said he was good looking. He actually was!

Mr. Roh was so happy to see President and Mrs. Yin. He took out of his new briefcase a small steel container containing some herbal paste his grandmother had prepared. She recommended applying the paste to President Yin’s wound 3 times daily. It would expel internal wind. After 2 – 3 weeks, the pain he was currently experiencing would be gone. Xiang Zhe didn’t say anything. Shan Mei took the container and asked Mr. Roh to thank his granny on their behalf. Mr. Roh then added Mr. Han had been in contact and was very kind and helpful.

Shan Mei had asked Jae Hoon to help Roh Bin rent a room for a month for his training period in Seoul. Jae Hoon checked around and when he found out the average monthly rental for a furnished room, he gave this information to Shan Mei. Xiang Zhe approved this payment. Jae Hoon, understanding the financial situation with Roh Bin, handed the room rental to him and told him to keep it as his extra pocket money. Then he allowed Roh Bin to stay for a month in a room in his large apartment, instead of wasting the money for a small furnished room before going off to Busan. Jae Hoon instructed Roh Bin to keep this arrangement confidential. He didn’t want Shan Mei to think that they were trying to cheat Wen Rong.

Shan Mei wanted Finance Department to show Mr. Roh Wen Rong’s accounting system during his month of training in Wen Rong,. For the time being, no bank account would be maintained in Busan. All payments would be processed from Seoul office. The shipyard would only keep a petty cash account.

The President and his wife then went to Conference Room A where a sales meeting was in progress. At the meeting, Shan Mei made some notes, while Xiang Zhe simply sat there, listening in silence. At the end of the session, he asked the department heads to remain a while. “I want to introduce our new assistant for the Busan shipyard.” Xiang Zhe’s assistant buzzed on the intercom asking a clerk to show Mr. Roh Bin to Conference Room A.

Xiang Zhe began, “Gentlemen, I’m sure from the internal newsletter of last month, you have noticed the report my wife and I will be personally responsible for the overall management of the shipyard. Mr. Roh will be our assistant based in Busan. Because we intend to upgrade the facilities of the shipyard, I expect the re-structured set-up of the shipyard to figure prominently in next year’s company annual report. I want every Wen Rong department Head to cooperate in bringing the Wen Rong Shipyard back to its glory days. You must try to assist Mr. Roh in whatever way you can. You can see that Mr. Roh is young, yet he is very qualified for the job. I don’t want to hear any arguments about what is or is not whose department. Every one must treat the shipyard as the No. 1 department of Wen Rong since that was where the history of Wen Rong started. Mr. Roh would be working alone, so he will need a lot of back-up support from the Seoul head office.”

When Roh Bin was shown into the conference room, President Yin invited him to take a seat. Roh Bin stood up when Xiang Zhe officially introduced him to the department heads. He was then welcomed to Wen Rong with a warm round of applause.

When they left the conference room, Xiang Zhe gave his wife a meaningful look. She looked back at him adoringly, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.

Soon after, Roh Bin gave a polite bow of his head to the people in the room before he hurried off to continue with his work. Still sitting around the large conference table, the department heads looked at one another blankly. The young president, whenever he made a pronouncement, always meant business. This morning’s was the most surprising, making the shipyard the No. 1 department? This meant, he wanted them to publicise the services of the shipyard to their customers. They’d better go to Mr. Roh to find out exactly the kinds of services being offered at the shipyard.

Chapter AW-81

Next, the Yins stopped by MBS for late morning meeting. Xiang Jie had informed them that he was going to hold one with the department heads. This morning they used the larger conference room. It appeared all department heads had assembled for the compulsory meeting.

Again, Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei sat in at the back, listening in silence, not actually participating. Xiang Zhe was watching Zian Da, hoping he realised what it took to be No. 2. Just looking at Xiang Jie standing at the head of the conference table was enough to impress him.

Xiang Jie was about to start. In front of him was an overhead projector. He had several trays of slide transparencies in front of him.

He confirmed that it had been almost 6 months since he was given the responsibility of No. 2 in MBS. During this time, he had observed and assessed the management situation in MBS, and found many systems open to abuse and should be rectified immediately to ensure tighter control on the overall running of the Station.

First, the Security system. Many times he had been into the closed circuit TV control room. The officers on duty were not in the room. One time he asked for a video, and he was given one with no questions asked. It that was the case, it was needless to maintain security staff and such an expensive system. “I want responsible employees who take their work seriously. If the officers find it boring sitting at their station of duty, they should resign. Because it IS Security, no videos can be handed out without authorisation. And all videos handed out must be signed for. The supervisor on duty must keep a log book and make tally everyday that all tapes were accounted for, and locked away. Any officer found to be breaching the rules, would get instant dismissal without compensation whatsoever.” Xiang Jie showed several slides depicting the problems in the Security control room.

Canteen Management. “Hygiene must be observed at all times. I’ve seen kitchen staff and food handlers smoking while on duty. Aren’t food handlers supposed to have their hair covered? I want immediate address to the problems. The employees found not observing hygiene regulations are given 3 warnings, after that instant dismissal without compensation. If they don’t want to work for such a good company as MBS, plenty of others do.” Several slides were shown depicting correct hygiene standards of a staff canteen being operated overseas. Shan Mei at once recognized this as the CTN-UK staff canteen.

Housekeeping Department. “I want to know who the housekeeping manager is?” When the man stood up, Xiang Jie gave him a stern look and commented, “I thought that you were at home keeping your own house in order, that’s why you don’t have time for MBS. Have you been around the MBS building to check on sanitation recently? Apart from the rest rooms on the executive floor which are in order, all the rest rooms on the other floors and back stairs are in deplorable state. What kind of cleaners did you employ?” Xiang Jie showed about 20 slides on the conditions of some of the rest rooms he inspected last week. “Ugh. Such unsightly disgrace! I want to see everything clean and smelling of antiseptic by tomorrow morning. I can be making the rounds at any time of the day. It could be as early as 5 a.m. in the morning. Sir, if you have a problem in maintaining the rest rooms clean, you should drop by my office in Planning Department this afternoon and we’ll discuss the issue further.”

After that, he told the three department heads they could be excused. A five Minute break was given.

Xiang Zhe and his wife exchanged looks. He was thinking, what a big difference great advisors made. When he first started out at MBS, if he had advisors like Patrick and Jae Hoon, his step uncle and his cronies would have been long gone from MBS. That Xu Ying Mei would have been sent packing, and Shan Mei wouldn’t have to run off to London.

When the meeting convened after the 5-minute break, Xiang Jie wanted to talk about Recruitment and Training policy. “I have gone over the recent batch of applicants selected for interview, and I want to say I’m greatly disappointed. I want to know who are the people responsible for making this selection?”

News Department Controller of Team A and B, Zian Da, and main news anchor Yong Xi raised their hands.

“Well, all I can agree with is that the applicants look beautiful when compared to the photos of the rejects – even though from their resumes, many of the rejects appear to be better qualified for the job than the selected ones!”

Xiang Jie showed a slide of Oprah Winfrey. “See this American?” He paused a minute. “From the viewpoint of beauty and appearance, I am sure our News Department controller, Kim Zian Da and main news anchor Liu Yong Xi wouldn’t even consider her application, yet this person is the No. 1 media personality in the world. ‘Based on what?’ you may ask. Not on good looks, that’s for sure, but by sure force of talent, charisma, and the elusive X factor. ‘What is X factor?’ you may ask again. If ‘X-factor’ can be quantified or described so easily, it wouldn’t be known as ‘elusive’. It can be anything that our TV viewers find enduring –– in a certain way. Either one has it or one doesn’t! We must remember our viewers have never met the newscasters or presenters in person, they wouldn’t know who is beautiful and who is not. They can only relate to a certain kind of attraction being conveyed through the television screen. If a person has the X-factor, even an ordinary looking person can charm the TV viewers. Because training is such an expensive and time-consuming exercise, all applicants must be viewed through the screen before any short list can be finalized.”

Xiang Jie opened a file in front of him and pulled out a sheet of paper. “I have done a survey covering a 15-year period, 9 o’clock news. The statistics in my hand show that MBS prime time news has always lagged behind the other two rival stations in ratings. I want to see a change. Therefore, I want to recall all applicants for another first interview. I will invite a panel of experts to do the selection. It will be interesting to compare their list with the list I have been given.

When the recruits have the selection trials, all have to prepare their 3 minute written speech at home. No one is allowed to use company premises. This is to avoid abuse of system.”

Xiang Jie then showed slides of a recruit practicing her 3 minute speech in one of the empty studios. Her friend told her the theme for speech was great. Contents alone would get her full marks. Then her mobile phone showed sms that she was wanted in the office. While they were gone, some one tore her notes into shreds. When she was told no one paged her, she returned to find her notes torn. At the trial selection, she couldn’t perform well. Xiang Zhe immediately turned to look at his wife, then gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

Next, Xiang Jie wanted to set new rules for the Make-up room. “Only cosmetics supplied by company can be used. These to be always kept locked and controlled by make-up supervisor, to avoid mischief makers.” He showed slides of someone pouring nail polish remover into another person’s bottle of face foundation. Face of the person using the foundation broke out in to blotches.

Mobile phones. “Dedicated mobile phone sweepers must be engaged to sweep the newsroom clean of all mobile phones before news broadcasts.” Again he showed slides of someone throwing a mobile phone under the News desk. While news was in progress, someone elsewhere phoned in to the hidden phone. Xiang Zhe watched Zian Da’s reaction while the slides were being shown. He looked on unbelievingly. Xiang Zhe shook his head in exasperation at Zian Da’s reaction. So hopeless!

Personal Computer Access. “All personal computers must be locked under personal I.D. The ID No. would be submitted to president’s office for safe keeping. No one else, apart from the individual user, will have access to this ID. If using common computer, all personal files must be stored in CD or floppy under personal ID so no one can access. Not following this order will only result in tampering.” He showed slides of someone accessing another person’s files, deleting vital or adding stupid information to the disk. Another slide showed some one printing out stolen information. “This is a very serious offence.”

Xiang Jie had also noticed the standard of training had dropped slightly. To maintain standard of training, Zian Da, who was experienced, was again assigned to handle certain segments of training for the new recruits. He would also continue his present position in the P.R. department, and Bargain Centre, releasing him from being his advisor. “Mr. Kim Zian Da will take on part of the training duties, but not act as Supervisor of the News Team A although he will continue to read the News when the need arises. Miss Liu Yong Xi will temporarily act as News Team A supervisor until a more permanent replacement can be arranged.”

During training of the new recruits, the Team leader would submit appraisal scoring of the recruits’ performances to him once a week.

Before closing the meeting, Xiang Jie invited, “Any one having better suggestions on how to run an orderly house, please drop by my office this afternoon. I’ll be in all afternoon till late evening to see any one of you. You may now dismiss. Thank you all for your time.”

When the room was empty of the employees, Xiang Zhe drew his eyes from his wife to his younger brother who at twenty-four already resembled their father in both personality and business acumen, a dapper and bright young man who would surely go places. Husband and wife came forward after all the department heads had left. Xiang Jie got high praises from his elder brother who told him his P.E. investigation skills were now better than Sherlock Holmes.

Shan Mei wanted to know, “Younger Brother, where did you get most of your information. I’m so curious!”

He smiled slyly. “I’ve got my reliable sources. I’ve got more but since they are more of a personal nature, I don’t want to expose the persons. And I’m luckier than Elder Brother. I have good friends who gave me good advice and help. Elder Brother only relied on one friend who was incapable of giving sound advice.”

“Have you really arranged for an expert panel of interviewers? I hope you don’t mean me and your Elder Brother!”

Xiang Jie laughed. “Don’t worry, Sister. Michael and two other recruiters from CTN-U.K will be here after their recruitment drive in Sydney.”

Xiang Zhe then gave a tired yawn. “I don’t know about you guys but I’m now so hungry. Since everything is settled so nicely, let’s go eat!” He turned to his wife and asked, “Darling, where do you want to go and eat?”

At the timely reminder, Shan Mei had almost forgotten about lunch. Yesterday she had phoned Master Chef asking him to please help find out the medicinal root for the fish soup, then make the soup for her husband. Master Chef had heard of the goodness of that fish soup. He thought her mother would have made it. If he had known earlier, he would have prepared it daily for President Yin.

When they were at CTN dining room, it was way past lunch time but Xiang Zhe got his soup. He didn’t like the taste, but Shan Mei insisted he took it, if he wanted to get well before their trip to Sydney. She didn’t want him to take those pain killers.

After they had eaten, Xiang Jie returned to his office, while his Elder Brother and Sister made their way home. Shan Mei wanted to apply Granny Roh’s paste to his wound. Xiang Zhe was horrified and refused. His wife looked at him. He could bluff her that the wound was not hurting, but he couldn’t bluff Granny Roh. She must be an expert in herbal remedies. She knew President Yin was still having pains.

“Come on darling, please. It’s only for 2-3 weeks. You won’t be going anywhere, just staying home. Today’s meeting already showed Xiang Jie means business.”

Shan Mei nodded laughingly when she recalled Xiang Jie’s slide show. “I really liked the slide show Xiang Jie put on. How they all kept quiet sitting there! No one dared refute the claims or give excuses.”

Xiang Zhe shook his head in laughter too, recalling the Oprah slide. He looked at his wife asking her whether it sounded familiar?

“Michael’s favourite line,” she laughed.

He looked at his wife quietly, then asked, “Come on, be honest! Which part of Xiang Jie’s presentation did you help him with?”

She smiled at him, admitting she did help only a little, like telling him to check the kitchen, and in the office giving him some idea of where abuses of the system could appear. How he managed to dig out real examples, she was still at a loss? She was aware he had many friends in MBS, but digging out things that happened so long ago? And she was adamant the slides showing the staff canteen at CTN-UK came from either David or Michael.

“What about you?” she smirked. She knew he had given Xiang Jie permission to remove Zian Da as his assistant and put him back in Training.

He grinned sheepishly. “Just like you, not a lot, but enough authority to let them realize anyone not toeing the line will get the sack!”

Then she remembered what she was supposed to do. She made her husband sit down still, she began to shorten his hair where the wound was and applied the paste. Xiang Zhe was worried he would reek so bad, his wife wouldn’t want to share the same bed as he. Shan Mei placed the container under his nose to prove the paste didn’t smell foul. After she had tidied up everything, she gave her husband a comforting kiss, telling him he still looked gorgeous. He grinned at her, then gave her bottom a loving smack.

That whole week, their diet consisted of special fish soup, special mushrooms, veggie and plain rice. Although Xiang Zhe was not happy, he admitted he felt lighter and better.

Saturday, when Shan Mei was about to prepare dinner, Jae Hoon phoned her. “I’m on the way to your place. I was at Granny Roh’s place earlier and she has asked me to deliver some fish soup for Brother Xiang Zhe.” Shan Mei was so touched by Granny Roh’s concern for them. Jae Hoon continued, “Granny Roh has said after taking the soup, Brother should feel hot, perspire and ache all over. His head should be aching especially bad. But not to worry, the more the head aches the better. The next day he should feel tons better.”

On hearing this Xiang Zhe tried avoiding the soup after Jae Hoon had delivered it. When he could no longer escape, he took it while Shan Mei took the fish soup from Master Chef. All night Xiang Zhe was complaining of aches. His head not only ached but perspired profusely.

Because he couldn’t sleep, Shan Mei suggested, “Why don’t we do some research through the Internet. Xue Zhang, you to research on wild pine nuts and mushrooms, while I’ll research on wild honey.” They both went to their computers right away.

When dawn was breaking, she went to kitchen to prepare some fish soup abalone porridge. With the research completed, Xue Zhang was excited when he showed his notes to his wife. “I never realised wild pine mushrooms, if harvested successfully, is such a lucrative business. And the number of health benefits associated with these mushrooms is mind-boggling.”

After Xiang Zhe finished his abalone porridge for breakfast, he went to bed, telling his wife all the aches had disappeared. Before he fell asleep, Shan Mei gave her husband a complete body cleansing with a hot damp towel, massaging his back as she went along.

Chapter AW-82

Shan Mei was so grateful to Granny Roh and Master Chef. With Chef’s daily soup, and Granny Roh’s special soup 3 times a week, Xue Zhang’s wound was healing very quickly.

He told his wife, “The headaches are gone. I’m wary of taking more of Granny’s soup. Every time I take it, I pass wind like nobody’s business. I’m so embarrassed.”

Shan Mei was glad it happened. “It means the soup is effective in expelling the internal heat, wind, and dampness from your body.”

Patrick, Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei took the Sunday late morning flight out of Inchon for Sydney. Shan Mei was so happy. Since the shipyard accident, she was worried Xue Zhang’s wound wouldn’t heal in time for the trip. If that had happened, she didn’t know what she would have done. For sure she would have stayed behind, but what about the contract with the sponsors? Xue Zhang would surely have insisted she went ahead without him.

Two days ago when CTN-KE celebrated its anniversary, Xiang Zhe didn’t want to attend because he was still feeling about self-conscious of his hair and head.

Roh Bin came over to the house, and kept him company going over with him, data from old files of the shipyard. For the last five years, the businesses that used to flow in, had suddenly stopped coming in. “Anyway, I intend to contact the old customers, to re-introduce and explain more of the new improvements we intend to make to our services.” In another chart, he showed Xiang Zhe how he intended to improve communication flow at the shipyard. He also had a chart showing the maintenance programme for the freighters, and suggested may be another 2 freighters could be added to the fleet, so no contract leasees would complain of non availability of freighters. “I want the selling points of our shipyard to be efficiency and reliability.”

Xiang Zhe was very pleased when he went through the charts. From the forecast Roh Bin had made, it seemed really possible to make a profit the first year. And the idea to purchase 1 or 2 more freighters seemed logical.

Money would soon be coming in to the shipyard. David and his legal team had successfully applied to the bank in London to freeze the assets under the control of the ex-union leaders. His legal team had submitted all audited accounts and evidence that the money rightfully belonged to the Wen Rong shipyard. David assured Junior the funds would be returned soon.

Mr. Kawasaki’s legal advisors in Tokyo had successfully assisted Wen Rong in freezing the assets under the control of the ex-union leaders in Japan. In fact the Japanese legal team had now in their hands evidence that the leaders tried to evade tax payments. This alone would guarantee the leaders jail sentences, if they ever stepped onto Japanese soil.

And Mr. Pei had through various means, got the Busan bank to admit the leaders had committed irregularities in banking transactions. The Busan bank had frozen the fixed assets of the leaders, and released the current assets back into the Wen Rong Shipyard account.

After they finished with their business discussions, Roh Bin again thanked President Yin for giving him the opportunity to work at the shipyard. He would do his best and never let them down. With his new job in Busan, he would be able to take good care of his grandmother. His grandmother was so grateful to President and Mrs. Yin.

Over dinner, Xiang Zhe found out a lot more about Roh Bin, his grandmother, and his life before he joined Wen Rong. He agreed Roh Bin was a good kid; not only humble and sincere, but so filial to his grandmother. He was thinking, this boy not even 23 years old, could be relied upon to work independently. He willingly accepted the challenge, and already proved his potential by making so many recommendations, never mind whether the ideas worked or not. To Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei, this boy had courage and initiative. He was not afraid to accept responsibility. All his ideas were merely recommendations. If the Yins found them good, they would be accepted, otherwise other alternatives could be pursued. No wonder Shan Mei was getting fed up with Zian Da. Xiang Zhe couldn’t recall a single incident where Zian Da would make a recommendation on his own initiative. The way Xiang Zhe heard it, even Zian Da had to ask Chen Sui for an idea on how to propose to Yong Xi. He was always sitting on the fence. Zian Da could only think and work within a box. Xiang Jie was right. “Send him back to Training, where he would be training according to a set of guidelines.”

When Patrick brought Shan Mei and Xiang Jie home after the CTN cocktail party, Xiang Zhe asked him to kindly drop Roh Bin back at his place.

After they drove off, Shan Mei went up to her husband, planting a kiss on his cheek, telling him she missed having him at the function.

“I spent much better time with Roh Bin. Darling, you are so right. Roh Bin is a good kid.” Xiang Zhe then pointed to the various charts and feasibility studies Roh Bin had made on re-organisation of the shipyard. “He definitely understands the workings of a shipyard very well.”

Michael was at the airport to meet them, to see for himself the extent of Junior’s injury. He was so shocked when he first received the news of the mishap. He wanted to return to Seoul with Shan Mei and Patrick. “Anyway, I am glad to hear the problems regarding the shipyard are almost settled. I know David has been assisting Wen Rong in the re-possession of the assets now sitting at the Bank of London. If there are other legal matters you need assistance with or advice on, simply let David know.”

After checking into the hotel, Michael met up with them in the coffee shop for drinks and some food. Michael told them the sponsors were really excited about the show. “Response for the first 2 shows has been overwhelming. A large portion of the audiences are out-of-towners.” After signing for the bill, Michael told them to have an early night. “It had been a long flight for Junior. Tomorrow CTN’s car will be at the hotel to collect us at 10 a.m. Having foreign TV emcees to host a local chat show is a novelty to the guests and the audiences participating. Fifteen minutes before start of the show have been reserved for the co-hosts to acquaint themselves with the audiences.”

The next morning, before the start of the show while Patrick and Shan Mei were meeting the guests and audiences, Xiang Zhe went around the studio, to ensure cameras were placed in the correct positions, then he positioned himself in the control room with the local producer. In many areas, he recommended tighter editing. “Remember, not to dwell too long on the guest speaker who is having awkward moments. Cue the cameras to focus on Shan Mei or Patrick. And it’s important to time the close ups correctly for maximum effect.”

While the show was in progress, Xiang Zhe focused his attention on Shan Mei and Patrick. They breezed through very comfortably. The guest speakers and audiences really enjoyed appearing on the show. They wanted photographs with the co-hosts. CTN’s new recruits were made to sit through the show, hoping they could observe carefully and learn to pace correctly throughout the 2-hour show.

A reporter from Sydney’s leading tabloid newspaper, did an in-depth interview with the Yin couple and Patrick Lee, generating a sudden spurt of interest in all things Korean.

After the second show, the sponsors were very happy with the response from the public. Tuesday’s local newspapers carried many pages on the worth of the show, and the wonderful performances of the two charismatic co-hosts. To them, the chemistry between Zhen Shan Mei and Patrick Lee was unmatched by any other local co hosting team on local television.

At the airport, Michael advised Shan Mei, “I’ll be staying back to do further sieving through the group of recruits. I’ll expect to see you three again next Sunday. Anyway, Junior, bear in mind what the sponsors had discussed with you about having a Korean Cultural show or festival in Sydney sometime in the future. They are serious about this idea.”

On the plane, Xiang Zhe chuckled softly when he remembered the surprised looks on the faces of the guests and the audiences. They thought they would be dealing with Asians coming with foreign tongues until Shan Mei opened her mouth and the Queen’s English came sprouting forth, and from Patrick his very pleasant American drawl.

Xiang Zhe also noticed the sponsors were very generous with their gift packs during the show. Michael said for Australia, this was a very successful marketing strategy, because most of the consumers did their shopping via phone, fax, mail order or Internet.

Patrick thought the whole experience was enlightening. He now had some idea of the Australian’s behavioral patterns. Next week he would change his way of presentation slightly after he worked out a pattern with Shan Mei. The Australians were very forthright and full of humour. The coming 11 weeks should be fun.

On the return flight when they asked one another about shopping, they agreed the season was all wrong, but Patrick managed to find a nice ¾ length coat for his mother. The Yins also bought a winter coat for Granny Roh with matching scarf, to keep her warm this winter in Busan. For Roh Bin, they bought a thick sheepskin jacket knowing the winter cold could be quite severe with the shipyard being located by the sea. Patrick thought how kind and generous the Yin couple was, already having so readily taken Roh Bin and his grandmother under their wings. Brother Jae Hoon had told him how impressed he was with Roh Bin, and his granny was such a lovable character.

Back in Seoul, it was noon when Shan Mei awoke. Her husband was still sleeping soundly. The long flight must have tired him. She knew he could never sleep on the plane because of his long frame. Xiang Jie had sms’d her the company driver would be delivering fish soup and some lunch time dishes suitable for Elder brother, from master chef. Since she needn’t prepare lunch, she began sorting out their luggage. This time it was very easy. One case they packed their clothes, another case they packed their shopping. The custom officers at Inchon never bothered to check their luggage. On seeing Zhen Shan Mei, they simply waved her on.

She held out the adorable pink frock they had bought for their daughter, and a cute blue suit for her twin brother. Shan Mei couldn’t wait for their first birthday in September. Her mischievous eyes suddenly sparkled as an idea came to her. Xiang Zhe, now awake and watching her from the bed, noticed this and wondered what his wife was hatching up. She was admiring the cute little flowery elastic head band for her baby, she didn’t hear her husband creeping up behind her, until he snatched the head band away. He gave her a deep kiss then asked, “What mischief are you hatching up?”

She turned around to him, hugging him tight, saying she was thinking of inviting Cassie and David to visit them in Seoul. She would discuss the plan with Michael.

“Michael to suggest to Cassie and David that they visit Sydney for the last session of 2STAC. Xue Zhang will take Father, Auntie and the children along. After spending a few days with our children, I’m sure Cassie will be smitten. After Sydney, we fly back to Seoul together, inviting them to stay at Father’s place, giving them the experience of living with 4 of the most well-behaved and adorable kids. Husband, I guarantee no woman will be able to resist their lethal charms. Cassie will definitely start to think of babies. Maybe the Dutton’s first child will be conceived at Father’s house.” Shan Mei clapped her hands in glee just thinking of Cassie wanting a baby to make David happy.

Xiang Zhe ruffled her hair, secretly agreeing with the plan. “David has been very helpful to us regarding the shipyard’s legal mess. If we can help to influence David’s wife to think of babies, he should be so grateful and ecstatic. I’ll strongly recommend fresh oysters to David.” Thinking of oysters, Xiang Zhe too was getting excited with the planning.

Shan Mei shooed her husband to bathroom for shower, while she went to kitchen to heat up fish soup for him. Master Chef, knowing they would be returning this morning, had made some of his favourite dishes for lunch.

Xiang Zhe walked into the kitchen. His wife was slicing some fresh chillis. He went behind her and kissed the base of her nape. His arms went around her, after which he pinned a brooch on to her blouse, then very softly wished her happy wedding anniversary. “I know you don’t like celebration but I want to thank you in a special way for the happiness you have brought me.”

Shan Mei turned around, laughing happily, delighted with the present, though she hadn’t checked out the brooch design. She gave her husband a deep kiss, telling him, “I’ll thank you in a special way after I’ve cleaned up the mess here, and when we’ve finished our lunch. He quickly sat down at the table, and began taking his fish soup, never taking his eyes off his wife. Shan Mei then checked the brooch and appreciatively told him the diamond brooch in Mother’s butterfly design was exquisite. “I’ll wear it for my 2STAC chat shows, as a reminder to do my best.” Xiang Zhe smiled lovingly at her.

Chapter AW-83

When Shan Mei brought coffee to him in the TV room, he looked at his wife expectantly. She cuddled down next to him, giving him a sweet lingering kiss thanking him truly for the most wonderful 6 years of married life, 4 beautiful children, and his love and caring before their marriage. Her voice was beginning to wobble. Xiang Zhe embraced her tightly to him, his life was blessed because of her, and he began to rain hot kisses all over her face. Suddenly, she broke away laughingly, Xiang Zhe looked confused, when she ran out of the TV room.

He heard her going to the front door, very soon his eldest son BB ran in followed by BR. They ran straight to him, shouting happily for Daddy. They climbed up the sofa and started hugging his neck, his head, his arms, sitting on his lap, telling him how much they had missed him. Xiang Zhe seeing them, realised how terribly much he had missed them too, and cuddled them tightly to him. Then nanny and Shan Mei walked in, one carrying BA and Shan Mei carrying BZ. Daddy immediately beckoned to mummy to let him have his daughter. Shan Mei told him baby daughter was wearing one of the dresses he had bought in Sydney. BZ managed to get up standing on daddy’s lap, catching on to his polo shirt, barely saying ‘daddy’. Xiang Zhe with look of surprise asked his wife whether he heard right. She, biting down a smile, nodded her head. According to Xiang Jie, they had been teaching her that. BA was learning slower, but it would be okay. Boys were supposed to learn slower than girls. Xiang Zhe caught his baby daughter close to him and started kissing her all over, trying to get her to say ‘daddy’ again. Shan Mei, seeing the 5 of them on the sofa, was sobbing quietly inside herself. They looked so right together. And the love and pride overflowing from Xue Zhang’s eyes affected her too.

Shan Mei slipped out of the room with nanny. They came back shortly with bowls of ice cream. The two elder boys were clapping their hands, and climbed down the sofa to stand around the coffee table. BB took a damp towel to wipe his little brother’s hands. Xiang Zhe couldn’t believe his eyes. He looked at his wife. Mummy went round to BB and told him he was the best big brother taking such good care of his younger brother. And BR was the best younger brother, obeying big brother, and they must remember to learn to share. After they scooped some ice cream out of their bowls, they gave some to daddy. They scooped some more and fed some to babies BA and BZ. Mummy said they were good children, they should feed themselves too.

BB immediately agreed. “Daddy is good daddy, so he should have ice cream too.” They then gave some to mummy.

After ice cream, and their hands and faces wiped clean, mummy brought out a box, saying daddy had bought them some toys. BB went to the box and took out the toys. He saw two soft toys and immediately said those for the babies and gave them to the youngest two. He asked BR to choose one of the remaining two. BR said he was big brother, he should choose first.

Daddy seeing this felt so gratified having such loving and unselfish children, made the decision. He gave BB the toy he had actually selected for him, and the other for BR.

When BB noticed BR eyeing his toy, he gave him a hug and told him he could play with his toy whenever he liked. BR nodded his head in acceptance. The little ones wanted to go on the floor, to play with their toys around their bigger brothers.

Catching Shan Mei’s attention, Xiang Zhe patted the space beside him on the sofa. She went to the sofa and sat down next to her husband. He gave her a deep kiss, his arm going around her shoulders.

BB ran up to them and whispered “disgusting”. His daddy laughed softly, turned him around and gave his bottom a light smack, pointing him back to his toy. BB ran back to his toy, laughing. His younger siblings didn’t know what happened, but laughed along with him.

Xiang Zhe sitting on the sofa with his wife in his arm, continued to watch his children at play. How could this come about? He who professed never to marry and have children, now was holding his most precious wife in his arm and admiring his 4 beautiful little ‘treasures’ playing happily around on the floor. Xiang Jie’s words came to mind – “the most extraordinary turns of fate in the most ordinary of days” – so aptly applied to them. His eyes misted, and a shudder zipped through him. What if he had missed this extraordinary turn of fate?

Shan Mei felt him shudder and asked, with deep concern, whether he was feeling alright? He had always wondered if the traffic light was still red, and not turned green, she would have simply walked past him at the zebra crossing, and out of his life.

Or, if they had married a few months after they met, their precious BB would now be 12 years old. Xiang Zhe laughed incredulously and shook his head in amused disbelief, imagining himself being parent to a 12 year old boy. Looking at BB now, he wondered what would he be like at 12 years old? Definitely not like him when he was 12. BB was surrounded with so much love from so many grandparents, godparents, uncles and aunties, brothers and sister, and a pair of doting parents, there would be no chance for him to ever feel lonely, unhappy, unloved or neglected.

“Okay,” daddy clapped his hands for attention and said, “Time to go back to grandpa’s place for rest. Daddy is tired and needs rest.”

BB then remembered the wound on daddy’s head, and went to give his daddy a kiss on his forehead. Xiang Zhe’s heart ached with so much love for his eldest son, and the hope that one day his son would acknowledge him as ‘his most beloved daddy’, the way Shan Mei always acknowledged her pa.

They walked the children back to the mansion. After that they went back to their house for shower and change, getting ready for Jae Hoon to collect them for Granny Roh’s place. They wanted to bring the presents to granny knowing Roh Bin and she would be leaving for Busan in a few days’ time.

At Granny Roh’s place, the Yins couldn’t thank her enough for her kindness in preparing the soup, and the herbal paste for Xiang Zhe. The aches had gone, and only a faint scar remained of the wound.

After she prepared tea for them, she caught hold of Xiang Zhe’s hands and looked over them carefully. “You used to drink and smoke a lot, right?” she asked without pretence. “Mrs. Yin, I recommend that you continue to give President Yin the soup at least once a month. This will help to expel the heat and damp imbedded deep down inside his vital organs. In fact I’ve packed the essential herbs in separate packs, with recipe attached on how to prepare the soup. Whenever you run out of supplies, please come to the house anytime to get more. The herbs are grown in the outside garden. All plants are labeled. After Ah Bin and I have settled down in Busan, I will return once every 6 months or so to check on the house.”

When she saw the presents, she said they looked too expensive. She wouldn’t want to spoil the overcoat by wearing it.

Shan Mei became quite disappointed. “Granny, the coat is meant to be worn and keep you warm, not to be kept in the cupboard, unused. We will get you another new coat once the present one is worn out. You make sure Roh Bin uses his jacket too. The winters down at Busan, especially in the shipyard, can be quite cold.”

Granny then handed Shan Mei the herb packets. When they left, Shan Mei told her Jae Hoon would accompany them to Busan. He would also arrange courier to collect their personal effects to Busan. “Granny, take good care. We’ll come down and see you and Roh Bin as soon as we can spare the time. For the next 3 months we will be very busy in Australia.”

Granny Roh was very grateful for their caring and kindness, especially to her grandson.

Later that evening after distribution of presents at Father’s place and partaking of a wonderful dinner prepared by Auntie, Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei went home. They were too tired to wait for Father to return from his Game Club Night. “Auntie, we’ll go home now. We are going to have a busy day tomorrow.”

In bed, Shan Mei gave her husband a hard, unflinching stare. Her mouth, usually so sweet with a ready smile, now looked unfriendly, in a tight line.

Xiang Zhe kept quiet, looking a bit sheepish, knowing what was in her mind.

Shan Mei knew Xue Zhang was expecting blasting from her. Instead, she took hold of his hands, and following Granny Roh’s example, turned them this way and that way, making comments, in her sweetest voice, like, “Oh, these hands look really strong and capable. Oh, look at these beautiful and graceful long fingers.” Catching hold of some of the finger tips, she lifted them this way and that way admiring the very faint brown stains so evenly distributed over them. “I wonder what brand of cigarettes Xue Zhang used to smoke to get such an even trace of brown stain.” Taking his thumb and his fingers, she bent them in a half circle, cooing sweetly, “These make just the perfect shape and size to hold on nicely to a whisky glass tumbler filled with whisky.”

Before she could say more, her husband caught her face between his hands, and kissed her wildly. She struggled free for breath.

When he finally released her, he looked at her besotted. “It’s all your fault I was drinking and smoking so much. That was how much I was missing you. And imagining you in You Zhen’s arms made me feel even worse! Do you know, I wasn’t able to sleep a wink most nights? Some nights I would finish off a whole bottle of whisky and several packets of cigarettes. Even when I was taking my shower or having my bath, I couldn’t concentrate, thinking of you out with that You Zhen. Sometimes, I stayed under the shower faucet or sat in the tub for hours, torturing myself with crazy thoughts of where you had gone to together and what the two of you were doing. Otherwise, how come I was always so tired and began each morning in grouchy mood?”

Shan Mei became outraged, reminding him, “Hey, you started your drinking and smoking when you were still in England, long before you met me! What cheek, laying the blame on me!!!”

“Yes, that was your fault too, because you didn’t show up sooner in my life. I was alone and waiting for you to show up, like the promise we made in our previous life time to meet in this life time. Anyway, what took you so long to appear? Dallying with some other man?”

Shan Mei stared at him incredulously; her accusing eyes big and round at his question.

“Darling, haven’t you noticed? I never drank or smoked when I had you with me?

Suddenly, she fell on his chest with laughter. “Was that why you got so tired of waiting, you did not want to wait anymore? So, you decided to run me over with your car?”

“I want to know, if you realized I was tired of waiting, why did you have to waste more time by going off to help You Zhen, then running off to London, instead of walking straight toward me, like I kept telling you to?”

“I wanted to walk straight toward you, but you were so drunk with whisky and blinded by such stupid jealousy, you couldn’t build a straight road. It was so crooked with so many detours, you were lucky I managed to find my way back to you!”

He gave up arguing, instead gave her a sweet smile, ready to surrender. “Okay, any plans on how we should meet for our next lifetime, to avoid unnecessary delays, my dearest Mrs. Yin?”

“Well….. You’ve given me the anklet. You’ll be able to find me. But I won’t be able to find you. It’s not fair. In case you find a new girlfriend, I’ll still be groping in the dark for you. Tomorrow, I’m going to get you an anklet too and you can’t remove it from your ankle.”

Xiang Zhe laughed so hard, he caught his wife within his arms, then turned to his side table console to switch off all the lights. “I could spend two lifetimes with you and not have enough.” He was still laughing, thinking of an anklet on him, when he began giving his wife hot kisses and hot cuddles, wanting her to start groping in the dark for him!

Chapter AW-84

After 3 weeks doing the Sydney chat show Shan Mei was feeling the strain. She told her husband, “I’ll never again want to take on another similar assignment. I have a husband and 4 babies to look after. And I feel so guilty taking Xue Zhang away from his work.”

“Darling, don’t let it worry you. This arrangement seems fine to me. I get to spend a lot of time with you, anyway.”

On being told of Shan Mei’s plan to invite David and Cassie to Seoul, Michael loved the idea of having his godchildren in Sydney during their final chat show in September. He began mooting the idea to his brother as soon as he knew what the Yins had in mind. “Not only Cassie and David have agreed to come, even my mother wants to join the party to get acquainted with her grand-godchildren.”

On confirmation that the family trip to Sydney was on, Xiang Zhe instructed his assistant to apply for travel documents for his children and their nanny. To further prepare for the trip, he emphasized that only English was to be spoken in the house, so the children would be comfortable in foreign surroundings.

One evening Xiang Zhe sat down taking Granny Roh’s special fish soup that Shan Mei had prepared, when Shan Mei began checking the patch of hair where she had trimmed, and checking whether the wound had healed completely. She very gently and lovingly stroked it. Xiang Zhe’s arm went around her waist; he was relishing the feeling of being so loved by his wife.

He smiled sweetly inside himself. How times and roles have changed! In the beginning, Xiang Zhe loved doting on Shan Mei treating her like his little girl, never refusing her anything. Bit by bit, over the years, the roles were slowly being interplayed, especially after the children came along. Seeing how the babies always had her undivided attention, he too wanted to be her baby. As she came to understand the extent of his suffering during his youth, she pampered him no end. Yet when it came to important decision making, his wife looked up to him as being the head of the house. And when they were alone, he was once again her Xue Zhang. She had reached another stage of her development, where she was crying less, and growing stronger. She was a great help to him in shouldering many of his burdens.

Finally, September arrived and it was the week for the final segment of 2STAC co-hosted by Shan Mei and Patrick.

Michael came to the airport with a passenger van to collect the travel party of ten persons early Saturday morning. Except for Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei, the rest of the group had slept quite well on the plane. After checking in at the hotel, all went to the coffee shop for breakfast. Michael was so proud showing off his godchildren to his mother, Cassie and David. They were all captivated.

At one point during breakfast, BB staring at Cassie’s long blonde hair, said she was pretty. Cassie was so thrilled, she hugged him tightly to her, kissing him, inviting him to be her boyfriend.

After hesitating slightly, he wanted to know whether ‘boy friend’ got ice cream?

“Of course! A lot, all the time,” Cassie assured him.

BB whispered something into BR’s ear. Young brother clapped his little hands and nodded his little head. BB turned back to Cassie and informed her, “My younger brother wants to be your ‘boy friend’ too.”

“Good. I can then hold one in each of my arms.”

Xiang Zhe, too tired to join in the amusement and banter around the dining table, announced he was going to his room to rest. The two elder boys on hearing that, climbed over the others, to reach daddy sitting at the other end of the table. They sat on his lap, hugged him and gave him kisses, telling their daddy, “You have to be a good boy then. Mummy will surely kiss you better.” Shan Mei went red in the face, while Xiang Zhe gave her an indulgent look, laughing quietly at her embarrassment.

A little while later after Xiang Zhe had left the coffee shop, David asked Shan Mei whether it was the wound acting up on Junior.

“It has been a long flight. He wasn’t able to sleep well on the plane and he was having a headache. I wanted to apply some herbal balm to the wound before we left Seoul. He refused, being so self-conscious. I’ll go up to the room after we finish breakfast and apply the balm onto the wound.”

David shook his head in silent anger. “Shan Mei, you don’t have to worry. I won’t let Junior take the hurt for nothing. I promise to chase after every cent those greedy ex-union leaders have taken. Actually, I was going to show Junior some papers from the bank, confirming that they are in the process of releasing the fixed assets back into Wen Rong Shipyard account. And I have been keeping contact with the legal team in Japan to make sure all the assets seized by the Government are returned to Wen Rong.”

Yin Snr and Shan Mei were so relieved to hear this. While Shan Mei went up to her room, the others took the babies to the gardens and children’s play area to play.

Xiang Zhe had been waiting impatiently in their room for his beloved wife, and asked, “What took you so long?”

As she applied the paste to the wounded area, she told him, “David told us that he had some papers from the bank confirming the money the ex union leaders had taken illegally, would be returned to the shipyard soon. The Japanese legal team is also efficient.” She gave him a kiss, soothing him to sleep.

He wanted his wife to keep him company. “The children won’t miss you with so many doting adults hanging around them.” Smiling softly, he looked at her, asking, “Is your plan working?”

She nodded her head expectantly, especially when their BB told Cassie she was pretty. “Didn’t Xue Zhang see David and Cassie exchanging looks all the time? Even Michael is looking positive. Once David has a child, he said his mother would stop putting pressure on him to get married! One more week doting after our babies, Cassie will definitely buckle.”

Satisfied, Husband and wife snuggled up to each other. Soon they were asleep.

By afternoon, Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei were up and ready to go. They waited a while, for the babies to awake from their afternoon nap. This morning they played so hard, they became so tired, they went straight to bed without taking lunch.

Xiang Zhe wanted to treat them to ice cream knowing the ice cream at the hotel was very good. Shan Mei had it every time they were in Sydney. They had early dinner at Chinatown’s famous Plum Blossom Palace.

Xiang Zhe suggested dinner at this restaurant because they would be able to serve porridge for the children. Sydney was indeed a gourmet’s paradise. All their seafood was very fresh. Even the fresh oysters Xiang Zhe ordered to be served lightly steamed in a delicious Chinese bean sauce tasted better than plain oysters. Xiang Zhe highly recommended them to David, dropping hints that were how the twins came about.

Yin Senior was surprised at his son’s openness. In the past, whatever personal secrets Xiang Zhe had to tell, Father was sure he only told them privately to Shan Mei.

Shan Mei, whose face had turned rosy pink, gave him an embarrassing look.

“Yes?” he laughingly teased his wife softly when he noticed her glare, then gave her a kiss on her cheek, adding further to her embarrassment.

BR who was sitting next to daddy wanted a kiss too. BB on the other side of the table sitting between David and Michael, wanted one too.

Daddy told him, “Wait until after dinner for your turn.” BB was not happy, until Michael and David kissed him, one on either cheek. He laughed happily and kissed them back.

Seeing the happy banter around, Michael’s mother lamented meal times at their home were normally so quiet. Auntie told her, “Meal times at our place are usually fun and noisy. When you are visiting with us, you will understand what I mean.”

It was late after dinner; the children were tired and ready to fall asleep. Xiang Zhe suggested meeting up for lunch the next day, after which he wanted to take the children to a theme park. Michael thought that was good idea. “It had been a long, long time since I had been to a theme park.” Cassie and David felt the same.

Back at the hotel, BB complained he was missing his uncle and wanted daddy to call him. When the call went through, BB was excitedly telling his uncle the activities so far. “And tomorrow, daddy will take us to a theme park.”

Uncle then promised him, “When you return to Seoul, and Uncle Pat reports that you have been a good boy, I’ll take you to a theme park too. So you’d better behave and take good care of the younger ones.” BB nodded his head in earnest. “Of course. I’m a big boy now. I’m 5 years old.” Daddy, on hearing that, laughed and carried him off, after handing the phone to his wife.

Shan Mei taking over the phone asked Xiang Jie whether Jae Hoon had been at their home to keep him company as he promised. “Aiya, Sister, no need to worry, simply enjoy the break. And everything for the selection of new recruits has been prepared for Michael when he arrives on Wednesday with his recruiters.”

With their Sydney assignment completed successfully, the party was now on their way back to Seoul. Michael brought his two talent recruiters along with him. When they arrived at Inchon airport, Xiang Zhe’s assistant was there with the company bus, and the whole party was dropped off at Yin Senior’s mansion. The rooms were already prepared.

The babies on arriving home were so happy. They ran in and looked for the maid. They gave her hugs and kisses, and brought out from their pockets some sweets that they had saved for her. She was so overwhelmed by their thoughtfulness. The housekeeper got the same presents. The maid and housekeeper exchanged smiles. Didn’t they say Zhen Shan Mei’s children were the most loving and well behaved?

BB had never been upstairs. When he saw activities going up and down the stairs, he wanted to go up too. Daddy wouldn’t let him go up the stairs afraid he might fall. “You should stay on the ground level. If you become a nuisance, Auntie Cassie, Uncle David, Godda and Nana would move to hotel to stay. Do you want that?” BB shook his head and looked rueful.

When Michael came downstairs, he told Junior, “This place is like a hotel. At first, I couldn’t believe the entire 2nd level consisted only of guest rooms. Next time I’ll definitely take you up your offer to stay at your father’s place and not stay at the hotel anymore. This way, I can spend more quality time with my godchildren. And my mother loves the roses your maid has put in her room. Reminds her so much of her own rose garden.”

“Senior, it’s been a long flight. Why don’t you rest a bit? After lunch, we’ll go to the station. Lunch will be served around 1 o’clock.”

After lunch, Michael’s mother decided to lie in. Cassie and David would come down to the station later. The rest went off to MBS. A company car was left in the house for the Dutton’s use.

At MBS, Michael was so happy to see JJ again. To Michael’s question, JJ said there were 120 applicants for prelim round. They went to the studio where a work area had been prepared for them. Zian Da and some of the news department staff were present to see how the so-called experts work.

Michael and his 2 recruiters divided the total number of applicants into batches of 40. Each took a batch, and played the applicants’ CDs on their TV screens.

“All prelim selection done through the screen?” Zian Da asked himself, confused. Two hours later, Michael and his recruiters ended with about 60 potential applicants. 30 minutes later, they had whittled the number down to 40, because MBS was only going to accept 30 for training. Michael told JJ to arrange for these 40 to come in for interview tomorrow morning starting at 9 a.m.

Yong Xi and Zian Da looked through the list left with Xiang Jie. From their original list, only 10 were selected by CTN team. The remaining 30 came from the reject list. Zian Da couldn’t understand the logic behind this. He wanted to ask Xiang Zhe whether a mistake had been made, but he didn’t get his chance. Xiang Zhe was busy with Mr. Dutton. Michael being experienced in human psychology knew what was going through Zian Da’s mind even though he didn’t understand the language.

Chapter AW-85

When JJ told Michael Zian Da was one of the primary selectors of the applicants, he wanted to see on screen all the presenters who had ever appeared on MBS programmes. JJ expected this – Michael was famous for his thoroughness.

As expected by Michael they all looked beautiful, many in an artificial way, and lacked the right skills or were too skillful in a pretentious way. Xiang Zhe was sitting in on the meeting too. The way Michael had laid it out made it very easy to spot the good from the mediocre, the mediocre from the bad, and the bad from the atrocious. Xiang Zhe realised even if he did the selection, he wouldn’t know how to go about it. All he understood was management, financial structure and marketing.

Michael didn’t want to act too harsh, otherwise that Zian Da would also be out. There were four MBS broadcasters under the ‘Good’ category. From the good, the best one he pointed out was still Zhen Shan Mei. The other three, apparently, had left MBS to join rival stations. If they included Shan Mei, it would mean all the best had left MBS to join rival stations. The four had some common traits – they looked natural, friendly and approachable, with a warm, spontaneous smile, soft confident eyes, and eloquence with pleasant voices with all the right intonations, nothing exaggerated.

All the others had some flaw of one kind or another. Most common was too serious look in a pretentious way, like practicing before a mirror, and most importantly, their voices didn’t sound right.

Michael pointed to Liu Yong Xi’s image on the screen, not knowing who she was and passed a comment, “This one is too conscious of her looks, too stiff overall – in looks and presentation.”

He pointed to Xu Ying Mei, saying that one shouldn’t even be allowed on the screen doing prime time news or any serious shows. Her voice was too cloying and when she unconsciously lost concentration to keep her momentum, her voice sounded hard and arrogant and small irritating mannerisms began to appear. “This one would only be suitable for playing seductress in drama series. Her hard eyes, facial expression and small, irritating mannerisms are like a nightclub hostess, and her presentation style is too pretentious. Any viewer wanting serious news will switch to another channel.”

Just then Cassie and David walked in. Cassie went straight up to JJ and hugged and kissed him and wouldn’t let go. Xiang Zhe and the rest looked on in surprise. David was her husband, no? She took several ties from a Harvey Nichols shopping bag. JJ looked through them, laughed happily and embraced Cassie tight, giving her several kisses. Xiang Zhe was shocked. How could David be standing there so calm? When Shan Mei was only hugging JJ, he was ready to tear the house down. Now, Cassie and JJ were not only hugging, they were kissing.

Soon David walked over to them, picked out one tie from the lot and placed it against JJ’s shirt. He nodded his head in approval. JJ removed the tie he had on. David brought the new tie around his shirt collar, and tied it for him. Looking this way and that way, he was finally satisfied, pulled JJ into his arms and gave him a firm hug, slapping hard on his back at the same time. He turned JJ to face Michael, for his approval. Michael gave the thumbs up. Cassie put the other ties in the bag and handed the whole thing to JJ, then they walked off hand in hand around the studio.

David went over to where Michael was, viewing some images on the screen. He saw Shan Mei on the screen and laughed at her pre-CTN look. He nodded his head approvingly. With his thumb and forefinger stroking his chin, he continued looking at the others. He shook his head at many. He became bored, none was interesting. He noticed Junior sitting quietly in one corner, and went to sit down next to him, wondering, “Junior, where can we get some fresh oysters tonight? I have a sudden craving for them, after Sydney.” Xiang Zhe laughed – he was thinking the same thing himself.

It was 6 p.m. and Xiang Jie’s P.E. flashed on the screen. David noticed it and immediately called to Cassie telling her JJ’s show was on. Cassie and JJ went to David. Cassie offered him the seat between herself and David. Both husband and wife had their arms on JJ’s shoulders. Cassie kept repeating how gorgeous JJ looked. David nodded in agreement as he seriously watched the screen. At the end, they saw BB on the screen and Cassie was all excited, especially the part where BB blew kisses to the viewers saying so innocently ‘I love you’.

She grabbed hold of David’s arm, saying, “Honey, isn’t he just adorable? We must invite him to visit us in London.” Michael on hearing that, reminded Cassie, “BB is my godson. What are you two trying to do, steal him away from me with your tempting ice cream?” and they all laughed.

Shan Mei walked in and saw the happy family gathering. Michael beckoned her over, and asked her to stand before the camera. After looking a while, he asked JJ to get hold of that guy who was always with him and Patrick.

“You mean Jae Hoon?”

“I don’t know his name. Just call him on the mobile phone and ask him to come to the studio right away.”

When Jae Hoon arrived, Michael confirmed, “Yes, he’s our man. Jae Hoon, can you please stand before the camera next to Shan Mei?” Michael looked through the lens a long time. His two recruiters came over and looked as well, then gave thumbs up. Michael’s eyes fell on Junior. Knowing how insecure Junior could be where Shan Mei was concerned, he wondered whether it would be a good idea to put the two together. But if Junior wanted to break the losing streak on News, that was the way to go.

Michael beckoned Junior over and asked him to look through the lens. “Don’t they look good together, old chap?” Xiang Zhe’s face became dark and a frown appeared on his forehead. Michael laughed and gave him a hard slap on his back. “Relax, old chap. She’s rock solid.”

It was late; they decided to go for dinner at Westin Chosun. Michael invited Jae Hoon along. JJ managed to locate Patrick and told him to meet them in Westin Chosun Western Restaurant.

Xiang Zhe, Shan Mei, and the Duttons went in one car; Xiang Jie and the two recruiters went in Jae Hoon’s car. During dinner, Michael asked Jae Hoon a lot of questions, and was so excited when he heard that Jae Hoon was the one who did the dubbing for the NWP series, and was responsible for arranging dubbing for CTN mini series.

After dinner, they all went back to Yin Snr’s place. Michael and David were so disappointed the babies were already in bed. David reminded Cassie, “Tomorrow morning we must wake up early to catch them, before BB goes off to playschool.” The Duttons decided to call it a night, since they had to be at the studio before 9 tomorrow morning. Jae Hoon went off with Patrick and Xiang Jie, while Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei drove off home.

When they were in bed, Xiang Zhe recounted what happened in MBS studio. “I don’t get it? How can David allow his wife Cassie to display such affections for another man so openly in public?”

Shan Mei rolled around the bed in hysterics. Her husband looked at her affronted, suspecting she knew something he didn’t. “Aiya husband, relax. It’s not just another man. It’s Xiang Jie. David and Cassie treat Xiang Jie like their son. In fact, when Michael introduced Xiang Jie to them when he first arrived in London, he looked like a little boy lost. David and Cassie immediately took him under their wings and treated him like their own son. Otherwise how did Xue Zhang think Xiang Jie learned so much in so little a time? Xiang Jie only worked at CTN over the weekends. David made it his business to be in the office whenever Xiang Jie was there. He had given instructions that whenever JJ was at CTN, he was to be given access to every department. Michael used to say when I first started off at CTN, I too looked like a little girl lost, so he took me under his wings and made me his business.”

“Made you his business? Well, thank the good Lord for that – he did not succeed in making you his wife!”

Shan Mei ignored his sarcastic taunt and wanted to know what the pairing with Jae Hoon was all about.

Xiang Zhe shrugged his shoulders. “Michael simply told me that the two of you looked good together. I don’t know what Michael has in mind. I feel like strangling that Michael, always trying to torture me. The only man you should be looking good with should be me. Don’t you ever forget it!”

Hearing no response from his wife, Xiang Zhe continued, “Any way, this afternoon Michael dropped a bombshell. He said Xu Ying Mei shouldn’t have been allowed to appear in front of the camera unless she was playing a seductress in a drama series. Her style had so many irritable facial expressions so typical of a nightclub hostess and so pretentious. If she read prime time news, the ratings would go down. No wonder we were constantly battling with ratings – especially the Morning of Eve show. Even if it started off good, after a week or so, the ratings would drop. I always thought she was so good being so confident and polished. Michael said it wasn’t ‘confident and polished’. It was hard, insincere and arrogant. I was so influenced by Zian Da. But an expert’s eyes could straight away tell she was a nightclub hostess.

An expert is an expert. One look at you, and Michael could tell you were a virgin. No wonder he wanted to marry you. It’s a known fact within his circle that Michael is ultra conservative where choice of bride is concerned. He has insisted his bride must be a virgin. No wonder CTN’s anchors won the annual awards for best anchor, year after year. With his expert eyes, he would know how to choose the best.

Michael also said Xiang Jie had natural knack at spotting talents and should have the final say in all selection. And he privately told me that Zian Da shouldn’t be in charge of selection any more. The quality of reporting would only go down. I had no experience whatsoever when it came to selection of recruits. I had to rely on Zian Da and his recommendations.”

Xiang Zhe looked forlorn as a deep frown appeared on his forehead. Shan Mei ached seeing her husband in this state. Kissing him on his temple, she tried to soothe away his frown. “Darling, it’s alright. It’s all in the past. Things will look up.”

On hearing that, Xiang Zhe became more frustrated. “That is the problem. Michael said if we continue to use the same anchors, MBS will always lag behind SGS. He caught SGS’ news last night and their anchors were good. Being 20% shareholder of MBS, of course he was concerned.”

Xiang Zhe didn’t tell Shan Mei that after his second visit to London to see her, he had come back and appraised the situation in MBS after he overheard what Michael had said about Asian TV stations. He had at that time found their performances lacking compared to CTN standards. That time his step uncle was still with MBS, so he couldn’t do anything.

When PIR was launched, advertisers who never advertised with MBS before were doing so because of support for Shan Mei. When Shan Mei came up with 2STAC, they won so many awards, the station thought they were doing very well when in fact it was all CTN’s efforts. P.E. too, and the dubbed NWP and mini series. People became complacent too easily. Prime Time News was the benchmark. With all local stations running the same thing at the same time, naturally the best presentation would win. CTN had nothing to worry about. They ran their main news at 7.30 each evening, no competition at that time slot. He hoped this new process of selection would prove something and could turn things around for MBS.

Chapter AW-86

Xiang Zhe stole a look at his wife, while she was telling the others to take a break and go have dinner at the dining room. He went over to Shan Mei. Taking her hand in his, he whispered that he would like to have a talk with her in his office. He indicated to Xiang Jie to go ahead without them.

Inside his office, he pulled Shan Mei onto his lap as soon as he sat down on the sofa, and gave her a silent look. Shan Mei remained silent. She played with the tie he had on. When he realised he was not going to get any word out of her, he let off a tired sigh. Turning her face towards his, he asked softly, “Do you want to do it?” She nodded her head. He rubbed his forehead at the frown that had just appeared.

Shan Mei took his hand away, and began planting light feathery kisses on his forehead. He was not buying that ploy again and began to question her decision. She told him, “In all honesty, I may never get another chance like what Michael has proposed this afternoon.”

“Is it so important for you to prove yourself? Haven’t you won enough accolades?”

She looked hurt, and stared in surprise at her husband, her eyes brimming with tears ready to flow at any time. Seeing that, Xiang Zhe drew her head to rest on his shoulder, his arms stroking his baby’s back lovingly. “Darling, it will be too tiring for you, 7 evenings a week, for four weeks reading the news, plus managing CTN and your other duties. Besides, I truly don’t relish the thought of my wife working so closely with Jae Hoon every night for a whole month.”

Shan Mei lifted her face to look at Xue Zhang. Seeing such misgivings in his eyes, she smiled sweetly at him, and kissed him deeply and lingeringly. Running a finger around the lips where she had just kissed, she told him, “I want to do it because of you, not because of any of those things you had just said. I don’t know what happened with prime time news before I joined MBS. Since I joined CTN-KE, I realise MBS has lagged behind SGS and KGTV in news ratings. Before Xue Zhang officially hands over the DoP post to Xiang Jie, I want to see whether we would be able to win the ratings war. On record, at least, during your tenure as DoP at MBS, you have managed to win the ratings war for prime time news, even if it is for a day. I don’t care how tiring it will be for me, I will do my best. But I can only do it with your blessings, and your support – supporting me by staying home that one month, giving our babies parental love and guidance, while I am at the studio. I will ask Jae Hoon to send me home at night after the news.”

Xiang Zhe felt so bad in misunderstanding her motives. He drew her back into his tight embrace, telling her, “You can do it, only if you allow me to be at the studio to wait for you to see you home every night.”

Shan Mei became very excited; she gave her darling husband a tight squeeze and sweet kiss. “Can we now join the others for dinner now? I’m so hungry!”

Xiang Zhe tweaked her nose, telling her if she was a good girl, she would get more than dinner as her reward for always placing her husband’s welfare at No. 1.

It was only the first week of November and the 3rd evening that the new team was reading the 9 p.m. news. The anchors Jae Hoon and Shan Mei reading the international and local news, with Chen Sui’s protégé Kim Dae Seo reporting on the sports section, and a pretty new recruit presenting the weather forecast. Xiang Zhe, looking through the camera lens, had to admit the team-up as proposed by Michael was perfect balance in every way, especially Jae Hoon and Shan Mei. The rating % had increased quite a lot against SGS and KGTV. Many weekend newspapers reported on Shan Mei appearing on MBS 9 p.m. news and speculated that since she held 20% share in MBS was she now in charge of prime time news replacing the previous boring line-up? Her co-anchor was the very handsome Mr. Han Jae Hoon from PIR. What a dynamic duo! Surely viewers could expect a change to MBS Prime Time News presentation?

An interview with the station controller of SGS also appeared in the newspapers, the interviewer wanting to know what plans SGS had now MBS was moving very close to take over their No. 1 position? Were they going to contract another superstar presenter for their prime time news?

“SGS would adopt a ‘wait and see’ policy. We have been wary of Zhen Shan Mei joining MBS prime time news since her return. When she first returned to Seoul with CTN-KE, we had tried to use top dollars to sign her up. She rejected all offers. When CTN advised us that they were moving the channeling rights to MBS, we wanted Zhen Shan Mei at any cost and had offered her a US$500,000 + % of sponsorship deals per year contract as our prime time news anchor, unheard of in those days for Korea. She rejected outright without even bothering to consider. Later when we realised Miss Zhen was going to be Mrs. Yin Xiang Zhe, we anticipated with dread the day we would relinquish our Prime Time News crown. We are only surprised MBS didn’t put Zhen Shan Mei as main anchor for 9 p.m. news sooner.”

What value would they place on Miss Zhen at the present market rate?

SGS Station Controller simply laughed and shook his head. No one in Korea could compare. “There has been no one before her winning the Most Popular TV Personality and Sponsors’ Choice awards so many times. Besides, when she first started out at MBS, she also won the Most Popular Newcomer award via Internet polling, and later the Most Popular Presenter award also via Internet for one of her shows. Currently her two shows, 2STAC and P.E. are getting unprecedented people meter ratings of 60% on average. As a rough estimate, she can easily be worth at least US$1 million + % of sponsorship deals for a one year contract as news anchor, comparable with international rates, for a talent of her caliber and the amount of sponsorship revenue she can attract to the station. But, of course, to Mr. Yin Xiang Zhe, she is invaluable as a business partner and advisor, therefore making her priceless.”

Xiang Zhe on reading that in the newspapers smiled secretly to himself. Shan Mei had told him SGS had tried to recruit her, but never mentioned any figures. That part about his wife being priceless to him, was so true. He became so ashamed of himself thinking back to that time when MBS wanted to retrench some programme presenters in favour of hiring a superstar presenter. When Shan Mei gave him flake for being an uncaring employer, he had accused her of being childish and suggested she made better use of her efforts by turning herself into the kind of broadcaster that TV stations would want to pay big bucks for. If she was given a million US$ annual contract just to read the news, she would be making more money than he did. Only some stations with a worldwide network could afford to pay that kind of money. The way it stood at present, he knew his wife was making more money anyway, being director of CTN-KE and CTN Asia/Pac. Shan Mei had never bothered with such financial things and left it to Michael to take care of her fees and CTN share options. He shook his head. The final laugh was on him!

Yong Xi and Zian Da, on reading the article in the newspapers, were surprised that such negotiations between Shan Mei and SGS took place before CTN contracted their channeling rights to MBS. Zian Da had thought Xiang Zhe was joking when he first told him that SGS had wanted to poach Shan Mei as soon as she returned from England and joined CTN-KE. And the parties had been talking of such large sums of money. It proved SGS was prepared to spend big bucks to sign on ‘superstar’ broadcasters. The two of them then wondered whether Shan Mei was really worth that kind of money? Or was she overrated?

They had watched MBS 9 o’clock prime time news with Jae Hoon and Shan Mei as the anchors. Zian Da didn’t have an opinion. Secretly, he still thought Ying Mei was better. Yet, how could that CTN Director Dutton tell, with one look at Ying Mei on the screen, that she acted like a nightclub hostess and serious TV viewers would find her facial expressions irritating? Was that why the shows hosted by Ying Mei didn’t do well with ratings? That guy hadn’t met any of the presenters personally, and only assessed from visuals on the TV screen, yet he was very accurate.

The group that Dutton selected as the best from MBS, one was Shan Mei who was taken up by CTN; of the other three, one went off to SGS, the remaining two taken up by KGTV and they were all very successful with their respective stations. These four were nominated each year for the Best News Anchor for the Broadcasting Award. No one from MBS had ever been nominated. What criteria did Dutton use to carry out his assessments? Zian Da again wondered. Xu Ying Mei looked confident most probably because she was used to handling customers at karaoke clubs? The crew mentioned something about ‘soft confidence’ from Shan Mei, and ‘snobbish confidence’ from Ying Mei. Was he too biased all along? Zian Da didn’t want to think anymore, he was getting more confused than ever!

Yong Xi still felt there was not much difference between her way of delivering the news and that of Shan Mei’s, so how could there be such a vast difference in viewership rating? And how come she was never nominated for an award? In fact, she thought hers was the more professional of the two. Maybe she should try for a contract with SGS?

Monday morning saw active trading of MBS shares. That Monday night at 9.30, Xiang Zhe was in the control room where they were monitoring the people meter ratings gauge. MBS had moved ahead of KGTV, and was at par with SGS. He was so excited he wished to report to Shan Mei immediately. As soon as the session was over, he immediately made announcement through the mike, requesting all personnel to stay behind. He announced the good news, then told the staff to meet at canteen, he wanted to celebrate.

By the 7th evening, MBS prime time news had moved past SGS by 8% and had kept constant in ratings % by the end of the second week. Xiang Zhe was immediately on the phone with Michael, reporting the good news.

“Senior, is it possible to release Shan Mei to MBS for another month? MBS share price has appreciated 8%, and is this week’s best buy on the market according to some analysts.”

Michael gave a satisfied laugh. “I’ll have a talk with Shan Mei and see whether CTN’s programmes at same time slot were affected. If not, CTN may consider extending the loan period up to end of first quarter. I too have good news to pass on. David has told me privately that Cassie has been feeling tired lately and he is wondering whether she might be pregnant. Even if she is, they would keep the news P&C until her first trimester. He doesn’t want to be disappointed again. Will keep you informed.”

Xiang Zhe was so happy, he offered his blessings.

Xiang Zhe wanted the team-up to carry on till the end of the year, and told Li Qing Xi to arrange accordingly. “There is strong likelihood that Shan Mei can stay on as anchor up to the end of March next year.”

For the first time since he joined MBS, Xiang Zhe was truly enjoying himself, without burden. Playing this ratings game was exciting and challenging when they didn’t have to spend big money on hiring superstar presenter. He had learnt his lesson; he would never again use top dollars to hire superstar presenters. He tried that once. The programme that superstar presenter hosted increased viewership rating for the station, but she soon also wanted to renegotiate her contract at higher fees. Later on, after paying hefty fees, the viewership rating could not be maintained. The superstar presenter then blamed MBS’s production team and inadequate facilities. The contract was finally terminated by mutual consent after a lot of legal wrangling that cost MBS a lot of money in compensation and he was almost removed from his DoP post by Step uncle’s politicking.

Now, watching the MBS share price going up, without deliberate inside manipulation, was gratifying. The one time when he accused Shan Mei of being childish and had no analytic mind to make judgment, she had later told him, when they were out one night, not to complicate such a simple issue. “The TV viewers would appreciate the best product given at the right time and in total honesty with unnecessary packaging. To put it simply – an honest deal!” Isn’t that what she had been doing at CTN-KE?

Actually she had been right all along. Take that time on MBS 7 p.m. news when she accused the ‘scoundrels’ of being unscrupulous kidnapping a girl for selfish monetary gain, she received so much positive response from viewers, some even wanting to vote her to be a member of parliament! All that came about spontaneously without packaging and superstar status.

When she resigned from MBS, there was so much protest from the viewers, demanding MBS bring her back. From that point onwards, the % of viewership of MBS slowly declined. Yet, he and the others in the station wasn’t even aware of the situation, that they had a ‘star’ in their midst. They were too caught up with ‘packaging’, ‘superstar’ persona, and ratings, they didn’t recognise the ‘pearl’ hidden among the useless ‘straw’ right under their noses. Her kind of forthright honesty couldn’t be trained or feigned. It was her basic natural character. She and Jae Hoon had brought such an honest victory for Xiang Zhe and MBS. A majority of the stations had their prime time news at the same time, so it was the best pitched against the best.

Xiang Zhe leant back against his chair. He was smiling softly to himself. He thought of his wife, and immediately thanked her silently for giving him this sweet taste of victory. He shook his head in disbelief. History has been made. During his tenure, MBS had managed to win the ratings war for prime time news! Soon he was grinning broadly, repeating his wife’s name, saying over and over again she was simply incredible!

And that Jae Hoon. Why did they hide him in Drama, when he should have been made anchor? If Shan Mei had not discovered his talent, who knew how long he would have been buried in Drama? Didn’t they go over the applicant’s resume properly? He realised it was because of Human Resource’s ineffectual handling of selection. Shan Mei was different. She would always put the person where his talent would be recognised, with impartiality. That was why she had said if she gave up MBS, she would take Xiang Jie with her? She didn’t want to see his talent being misused or ignored. And Michael had proved Xiang Jie had a natural knack for spotting talent. Xiang Zhe then thought he would ask Xiang Jie to select a co-anchor to team up with Jae Hoon after Shan Mei left. But first, he had to make sure Jae Hoon wanted the job. He realised Jae Hoon accepted to co-anchor temporarily because of Shan Mei. He didn’t even want to accept additional pay for doing the job. Didn’t Shan Mei once say a person accepting a job based on monetary gain would some day cause more problems by demanding more money? Such people would never be satisfied no matter how much was offered. There was no loyalty. Working with esprit de corp would be different.

It was 9 in the morning when Xiang Zhe awoke. Shan Mei was still sleeping. He let her sleep on remembering yesterday being Friday, had been a hectic day for her. He propped himself on his elbows and looked at his sleeping wife. After 4 babies, she still looked so innocent and childlike in her sleep. And her skin was so baby soft and delicate. He had always marveled at this. She had been through three pregnancies, yet there wasn’t even a stretch mark on her smooth flat tummy. Thinking of her tummy, he wanted to put his hand on it, but he stopped himself in time, realising she would stir at his touch. In fact, he had missed her so much, loving her was all he wanted to do this morning. He kept watch on her, waiting to caress those luscious lips as soon as she opened her eyes.

She stirred and moved closer to her husband. Her hand was moving around until she found Xue Zhang’s hand. She moved her face towards it. He guessed his wife was missing him, so he very quietly eased himself back onto the bed and snuggled up to her.

Later, when they left their bed and had taken their bath, they decided to visit their babies. As soon as they walked through the French windows of Father’s house, BR saw his daddy and immediately gave a loud shout which alerted the others. At once BB ran forward, then remembering his little brother BA, he went back to help him along. His little sister was crawling along very fast, until daddy came and scooped her up into his arms. Mummy came to relieve BB of BA. They went up to join daddy who was now sitting on the big sofa. Shan Mei went to the kitchen to inform the maid they would be staying for lunch. Auntie was in the garden about to bring in some freshly cut roses.

Lunch was a noisy affair. The babies hadn’t seen mummy and daddy for two days and had wondered where they had been. BB knew mummy would say ‘at work’. “Mummy, I want to see where you and Daddy work.”

“If you are good, Mummy promises to take you and BR to another work place. We will have to take an aeroplane. Will you like that?”

On hearing that, BB jumped up and down for joy. Of course the younger siblings copied what he did.

But Auntie had her reservations. “Shan Mei, if you mean Busan, do you think it’s a safe enough place for the boys? Remembering how Xiang Zhe was hurt? I wonder whether their grandpa would allow you to take them down there?”

“Any way, Auntie, it is just a thought. We don’t know when we’ll have the time to fly down to Busan, and whether Father will agree to go.”

After the children went off for their afternoon nap, Xiang Zhe rushed Shan Mei home for afternoon rest too, stating tonight was going to be another late night for her.

At home, Shan Mei asked her husband, “Darling, have you been in touch with Michael recently?”

He grinned and gave her a sly look. “Why do you ask?”

“Michael was on the phone yesterday. He sounded so pleased with the results obtained by pairing me with Jae Hoon that he is thinking of letting me continue till the end of March at MBS.”

Xiang Zhe added, “And, the biggest news from Michael is Cassie. David suspects she might be pregnant.” Shan Mei’s eyes grew big, jumped up and down on their bed, wrapped her arms around Xiang Zhe, and began planting big kisses all over him. Xiang Zhe chuckled profusely at the reaction from Shan Mei. She then became quiet.

“I so much want another baby.” Her voice sounded full of regret.

Xiang Zhe on hearing this tightened his embrace, and told her softly, “Even if we could, I won’t allow it. I almost went crazy when Dr. Kim told me during your labour with the twins that there were complications with the delivery. Please, I beg you, never put me through the same trauma again. I love my family the way and size that it now is. I am not interested to think about another baby. Right now I want to keep my wife company while she is resting.”

Shan Mei was too excited to sleep, thinking about Cassie and David. Suddenly, she propped up on an elbow, and asked her husband softly, “Husband, do you want to spend the night at the cabin? I’ve missed being there.”

Xiang Zhe gave her an indulgent smile. He had missed it too. Smoothing a stray lock of hair away from her forehead, telling her to be a good girl, he tried coaxing her to sleep. “Not tonight. Maybe another night soon when I can arrange a weekend break for you from News.”

Chapter AW-87

You Zhen’s son, Alan, would be celebrating his birthday this Friday. Friday was the busiest day for Shan Mei. Xue Zhang and she would not be able to attend. She told Ma to hold the celebration at their house so the cousins could play together. They should also stay for the weekend, since the house would be empty. In fact, Xue Zhang and she would only return Monday morning. Ma was agreeable to the suggestion. This way, they could enjoy their two sets of grandchildren.

Xiang Zhe was very pleased with the arrangement, giving him and his wife the chance to enjoy a quiet break at their cabin, without feeling guilty. Their babies would be too busy playing with their cousin to miss their parents. He quickly packed some work clothes in an overnight bag. That Friday, before they drove off to MBS, they left presents for Alan and their babies in their TV room.

This weekend, at their cabin, the Yins were blessed with mild weather. Surprisingly, the cold a few days earlier had turned warmer.

They spent the time doing everything together – things like cooking simple meals, weeding and tidying up their garden; clearing out the cabin, the bedding and the matting; taking showers; then simply lying around doing nothing in particular or simply making love.

On the Sunday night of that weekend, after they had taken their dinner, the stillness of the winter night stirred their souls. They sat on the steps to the cabin, ensconced in each other’s arms, breathing in the crispy cool air, looking at the stars dispersed far and in between across the sky. The scene before them was simply too beautiful. Xiang Zhe lifted Shan Mei’s face to look into her eyes. He saw love, bliss and unfathomable pools of passion. He bent his head to kiss her full on her lips. He coaxed her mouth open, his tongue delved in, and soon his wife was moaning for him. He kept going at it until they broke apart for air.

Shan Mei’s face was radiant with passion, and never looked more desirable. Xiang Zhe slowly got up, pulling his wife with him. They went to lie down on their heated mat under their quilt. Xiang Zhe continued with his onslaught of fiery kisses and sensual caresses. He was so aroused with desire for his wife, he had to love her now. The stars in the sky, on looking down at the entwined couple, shone bright and sweet for them.

This year’s company Christmas party was a big affair. The Junior Game club members were going to put on a Christmas pantomime to thank their sponsors, especially the three elders for their time, guidance and generosity.

Shan Mei and Jae Hoon had been invited to participate in a game devised by Xiang Jie in secret collaboration with the News production crew. JJ knew his sister would have no trouble flying through this game because Michael sometimes played this game at CTN-UK as part of CTN’s news readers’ training programme. JJ knew Zian Da always felt his sister got to where she was mostly based on luck and the backing of his elder brother. He was out to prove to him, once and for all, how wrong Zian Da had been all these years.

Many impressive trophies were displayed at the party, the biggest pair to be awarded to the winners of 9 o’clock News Test of Reflex Game. Seven other pairs of news readers were also invited, including Zian Da and his wife Yong Xi. It was like regular reading of the news with the usual script being shown on the display box. At some point, the script would disappear, but the anchors had to continue relating a story applicable to the image without obvious pause. The anchor who paused, would be eliminated. The degree of difficulty sounded high. Xiang Jie confirmed it was really a game of Reflex, Speed, General knowledge and Narration skill. Xiang Zhe was very interested. He never saw such a game being played.

First round, production crew didn’t do anything amiss. All read their news very nicely. Second round, to show how the game was actually played, Xiang Jie told production crew to play it on Shan Mei. Somewhere, during her reading, the script was lost, but she kept going. This went on for 2 more rounds. On the next round, when another newscaster was on, some script was lost somewhere. The anchor lost her plot. She was out. This went on another few rounds. When it was Zian Da’s turn, Zian Da began stammering when part of his script disappeared. He was out. Xiang Zhe was getting really excited. He was sitting on edge. Shan Mei was acting her normal natural self and so relaxed, reading her news as if nothing was amiss. After more than half an hour into the game, the anchors left were his wife, Jae Hoon, and another girl, Miss Cha, who had been with the station for about 3 years, at News Team B Anchor office. Two more rounds, and the girl faltered, making Jae Hoon and Shan Mei the winners. Senior Chairman presented the trophies.

Xiang Jie called Miss Cha back to the stage. “Miss Cha, for your good performance tonight, as from 1 January in the New Year, you will be promoted to News Team A Anchor office, and you will receive special training in news casting from Miss Zhen Shan Mei and Mr. Han Jae Hoon.” The announcement received thunderous applause from the floor.

Xiang Zhe smiled secretly to himself. This reflex game was not easy to play. Shan Mei and Jae Hoon had proved they were a class above the rest. That sister and brother team could get anything they wanted without hurting any one’s feelings. This way, the selection for the new anchor to carry on from Shan Mei was done fair and square, and out of Zian Da’s hands. Zian Da was his senior and so-called brother, he couldn’t refuse him when he recommended certain names. Xiang Zhe was so relieved the matter was taken out of his hands, and settled so openly.

The three seniors were happily discussing the reflex game they had just witnessed, and passed a lot of comments. Xiang Zhe knew they expected Shan Mei to win. That Uncle Jin was just as bad as Father. According to him, Shan Mei could do no wrong. He was gratified, telling Yin Senior not to worry. Seeing how well Xiang Zhe, Shan Mei and Xiang Jie cooperated, Wen Rong’s bright and prosperous future was assured, especially with the third generation of Yins coming along so well.

Xiang Zhe now realised where Father’s train of thinking came from, heavily influenced by Uncle Jin. Every time Shan Mei was unhappy, Father would ask him whether he had upset her. Didn’t they realise, he was the one who wanted her happiness the most?

The band struck its first chord for the evening. It was a slow number. Xiang Zhe led his wife out to the dance floor. He quietly congratulated her on her win at the reflex game, and softly laughed into her ear, recalling the way some of those anchors reacted. As soon as the band changed the tempo to a faster number, Xiang Zhe led his wife back to their table. Soon, Xiang Jie came to invite sister for a dance. Elder Brother was surprised. He didn’t know Xiang Jie could dance. It was a quick waltz and they very deftly danced around the floor in perfect step. When Xiang Jie led Shan Mei back to their table, Xiang Zhe wanted to know, “Now be honest. Tell me where and when you learned to dance like that?”

“At Brother Jae Hoon’s place. Want lessons too?” Without thinking, Xiang Zhe nodded his head.

All those years he spent in London, he never thought of taking ballroom dancing lessons. There was no one he wanted to dance with. Even if he had signed up for lessons, he would be too shy to dance with a dance instructor. Next time, Xiang Jie went to Jae Hoon's’place, he would tag along and see what they were up to. He then suspected if Xiang Jie could dance so well after some lessons, Patrick must also be expert now. Were they expecting to dance with the Sung sisters? Shan Mei enjoyed dancing, he wanted to learn, so they could dance together. May be the grand ballroom on the first floor of Father’s house could be used. If they held a private ball, for their own fun, Xiang Zhe was sure his father wouldn’t be too shy to dance with Auntie. Good, he would make an effort to learn to dance. He could practise with Shan Mei, just like the first time she taught him to dance the 4-step in its most simple form.

While Xiang Zhe was doing his musing, he wasn’t aware his wife was watching him. “What is going through this man’s mind, seeing his big eyes rolling about, secretly smiling to himself?” Shan Mei asked herself. She’d wait for him to tell her, when he was ready.

When Xiang Zhe turned around to look for his wife, he found her staring at him. He became flustered as if his secret plan had been discovered. He gave her a weak smile, and wanted to know whether she was ready to go home. They had an early flight for Busan to catch the next morning. Smiling sweetly at her husband, they locked hands, then sneaked off.

After a long, warm relaxing shower, they went to bed, cuddled up together. Out of the blue, Xiang Zhe asked his wife, “Darling, did you think Xiang Jie danced well?”

“I was surprised at how well Xiang Jie was dancing tonight. I remember a few years back, he did mention he wanted to learn how to dance like Jae Hoon. Don’t tell me you weren’t surprised by his newly found skill?”

After some hesitation, he told his wife he wanted to take dancing lessons from Jae Hoon, too. “Do you think it is a good idea?”

Taking his face between her hands and giving him a big kiss, she told him, “I think it is an excellent idea. After you have mastered the basic steps from Jae Hoon, we can always practise at home. I am sure you’ll do well with your natural grace.” His wife always made him feel so good. “I promise you I will not dance with any male dancing partner until we have had our first real dance together.”

Going over their itinerary for the next 2 days in Busan and making sure they didn’t miss out anything, they went to sleep, with their Christmas carol CD playing softly in the background. Xiang Zhe was restless and couldn’t sleep.

He sat up suddenly in grouchy mood. “It’s so unfair,” he grumbled. “You got to carry home a big trophy, I got nothing.”

“What do you mean you got nothing? You got to carry home your wife, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, but this wife is ignoring me!!!”

Shan Mei looked at her husband silently, a smile slowly playing on her lips, expecting to hear further.

“It is Christmas, aren’t you supposed to be generous with your hot cuddles? At least I’d be getting something then!” Then, he looked at his wife with sad, appealing eyes.

“You!” Shan Mei laughed and fell onto her husband’s lap. “If you aren’t careful, I’ll ask Jae Hoon to recruit your assistance in helping out with the Youth Drama Group. You’ll make a wonderful coach specializing with eyes and facial expressions!”

“Sorry, wife, already now fully occupied with four talents in my own home. Don’t tell me you still haven’t woken up to the truth? Whenever our babies look at you with their round, appealing eyes, don’t you want to surrender to their requests each time?”

By the time the Yins checked into Busan Hotel the next day, it was already 11 a.m. Mr. Pei had sent his car to collect them from the airport, and left the chauffeur-driven car for their use during their 2 days in Busan.

They went straight to the shipyard to see Roh Bin. He took them over to the building previously used as the Union offices.

After he first arrived in Busan, Roh Bin found out the children of the employees didn’t have a proper library or a quiet place to study, and had suggested to President Yin to convert the building into a library. The shipyard workers had volunteered to do up the place. In fact the worker who had thrown the bottle at President Yin was at the premises, working the hardest. He even made all the necessary shelvings to hold the books. Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei went up to thank him personally for his kind contribution. The worker was almost in tears after the Yins left the place.

Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei were impressed. The workers’ quality of finished work at the library was very good. They even landscaped the surrounding grounds to turn them into a small recreation park. Roh Bin was hopeful they could complete the renovation work by middle of next year, and wanted to know which would be a good date for official opening of the library. Shan Mei looked towards her husband for some suggestions.

“Don’t look at me like that. I simply can’t think of a date just off handedly like this.”

Shan Mei immediately suggested, “Darling, what about some time around the second week of July?” which was the time around the date of Xue Zhang’s mother’s birthday.

Xiang Zhe agreed, looking gratefully and appreciatively at her. Then he turned to Roh Bin and said, “Roh Bin, we’ll fix the exact date closer to the time when you’re sure the library will be ready for use. We’ll want to invite some people from Seoul for the opening.” Thus it was so decided.

Busan Municipality had pledged 1,000 books to start the project off. Shan Mei wanted to know whether Roh Bin had a proper place to store the books if they arrived way prior to the opening date. “Mrs. Yin, the office in the shipyard has ample storage space.”

“In that case, I’ll appeal to my sponsors for books. Just email me a list of the books you think will be useful for the children here.”

Their next stop was Roh Bin’s apartment, where granny Roh had lunch waiting for them. Granny thanked President & Mrs. Yin for their generous presents which they had sent down to Busan a few days before Christmas.

“Granny, please address us by our given names, Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei, because we want you to be our granny, too. From this Christmas Day, we’ll treat Roh Bin as our younger brother.”

Granny’s eyes became moist with tears, saying, “If I should die tomorrow, I won’t have to worry anymore. Roh Bin now has been blessed with such kind and loving brother and sister.”

After lunch, Roh Bin accompanied the Yins back to the shipyard to have meeting with the workers who initially wanted to relocate. These workers were supposed to stay till end of the year. Now President Yin would like them to stay a further 6 months. Repair jobs coming in to the shipyard were too many. “We need experienced workers to supervise the less experienced ones. Wen Rong has to ensure we deliver the quality of work we have promised our clients. In July, we’ll be back to visit the proposed new place to see how we are going to organize the new set-up to ensure the new venture will run successfully.”

A representative for the workers who had put in requests for relocation came forward and approached Shan Mei. “Mrs. Yin, I know we have put in requests to move but we are now not so sure we want to leave. Previously, we wanted to go because we were unhappy with the union leaders and the shipyard managers. Now that those people have gone, we like the new system here very much. And Roh Bin has been very good for us. He works very hard for the business, and we can see it will prosper once again if we all put in our best efforts. Roh Bin is also now getting a place for the children to study. He has made many improvements to the shipyard all through voluntary work, not even one cent of the shipyard money was spent. The Mr. Pei who came in the fancy car, donated a lot of paint and wood for the library. Now, we feel like one big community family once again. Our wives have suggested we stay behind to help at the shipyard. They will be willing to relocate to the new place to participate in the new venture instead.”

“Let’s us not worry too much at the moment. We’ll keep your suggestions in mind. As soon as things are more organized, President Yin will at that time make another announcement. Let’s concentrate on one project at a time -- the shipyard and the library.”

Xiang Zhe then asked, “Does anyone in the shipyard know the exact location of my old ancestral home?”

The grandmother of the worker who threw the bottle knew its location. She went with Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei to the ancestral house. “In fact, my deceased husband was a contemporary of President Yin’s grandfather. I used to work for your family when I was a young girl, and can tell you a lot of things about your whole family.”

Xiang Zhe was excited with this information, but he kept his cool. Now was not the time to delve into family secrets. He wanted them to be staying here before he wanted to know any secrets.

The Yins looked around the old ancestral house. The architecture was old style which Xiang Zhe found quite attractive. With a new coat of paint, the place would look interesting. He was sure Jae Hoon and Patrick, being history buffs, would love this place. The inside of the house needed extensive repair and installation of modern conveniences. He looked at his wife for some response and soon realised her mind was off somewhere else. She was interested in the open verandah situated on the top of the house. He smiled at her indulgently, knowing her mind was on stars, wind, sea breeze, sea gulls and Peter Rabbits. No need to ask, this house had met with her approval once she had that look on her face. “Shan Mei, what do you think?”

“Husband, whatever you want done to the house is okay with me, as long as you remember to keep the ID simple. Nothing fancy. In fact, if we can furnish it with some old furniture we can pick up along the way around this region, I’ll be more than happy.”

Xiang Zhe smiled to himself. He himself was thinking of retaining its old world charm by furnishing it with old furniture and Korean chests.

By the time they returned to the shipyard, it was already 7 in the evening and the pot luck dinner the workers and their families had planned for their visit was about to start, pending their arrival. Hot pots were every where. Smiling faces were every where, so different from his last visit, when he was confronted by angry looks. The seafood tasted very good. Xiang Zhe looked on with satisfaction – just the right kind of meal for a winter’s night.

The women saw Shan Mei and were excited. Shan Mei told the families gathered there, “Please forget me as being Zhen Shan Mei the television newscaster. I am the wife of one of your sons, descendants of the shipyard’s founding fathers. I am no different from anyone of you ladies here. I still have to take care of my husband, our home and our children.”

All the women present very happily toasted to that. When they served crabs, they saw Shan Mei removing crab meat from its shell for her husband. President & Mrs. Yin were so shy, so cultured, so humble and unassuming, so loving, it was very easy to welcome them with open arms as family into their midst.

Chapter AW-88

They were back at their hotel, absolutely stuffed full with delicious sea food and light local wine. Shan Mei was very happy. Even though Xue Zhang drank a lot tonight, he didn’t get headache. Was it the wine, or was it granny Roh’s soup? She must remember to let granny know, when she went with them to the beekeeping area the next day. Mr. Pei was supposed to go with them too. Uncle Park’s old uncle couldn’t make it because he had arranged to travel around southern Japan at that time with a group of his mountain-climbing buddies.

The next morning, Mr. Pei came early. They went to collect granny Roh. The car traveled up north of Busan along the coastline. The air was so fresh. Shan Mei was already in love with the area. After an hour’s drive, the car made its way uphill. Xiang Zhe had a map with him.

A local who was the guide, pointed to the area marked out in the map. “This large plot land has been left unclaimed for so long, the locals didn’t realised it belonged to some one.”

Then Xiang Zhe asked the guide, “Do you think the land is suitable for beekeeping?”

The guide scratched his head and tried to remember whether he had ever heard of honey coming from this region. “Sir, I can’t you tell for sure not being an expert, but seeing the variety of wild flowers growing around the highlands, I assume beekeeping may be possible. The main industry around this region is collecting wild pine mushrooms.”

Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei looked at one another, but kept silent, simply nodding their head in acknowledgement.

Granny Roh got out of the car, wanting to walk around the area. Testing the soil, and looking around, she confirmed, “The area would be suitable for a particular type of beekeeping. I remember when I was a young girl, I’ve tasted wild honey from this particular bee. Its medicinal properties far surpass royal bee honey. This geographical location is superb. The incline is just the right gradient with plenty of mountain water supply.”

Deeply satisfied with their findings, the party drove back to Busan along the coastal road. They stopped by some small village for its superb sea food. Shan Mei bought a few bottles of the mild local wine that Xue Zhang enjoyed so much with last night’s dinner and today’s lunch. After they dropped granny Roh back at her apartment, Mr. Pei then returned to the hotel with them.

Xiang Zhe was so grateful for his help and his time. And they had been told the paint and the wood for the library were donated by him.

“Aiya Brother Yin, it is only a small matter, after what my wife Ying Mei had done to Shan Mei. In fact, I really look forward to your plans to move to the south. We can then spend more time together. Mr. Ang is presently in Japan, otherwise he would have joined us today.”

On the plane back to Seoul, Shan Mei was very happy. Seeing the actual location of the land left to Xiang Zhe by his grandfather, has given them a better idea of what they wanted to do with it. “The area is so beautiful, I want to live there with my husband. We should give up everything in Seoul, and retire. The fresh air alone would ensure good health for Xue Zhang, not taking into account the wild honey, the wild pine mushrooms, and the crystal clear pure water. It will cost a lot of money to fully develop the area. I’ll see whether the government will be interested to help us develop the area into some kind of eco-tourism destination?” Xiang Zhe smiled at her indulgently. He was sure his wife was already busy putting her mind into overdrive.

When they arrived home, they went over to Father’s place. They had brought back from Busan air-dried seafood. They also left 2 bottles of Busan’s wine for Father. The children were just getting ready for bed, but when they heard their parents’ voices they ran out of their rooms, and right into their daddy’s arms. Mummy went to check on the twins who were already fast asleep. BB and BR pulled mummy to the sofa, and climbed over her too, wanting to know whether they brought any presents for them.

Mummy reproached them for expecting presents all the time. “What did you two do while daddy and mummy were away for you to deserve presents?”

BB immediately went to his room and brought out two paintings – one for daddy and one for mummy. Daddy was so happy, he promised, “I’ll get BB a toy tomorrow. And what about you, BR? Did you do anything special?”

He took his shoe and showed mummy he could, not only buckle his shoe without help, but he knew which correct foot the shoe was meant for. Mummy was really impressed. “Wow, so clever! Daddy will get BR a toy too, right daddy?”

Daddy nodded his head, and brought BR onto his lap and gave him several kisses. “For the time being, you can get a bit of ice cream each.” The boys then ran off to the kitchen, to point to the new tub of ice cream Uncle had gifted them for Christmas. After that, daddy and mummy helped them to the bathroom to brush their teeth, then to bed.

Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei walked from Father’s place back to their own house. It was cold, so they didn’t want to tarry outdoors but went straight indoors to the TV room. They switched on the TV to wait for MBS 9 o’clock news. Shan Mei went to the kitchen to get her husband some coffee. When she returned, Xiang Zhe drew her to rest within the warmth of his embrace, and began kissing her hair, her ears, her neck, and her cheeks. Before he reached her mouth, the news came on. Fifteen minutes into MBS news, Xiang Zhe switched to SGS news. After 10 minutes, he switched off the TV and announced it was bath time then bedtime for Miss Zhen Shan Mei.

When they were in bed under the quilt after shower, Xiang Zhe reminded Shan Mei he still had unfinished business to take care of. He cradled her face between his hands, and began kissing her slowly in a caressing way, murmuring how much he loved her.

The next evening at MBS, Shan Mei was busy preparing for the 9 o’clock news. Xiang Zhe decided to go to CTN office to see whether his brother was there. They didn’t have a chance to really talk after the Christmas party.

He sat down at Xiang Jie’s desk. He couldn’t help grinning recalling the reaction from some of the anchors at the reflex game. Looking at Xiang Jie, he asked, “What about Miss Cha?” Do you have confidence she will make the grade?”

Xiang Jie shrugged his shoulders stating as a matter of fact, at least she was better than some of the anchors currently on prime time news, and her pay was lower than the lowest wage drawn at News Team A Anchor Office. Brother Jae Hoon had promised he would stay an extra season to help Miss Cha through her first season.

Ooh, Xiang Zhe was optimistic. “What about Shan Mei helping her out after that with another season?”

Xiang Jie gave his elder brother a long, unfathomable look. “I don’t think Sister would be in the right frame of mind. I’m not even sure whether she will still be around at that time.”

Xiang Zhe returned his brother’s stare and asked him immediately, “What do you mean by that remark?”

“Have you not noticed Sister has seemed troubled somewhat for the last few weeks? Sometimes, in unguarded moments, she has on a hopeless sort of look like she is ready to give in. She never likes to complain, but I can feel deep inside of her, she is suffering and struggling. About what, I am not sure.”

Xiang Zhe became worried. “What had upset her? Where is she going? Has Michael given her another assignment somewhere?”

“Frankly, I have no idea. Recently I have noticed a stack of 4 boxes on the shelving unit behind her chair. They are marked out in the kids’ names.”

He took his brother over to Shan Mei’s office next door, and pointed to the boxes. Xiang Zhe pulled one small drawer opened. Inside were a CD, a newly bound book, and the jewelry pouch containing the butterfly lapel pin. He pulled open the drawer marked ‘BZ’. Inside were the CD and book, plus the jewelry box containing one bejeweled butterfly brooch.

Xiang Jie said, “The CD is probably a copy of the one she is always playing on her small TV screen all the time, the one given to sister by brother.” Xiang Zhe flipped through the book and recognised it as Shan Mei’s mother’s diary. They went back to Xiang Jie’s office.

“Has Sister been telling you anything lately? Something has happened?”

“I had tried making her confide in me, especially that time when we were flying back to Seoul from London, after Mother’s wedding. I did ask her whether she had ever felt unhappy, seeing she was always smiling so sweetly most of the time. ‘Yes,’ she had answered me, starting from her university days and right through MBS. She thought being accepted by MBS in the news anchor team was the gateway to her dream. Instead, many times she found the going tough, sometimes downright frustrating and tiresome. According to her, the happiest moments she had experienced were her times in England. If Michael had not found her, she was not sure what she would be doing now.

I then asked her, What about Elder Brother? Aren’t the two of you very happy together?”

“How did Shan Mei answer you?” Xiang Zhe was anxious to know.

“The time she spent with you in London was absolutely bliss but, unfortunately, too brief. If she had known you were one day going to be one of the top men of MBS, she would have avoided you. Knowing you, has brought her much happiness and blessings, but along with it a lot of sadness and suffering too.”

Xiang Jie’s face took on a puzzled look and he continued, “Brother, during my investigation into MBS newsroom politics, I found out at the studio, Zian Da was interested in Xu Ying Mei when she first came to work at MBS Editing Room. Later at MBS 20th anniversary when he found out Elder Brother was not interested in Yong Xi, he changed his target to Yong Xi, and he tried to push this Xu Ying Mei to you, even though he knew Elder Brother liked Sister. In time when Zian Da always took the side of Yong Xi and Ying Mei, even when Ying Mei had fiddled with the duty roster and insisted Shan Mei be given more duties at the radio station, Sister became very hurt, wondering how Senior Zian Da, who was supposed to be some kind of uncle to her through You Zhen’s side of the family, could do this to her. She knew it was pointless to argue her case. Senior Zian Da would again suggest she resigned if she didn’t like what duty she was assigned. He had used this line many times since the first time she didn’t want to be co-host of the existing morning show when Xu Ying Mei accused her of using her womanly wiles on Elder Brother to get the post. During her first appearance on that show, Yong Xi ridiculed her no end. Yong Xi and Ying Mei ganged up together and always played her for a fool. Much later on, when Yong Xi found out that Ying Mei herself was trying to lure Elder Brother for herself, Yong Xi stopped being nice to this Xu Ying Mei and began to treat Sister better. To me it seemed this Liu Yong Xi must always have some kind of follower behind her, to make herself feel important. Sister told me because of this, much heartache ensued. She almost lost Xue Zhang.

I also found out this Xu Ying Mei tried to make it in front of the production crew that she was close to Elder Brother. That was why elder Brother didn’t get the due respect from the production crew who wondered at the competency of their Director Yin at staff assessment, if he couldn’t tell Xu Ying Mei was only pretending to be a hard and good worker in front of him. Elder Brother even praised this Xu Ying Mei as being outstanding! They realised their Director Yin knew nothing about the real dynamics of the television business – the power of the TV viewers. The crew wouldn’t go out of their way to ensure the production would get best results, they simply did what was the minimum requirement, where Miss Xu’s shows were concerned, because they knew no matter how hard they tried, the programme could not win viewers because she was not popular with viewers. The crew couldn’t stand her. Didn’t Elder Brother see the standard automatically shot up after CTN became involved with MBS? The production teams gave Sister more than 100% of their support.

Sister also said she was afraid of Elder Brother’s tantrums from way back MBS days. Giving angry, silent treatment, he had rejected her a few times already. Sometimes, when she recalled Elder Brother telling her one time not to go to him with her personal problems, she became very withdrawn. She could never erase the bad memory of your face when you said that – the stern look and the seriousness of your voice, knowing you meant every word of it. She could approach you with other people’s problems, but when it came to her own, she simply couldn’t approach you. What was your rationale, Brother? I had always thought Sister was the love of your life? How could you be saying such stupid things to her?”

Xiang Zhe was rubbing back and forth at his forehead. He then looked at his younger brother, his eyes becoming suspiciously glisteny. He held them wide, careful not to blink when he answered his younger brother in a tone of such regret, “stupidity and insane jealousy.”

“Sister further added, now being married to Elder Brother, burdened with so many responsibilities, she wouldn’t be able to handle it if you should throw another big tantrum or rejected her again. She would rather die. All your tantrums were so baseless and senseless. Always accusing her of being nice to other men which were so unfounded, but never once thinking of her feelings when you were nice to other women!

She told me her only wish was to help MBS get good ratings, so elder Brother wouldn’t be under constant pressure. But some people at MBS didn’t like what she was doing, misunderstanding she was trying to show up their incompetence, and indiscriminately wielding her power. She should stick to CTN. If MBS was not suffering poor ratings, she wouldn’t even want to touch MBS. She was only doing it for her husband.

It is common knowledge in the studio, Zian Da likes going to nightclubs and karaoke lounges. He likes very much drinking and circulating in the company of starlets, etc. He used to ask you to go along. What happened before your marriage was none of her business. Recently, she heard Zian Da has been sneaking behind Senior Yong Xi’s back to go to karaoke lounges. Sister is afraid Zian Da will ask Elder Brother to go along. One time, I heard her say if you went fooling around like Zian Da, she would simply disappear rather than let you hurt her again. If that happened, Sister made me promised to stay by your side, to help you along with the television station and the children.

Zian Da is still suspect of sister’s talent. He thought elder brother is doting on her too much. I get the same treatment from him. I understand his thinking. MBS belongs to Elder Brother’s mother’s family. I belong to the other family so I have no business working at MBS in such a high position. For your information, I have no interest at all in working at MBS. David has asked me many times to return to CTN in London. Sister only stayed on for Elder Brother, I and Jae Hoon only stay on to support sister. In fact, Michael understands very well the politics played around MBS and he has told Jae Hoon any time he becomes fed up with MBS, CTN will take him. Jae Hoon assured Michael whether it was CTN or MBS business, he would stay where he could assist Sister.

Senior Li Qing Xi knew what Zian Da, Yong Xi were up to. If Shan Mei and I left, Zian Da would get back to be confidante of Elder Brother, and might become No. 2 in MBS, now that Uncle Enqi is no longer at MBS. He considers himself Elder brother’s best friend and Uncle Liu’s son-in-law, so he has the right to be No. 2 of MBS. And sister has claimed her hands were tied where Zian Da was concerned. She couldn’t do anything to him, otherwise he or, maybe you, would think she was seeking revenge for the injustice she had previously suffered while she was with MBS.”

After hearing all this, Xiang Zhe’s brows drew thickly together in a piercing frown. He tipped forward, clunked his elbows on the table, joined his hands in a hard knot and pressed them to his mouth, staring blankly at an empty space on the wall behind his brother. A long silence ran between the two brothers for a span of several unhurried seconds. Xiang Jie let the silence go uninterrupted, let his elder brother stare and think awhile. Finally Xiang Zhe released a heavy sigh and pushed to his feet and whispered, “I think I need to do some serious thinking on my own.”

He returned quietly to his office, much shaken by what Xiang Jie had just told him. He never knew such hurt and insecurities were still buried so deep in Shan Mei’s fragile heart. He was also at a loss in understanding Zian Da – he was the one always chiding Shan Mei for being artless and childish, hoping that Xiang Zhe, as the future heir of MBS and Wen Rong, would realize that Shan Mei was not suitable for him as a partner. Xiang Zhe’s face became very dark with anger. He also became very worried, and hated himself for his stupid actions. He knew he had hurt Shan Mei badly with his jealous tantrums. When would he ever learn? He kept hitting his forehead hard with his fists.

When he first returned from England, he relied totally on Zian Da for advice and his reports on his step uncle. Some of his advices were downright stupid. Like that time when Xu Ying Mei was hospitalised, Zian Da advised Xiang Zhe to visit her bringing fruits and flowers. Apparently the director of a big company shouldn’t be doing that. The florist should be told to deliver that kind of stuff directly to the hospital. When he heard gossiping at the office later about him being interested in Xu Ying Mei, bringing fruits and flowers personally to her in the hospital, that he realised he had been a fool. No wonder Shan Mei was so mad with him at the hospital, refusing his offer of a lift home, and stupid he had felt offended by her snub. No wonder that Xu Ying Mei started having ideas that he was interested in her. If it was Shan Mei visiting a male patient, say like Jae Hoon, and was bringing flowers and fruits, and flirting with the patient, he would most probably have strangled her.

Zian Da didn’t realise that when Xiang Zhe returned to Seoul, he returned with the intention of developing further his friendship with Shan Mei. With Shan Mei in the picture, all Zian Da’s plans were thwarted.

Obviously Shan Mei knew Zian Da very well. In fact Zian Da had already tried to get him to go to some nightclubs with some starlets, suggesting he had been married long enough, maybe he was tiring of his wife? It was time to have some fun outside of home. He had already refused Zian Da every time saying he wanted no other woman except his wife. He had also advised Zian Da not to go, in case Yong Xi found out. Xiang Zhe was not interested in clubbing and karaoke lounges. Zian Da shouldn’t use him as an excuse to step out, and he shouldn’t try to get him into trouble with Shan Mei. Xiang Jie and Shan Mei knew everything that went on in MBS. They had ears all around the building, their cronies only too eager to report to the two of them everything.

His mind was too tangled to know what to do. He decided to call Michael. He always came up with good solutions.

Michael on answering the phone and hearing Xiang Zhe’s voice sounded very excited. “Cassie has passed her first trimester and David is ecstatic. Shan Mei has planned the whole thing very well. David will reward her big time.”

Then Michael asked, “What about the new recruits?”

“They are coming along well, but I still have my doubts. Asian TV viewers still expect to see presentable good looks. We can’t just straight away change their mindset.”

Michael laughed and told Junior, “You don’t have to worry. David dotes on JJ so much, he will want to make sure JJ’s first selection test is highly successful. All you have to ensure is the recruits are getting the proper training. We understand JJ’s situation in MBS very well. In fact if David has his way, he will want JJ back in London. But JJ wants to stay back in Seoul to help Shan Mei. Junior, just relax, and leave everything to JJ. This batch will be the best ever recruits in MBS. If all 30 work out okay, MBS won’t need to recruit for at least a few years. Remember, I too have a stake in the Station.”

Xiang Zhe laughed, then asked whether Senior could do him a big favour…

Chapter AW-89

It was time to go collect Shan Mei. With guilt and a heavy heart, Xiang Zhe went into the control room to ask the crew how the news went. Thumbs up all around. Xiang Zhe patted them on their backs and thanked them for their hard work.

A short while later, Shan Mei’s head popped into the control room and thanked the production crew for their hard work before calling it a day. As she was about to go off, they told her the president was at the back of the room. Xiang Zhe was standing there, arms folded, smiling, waiting for her to notice him. She pretended not to notice him and walked off.

Xiang Zhe ran after her, uttering, “Are you trying to abandon your husband now that you are a famous MBS anchorwoman?”

She hit his arm playfully with her tiny fist at his teasing.

That night in bed he was so tempted to keep her in his warm embrace to soothe away her hurt. He wanted to tell her not to worry, he would never go off again with Zian Da to nightclubs or karaoke lounges, he would never again throw jealous tantrum, he would never again heed stupid advice, but he kept quiet. He didn’t want her to ever hide her hurts again, and not continue to confide in Xiang Jie. Instead, all he did was snuggled up to her and murmured into her ear that he loved her so much and so deep, she must believe him!

He hoped to resolve everything soon, with Michael’s help.

By the middle of January, Xiang Zhe and Michael had already put into place a contract for a CEO for Wen Rong. Xiang Zhe immediately ran to father’s place wanting to let Shan Mei know about this. She was feeding the twins. BB was just back from playschool and was making a racket with his younger brother BR. The boys wanted daddy to feed them too, the way mummy was feeding the twins.

“Sorry boys. Daddy is very busy now. I am in a hurry to get mummy home. We’ll be back later.” They then left everything with nanny and the maid.

Shan Mei wondered what was so important that she couldn’t stay to finish feeding the babies?

Xiang Zhe showed Shan Mei the contract. Her eyes grew big, so many questions going through her mind. He caught her up in his arms and gave her a deep kiss.

She broke away. “Did I read correctly? Michael’s cousin, Dr. Philip McKenzie is coming for 3 years to help Xue Zhang out at Wen Rong?”

He laughed and nodded his head. “I want to take 3 years off, to specially devote this time to my precious wife and children.”

Shan Mei was laughing and crying at the same time. She hugged on tight to her husband, kissing him all over his face, thanking him for his understanding, telling him how much she wanted this time alone with him. She sobbed and sobbed into his chest. Her husband let her, if it meant releasing all the secret hurt in her heart.

“We were so lucky. Dr. McKenzie just had finished a 3-year term with one of his family’s subsidiary companies in Italy, and was going to join CTN-US, when Michael suggested he come to Seoul to help out Shan Mei’s husband. Shan Mei, are you acquainted with this Dr. McKenzie?”

She nodded her head, saying, “Philip’s girlfriend, Polly, is one of my bestie-best friends in London.”

She was so happy. “We’ll have to go house-hunting for him at once, since he will be arriving at the end of the month.”

“No need. Michael has told me it will be more convenient for Dr. McKenzie to stay with us, and this McKenzie has agreed.”

Shan Mei thought, “Maybe we can ask Xiang Jie to let Philip use his apartment? If this is the case, we’ll need to only change the beds. Philip is a giant at 6’ 6” tall.” Xiang Zhe laughed at that.

At the MBS canteen that evening, he caught Shan Mei smiling secretly to herself several times. Xiang Zhe was very pleased and relieved he was able to make his wife so happy. The other time he remembered her eyes speaking so eloquently was when he took her the first time to their cabin.

Xiang Jie on hearing the good news was prepared to give Dr. McKenzie anything just as long as his sister was happy. He was also pleased his brother took such quick action from his tip-off.

The weekend Dr. McKenzie arrived, Xiang Zhe together with Patrick and Xiang Jie was at the airport to meet him. After the initial introductions were made, Dr, McKenzie turned to JJ, saying, “I just can’t believe how much you have grown.”

As soon as Philip walked through the front door of the Yin family home, he saw Shan Mei and called out to her, stretching out his arms to ‘little Sami’.

Shan Mei ran to him, tearfully repeating his name, “Philip, Philip, thank you so much for coming.”

Philip lifted her up in his tight embrace, giving her swift kisses on both her cheeks. Putting her back on the ground, he looked at her from a distance. “Well, you haven’t grown any taller, but you’ve grown prettier.”

Shan Mei ran back to Xiang Zhe’s side, putting her arm around his waist. “This is the man who used to make me cry. You’re not to smash him like you had threatened. You’re to help him run the company properly. Understand?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Philip answered very solemnly and he tweaked her nose playfully. He turned around and asked, “Where are the babies? I have been told by Cassie and David that they are the most heavenly angels they have ever seen.”

Actually, the babies were nearby. They were hiding behind the sofa, stealing occasional glances at the tall stranger. They had never seen anyone so big and with red hair, to boot. BB and BR thought he looked like some giant in grandma’s story books. Daddy and mummy carried them over and introduced them to Uncle Philip. They were squirming in their parent’s arms, wanting to get away from ‘the giant,’ until Philip asked, “Which one is Auntie Cassie’s special friend?”

They both answered, “We are.”

“Well, I am the postman from Auntie Cassie who has asked me to deliver presents for you.”

The boys squealed with delight.

“But first, you have got to give Mr. Postman a kiss for his efforts.” Philip had no trouble carrying one baby in each arm. Philip brought them to one of his smaller cases. He opened it and asked them to look for their presents. They appealed to their parents for help.

Mummy had instilled in them never to go take presents, it was very impolite. They must wait to be given. They stood there holding on to daddy and mummy’s hands and waited. Philip was impressed and felt so loving towards them. He brought out several teddy bears, one dressed with girly dress, and several famous English car models: London taxi, London red double-decker bus, Aston Martin, Rolls Royce, Bentley, Jaguar, MG and mini cooper. “In fact, Uncle David has sent under separate flight 4 toy models of the cars that can be driven around the garden.”

The boys looked at daddy. Daddy nodded his head, but reminded them, “Don’t be greedy. Before you choose your toy, go give Uncle Philip a ‘thank you’ kiss.”

After the boys did as they were told, they went to the teddies. The elder recommended to the younger which one to pick. They went up to Philip, gave him a kiss followed by ‘thank you’. They took their teddies and ran to the sofa and started playing with them.

“Such beautiful children! No wonder my cousins were enamoured with them,” Philip thought.

The children came back to Philip, pointing to the teddies. BB took one, BR took the teddy with girly clothes, then led Philip quietly into the nursery, showing him their baby sister and brother sleeping in their cots. They left the teddies on the chairs beside the cots. Philip was so enchanted with the children, he carried them in his big arms, and they went up to the apartment while Patrick, Xiang Jie and Xiang Zhe took Philip’s luggage and followed after them. As soon as Philip let them down on the floor, they ran around the room and climbed onto the sofa.

Xiang Zhe showed Philip around the apartment. If there was anything else he needed, simply make a note and his secretary would get it for him. On the ground floor, they had shown him the two separate entrances to the apartment. “If you don’t want to be disturbed, you simply switch on the red light. The maid won’t enter through the connecting door.”

Philip was very pleased with the arrangement. Xiang Zhe told him to rest a while. “We’ll go for dinner at 6 p.m.”

When Polly arrived 10 days after Philip in Seoul, Xiang Zhe and Philip were at the airport to collect her. She wanted to know where Sami was. Philip assured her Sami was home making sumptuous sushi rolls for her. At home, as soon as she saw Sami, she was so surprised. Sami had grown so beautiful.

“How come?” Polly wanted to know.

Shan Mei told her, “In my husband’s eyes I am beautiful, so I become beautiful.”

Polly turned around to Philip and asked him, “Hey, start looking at me thinking I’m slim, so I can be slimmer.”

Philip hugged her around her waist, giving her a kiss at her nape, confirming he loved her the way she was. In fact, Polly matched Philip well. Polly was just as tall as Xiang Zhe. Xiang Zhe smiled secretly inside himself. Wasn’t he always convincing Shan Mei he loved her the way she was? So, love was a universal language instinctively understood by all lovers!

At this year’s Annual Award Ceremony, Xiang Zhe told his wife, “Wear the revealing Mr. V’s design in lace and leather.”

“Are you sure it won’t bother you when people start gawking?”

“I don’t care what people will think. I want my Shan Mei to look beautiful and be happy. The slim diamond choker I gave you after BR’s birth should match the outfit perfectly. If there is also an award for most gorgeous outfit, my Shan Mei will surely win that as well.” In fact, his mind was going to next year’s award ceremony.

Madam Kim had suggested next year Shan Mei wear hanbok to break away from the trend. She would come up with an updated version of hanbok guaranteed to make sure Shan Mei stole the show again. On hearing this, Shan Mei became excited, telling Madam Kim next year MBS would be celebrating its 31st year, and she wondered whether Madam Kim could arrange a special style for hanbok. She had a scroll painting design she wanted embroidered on the gauze fabric. Madam Kim to come up with design to make the embroidery stand out.

“No problem, I can arrange for that. Simply give me a photo of the painting.”

A few days after that meeting, Shan Mei asked You Zhen Ge to take photo of Mother’s scroll painting in as fine a close up as possible so Madam Kim could arrange for embroidery.

Looking at the radiant look on Shan Mei’s face and the photo, Madam Kim wanted to make the hanbok design the best. She used to dress Xiang Zhe’s mother when she was alive.

Madam Kim, like the others, had expected Xiang Zhe to marry Yong Xi because it was supposed to be expected by their families. The first time Xiang Zhe brought Shan Mei into her shop, she was surprised. Later she understood. Xiang Zhe had refused engagement to Yong Xi while still in London. After that he stayed away from Seoul hoping the Liu family would get the hint, but the Liu family still gave the impression that Xiang Zhe would be marrying Yong Xi after he returned from Cambridge.

After Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei’s marriage, Madam Kim took the beautiful girl under her wings and hoped to make her stand out among Seoul’s socialites. Madam Kim always arranged secretly one of a kind creation for Shan Mei, so no one could outshine her. Even when Xiang Zhe came into her boutique Men’s section for his own purchases, she would never divulge to him what she was getting for his wife, wanting to surprise him too. When the couple visited her boutique together, she could see how they adored one another. If only Madam Yin was still alive, she would have been so proud of Xiang Zhe’s choice for wife.

When Madam Kim showed them the colour layering she had in mind for the hanbok to highlight the embroidery, both Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei were impressed. On the way home in the car, Xiang Zhe was grinning, saying his wife would be the most beautiful one again next year!

This was the first time Philip and Polly had been to an Asian organised event. Polly was very interested, because she ran a public relations and event management company in London. This year’s CTN entourage consisted of guests from Australia as well. CTN carried off so many awards, the visitors were left gasping. 2STAC as usual took 5 awards. CTN and MBS shared the Critics’ Choice with Private Eye. The Australian guests wanted to visit the studio while 2STAC was on. Polly was invited to drop by. Xiang Jie also shared the most popular TV Personality award with Shan Mei. You Zhen also won several awards with his continuing documentary “Legends” and his travel documentary “Mission Impossible” showing out-of-the- ordinary destinations. The grand prize of Sponsors’ Choice was again won by Shan Mei. Her husband accompanied her up to the stage to collect her grand prize. Xiang Zhe wore a white dinner jacket with black trousers to match his wife’s white and black gown. They looked simply stunning. Polly’s eyes misted, seeing the beautiful and loving couple up on stage. When little Sami was in London, they shared a lot of their secrets, so she knew what she had gone through.

Philip laughed. No wonder David only crunched numbers whenever it was award ceremony time. He didn’t understand what game the two brothers played, but now he did.

At the CTN/MBS celebratory party, Xiang Zhe was so happy going around the room with his wife thanking their friends, supporters and sponsors. And Brother Sung was there with his family.

“Brother Yin, I want to know when I can have my godson stay over the weekend with me again.”

Xiang Zhe replied, “We are planning a holiday and hope you can join us then. After a few days together, may be we would dare leave BR with you overnight. Before then, we are worried BR will cry for his elder brother during the night, knowing how close they are.”

The music came on. Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei were sitting down for a drink, when Xiang Jie came over to invite his sister for a dance.

She told him, “You go harass some other girl. I want to keep my husband company.”

Xiang Zhe and his brother exchanged glances. Music for the Viennese waltz soon came on. Xiang Zhe stood up and pulled Shan Mei into his arms, and began to swirl her around the ballroom.

She was so surprised she stumbled at the first few steps. Soon she was smiling away as her husband led her around the floor. She looked at Xue Zhang. He was grinning broadly and seemed to be enjoying himself thoroughly. They were exhausted when they went back to their table. He arched a brow at her. She gave him a swift kiss, telling him, “You were perfect. Other dances?”

“Not yet. This is the only one I’ve mastered so far. But Xiang Jie has already arranged with the band to strike up music for the Viennese waltz every half hour or so. I was very nervous at first, but after two twirls around the room, I began to enjoy myself.”

Xiang Jie appeared again. This time he got his dance with sister.

Xiang Zhe then looked around for Patrick to see whom he was dancing with. Sure enough, he was dancing with the younger Sung sister. Xiang Zhe smiled to himself.

As Xiang Zhe sipped his champagne, he surveyed the floor. His wife was moving around the room so gracefully, and her gown stood out the most. No one could miss her. He was so proud. She really had a natural regal air about her. Every one seemed to be having fun. He saw Yong Xi sitting by herself; Zian Da had just gone off dancing with a girl. Xiang Zhe went over to Yong Xi. Sitting down, he ordered a drink for her from a passing waiter. He asked, “Yong Xi, are you feeling alright? You look tired.”

“It’s my daughter. She is down with mumps a week ago, and I had a rough time getting her to take her medication. She didn’t want her nanny at all. It was so tiring.”

“What about Zian Da? Didn’t he help?”

“Apart from PIR, he said P.R. department has been very busy these past weeks.”

Xiang Zhe became thoughtful, then he told Yong Xi, “Alright, I’ll ask Zian Da to take 3 days off work to help you at home.” Yong Xi smiled at him gratefully.

“Oops,” he apologised to Yong Xi. “I’ve to make a quick move. I am going to invite my wife for another dance before some one else whisks her away.”

When the Yins had had enough and were back at their table, Xiang Zhe told his wife, “Frankly, I prefer the slow, slow numbers where I only have to shuffle my feet about a bit. This way I can hold my wife close in my arms.”

Just then Brother Sung came over to their table. Xiang Zhe told Shan Mei to go have a dance with him. He then went looking for Zian Da. “Zian Da, shouldn’t you be taking Yong Xi home? She looks tired and restless. And you shouldn’t use the P.R. department as an excuse to stay out late. I have already told Yong Xi I’ve approved a 3-day leave for you, to help her with your daughter.” Zian Da looked sheepish then slunk off quietly.

Xiang Zhe thought to himself, “Times have changed, people should change too. Yong Xi and Zian Da used to be quite loving and worked well at MBS together or so I’ve thought.” It was almost 11 years since he returned from London to join MBS. He too had changed his management style to suit new business strategies and new shareholders’ expectations, so why shouldn’t Yong Xi and Zian Da change their working styles. Even though Yong Xi considered herself the star of news department, and Zian Da was trainees’ team leader, they had to keep upgrading themselves otherwise they would be left behind, as the younger ones moved up the ranks. Nowadays, promotion was based on talent and acceptance by viewers, not based on length of employment with the company. MBS was not a government agency where length of employment mattered. MBS was a television station where its livelihood depended on sponsorship deals, and sponsors would only part with their money to stations with the highest viewership rating, or to a programme popular with viewers. It had taken himself quite a few years to learn and apply this equation – try every possible avenue to attract viewers to MBS. Shouldn’t Zian Da and Yong Xi apply to the station for refresher courses?

Or may be Yong Xi was too dominating at home? Zian Da had to sometimes seek release somewhere outside of the home? Xiang Zhe didn’t know how to advise Zian Da. If he had not met Shan Mei, Xiang Zhe didn’t dare dwell on what would have become of himself too? He used to be afraid of becoming too close to anybody. When he first met Shan Mei, whenever she cried, he knew how to dote on her like a father. Sometimes, when she started acting like a woman, and needed comforting, he didn’t know how to go about it, except giving her pats on her shoulders. To him, human relationships were really complicated affairs.

Zian Da, while driving Yong Xi home, discussed with her the current MBS situation as he saw it. “Since Shan Mei and that Han Jae Hoon took over prime time News and have won in News rating war, Xiang Zhe only sought advice and assistance from that Michael Dutton of CTN. Even though Xiang Zhe didn’t voice it, it seems now he is not impressed with our previous training style. According to Xiang Zhe, Training is expensive, yet we haven’t produced any broadcasters of any impressionable calibre. He complained that we couldn’t even recognise the talent of one of MBS’ best, Shan Mei.”

In fact, unbeknown to Zian Da and Yong Xi, Xiang Zhe had retrieved from the archives, their evaluation reports of Shan Mei. For work on TV side, they didn’t rate her highly in several categories except that she was a helpful member of the staff, and recommended she be sent to do more radio work at the radio station. They even had the gall to say that Shan Mei never had much to contribute regarding ways to improve a show. At the radio broadcasting station, the station controller evaluated Shan Mei very highly for her news reading and Musical Postcard programmes and excellent research, hard work and team cooperation and cheerful disposition.

“It now seems there is no chance for me to be 2nd in command at MBS with Xiang Jie so capable and popular with the press.”

Yong Xi added some comments of her own. “With so many new trainees of such high standard becoming available, I am a little bit worried about my own position too. It has dawned on me that I am no longer reading the 9 o’clock News, and only slated for 7 p.m. News. That reflex game they played at last year’s company Christmas party really made us lose face.”

Zian Da and Yong Xi were angry wondering how that Xiang Jie could come up with such a silly game. “But didn’t Shan Mei and that Jae Hoon do perfectly. And that Miss Cha could follow the plot. What kind of people are they, that they were able to play such stupid games? Our only chance for some of the top jobs at MBS would be if Shan Mei and Xiang Jie are no longer at the station.”

Husband and wife looked at one another, a malicious smirk playing on Yong Xi’s mouth.

Xiang Zhe looked around the ballroom. It was too crowded and difficult for him to spot where Polly and Philip were. When he finally found them, he went over to Philip and Polly telling them Shan Mei was tired and wanted to go home. “But you two should stay and continue to have fun. You can go home with Patrick and JJ later.”

In actual fact, Xiang Zhe was dying to go home, so they could have their Award night ritual. He was not at all keen on the ballroom stuff. He wanted to hold his wife snugly in his arms, moving slowly cheek-to-cheek to some romantic songs. He caught Shan Mei’s eyes across the ballroom, silently indicating that he wanted to go home. She smiled back sweetly at him in acknowledgement.

Chapter AW-90

The Australian sponsors who were part of the CTN entourage that attended the Award Ceremony, enjoyed visiting MBS studio and the 2STAC show. The show in Seoul was sponsored by British and American sponsors. They wondered whether Shan Mei could come up with a show that they could sponsor too in Seoul. They could group together a few Australian sponsors. When they returned to Sydney, they would see which products were already selling in Korea or which products could be introduced into Korea. On this they would liaise with their Australian Trade Ministry in earnest on their return to Sydney.

For the time being, Xiang Zhe had arranged a meeting with the Ministers of Korean Cultural Affairs and the Korean Tourism Ministry for the visiting Australians. When Xiang Zhe returned from Sydney after he completed his commitment with the Sydney 2STAC, Michael had told him the Australian sponsors were interested in holding some kind of Korean Cultural festival in Sydney due to the immense interest in all things Korean generated by Shan Mei and Patrick during their co-hosting duties in Sydney.

At the meeting the next morning with the Cultural Affairs people, it was agreed that a Korean festival would be held in Sydney in two years’ time. Right now, their calendar was already fully booked by six countries wanting to hold Korean cultural festivals. For the festival to be held in Sydney, MBS would be responsible for part of the entertainment section; all the other arrangements of the festival to be coordinated between both the countries’ respective Cultural Affairs and Tourism Ministries.

The same weekend, Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei took Philip and Polly down to Busan to visit the shipyard. Xiang Zhe explained the shipyard was the roots of the Wen Rong Group. To get it back on its track, Xiang Zhe had made it the No. 1 department in the Wen Rong Group. He wanted Philip to see how the group structure could be arranged, to ensure the shipyard could be No. 1. Roh Bin was their man in Busan.

He also showed them the library that was planned as a community service for the youth living around the shipyard. Xiang Zhe told Philip, “Mr. Sung whom you met at last week’s party is a strong supporter of Shan Mei. The Bansung Group has donated all 10 computers to the library plus all related software and online services. Mr. Sung himself has personally donated 1,000 books.”

Polly, on hearing this, was interested. “I too can get many corporations on my books to pledge either books or cash to library.”

After the visit to the library, they went to Roh Bin’s place for lunch. Roh Bin was recently given a spacious 3-bedroom apartment. Since the entire Yin family was taking soups made from Granny Roh’s recipes, Xiang Zhe had told her to use the smaller apartment to dry and store her dried herbs. They explained the situation to Philip over an enjoyable lunch.

When they sat down to enjoy granny’s tea, one look at Philip’s hand’s and tongue, granny diagnosed Philip also suffered from headache, quite similar to President Yin’s, and he had trouble sleeping soundly.

Philip was stunned, and wanted to know more.

Granny told him, “It’s advisable to avoid too much root vegetable.”

Both Polly and Philip found that comment so funny and began to laugh very loudly. Still doubled-upped with laughter, Polly explained, “His favourite is potato. That is why he has no trouble with his Korean food. He simply loves your potato salad kimchi.”

When granny understood their meaning, she further advised, “No problem. I’ll prepare some herbs, for him to brew once a week as tea to drink all day. After 3 – 4 weeks, the headaches should subside and his sleep pattern improved. Shan Mei, tell him he must remember to try to cut down his intake of root vegetables.”

Polly was intrigued with all the dried leaves, flowers and twigs she saw being packed. She too wanted granny Roh to take a look at her.

After looking, feeling and prodding Polly here and there, with Shan Mei standing by as an interpreter, granny said Polly’s had a more complicated matter of hormonal imbalance. “Do you suffer from menstrual cramps?”

Polly nodded her head emphatically. “Not just cramps, but the flow can be heavy at times.”

Granny wagged a knowing finger at Philip and Polly. “With Mister’s problem and Miss’s imbalance, they will have problems conceiving.”

Philip and Polly exchanged furtive looks.

“I’ll prepare some herbs for Miss. The soup should be drunk about 2-3 days before menstruation period. The problem should hopefully be corrected by the 6th pack, and also Miss would lose some weight automatically.”

Philip and Polly were highly excited with the whole idea of Chinese herbal remedies and while they were enjoying tea and talking about Busan with Shan Mei and Xiang Zhe, granny went to pack up the herbs.

Philip said seriously to Polly, “I want you to get prognosis from your doctor as soon as you arrive home, then keep a written record of what happened after you have taken the herbal soup each time.”

Philip explained, “You see Junior, I have been diagnosed with migraine for years, but there seemed to be no medication to ease the pain. If what granny has just prescribed for me and Polly really works, I want to set up a factory in Busan just manufacturing the two types of medication in tablet form. Junior, how do you feel about the whole idea? It will be our own private enterprise. You in charge of manufacturing, and I will use my family business to provide the marketing expertise. Currently, my family’s pharmaceutical products are sold all over the world. To set up a factory of manageable size, concentrate only on 2 products. This will be fantastic.”

Xiang Zhe smiled, and said cautiously, “It can be an interesting venture.”

“Of course, it can be interesting. We are almost like family. The Korean party will hold the manufacturing licence. We, on our side, will be responsible for getting all the necessary medication approval from the proper authorities worldwide and hold the exclusive marketing rights.”

Polly and Shan Mei hugged one another and danced around the small apartment merrily. The girls had been best friends since Shan Mei’s London days; it was time for Philip to accept Xiang Zhe as his best friend too.

Philip looked at Junior, and smiled. “Don’t worry a thing. I’ll make it my business to make sure the future of Wen Rong Group shines bright. All you have to do for the time being is to keep little Sami happy and to investigate the herbal cures.”

Sitting quietly in his home office, Xiang Zhe let off a sigh. He thought with Philip taking care of Wen Rong, he would have more time to spend with his wife. He did have time; it was his wife who was busy most of the time. It would seem for his birthday this year, all romantic plans had to be shelved, with Shan Mei being anchor for the 9 o’clock news every night. His birthday present was assured, with the news ratings hovering between 15 – 18% ahead of SGS. He had been walking around the station with a permanent grin on his face, since his wife took over the news desk.

On the morning of his birthday, Xiang Zhe decided to surprise his wife by making breakfast. When he went up to their bedroom, she was still asleep.

He became worried when it was almost 10 and Shan Mei was still in bed. Didn’t she promise him a date today? He used her ‘wake-up’ tactic, that was, light kisses and gentle strokes on the back. Soon Shan Mei stirred.

After breakfast, Xiang Zhe asked his wife, “What do you feel like doing this morning?”

Shan Mei wanted to go to a park near Yoido overlooking the Han River. They rented bicycles and rode all over the park. After that Shan Mei took her husband to a cinema nearby. Xiang Zhe had never been to a cinema. Even though he was a movie buff, he only watched home videos because he didn’t have any friends he wanted to watch movies with at a cinema. Because it was the early show, the cinema auditorium was almost empty of people. They enjoyed popcorn and snacks while watching the movie on the big screen. Xiang Zhe enjoyed the experience very much. Shan Mei had bought tickets for the special double-seater. Some time during the movie, Shan Mei turned to her husband and whispered very softly into his ear, “Happy birthday, my darling husband.”

Xiang Zhe felt so happy and tickled; he never expected them to be whispering to each other in such darkness and closeness, in such a public place. After a while, they were not interested in the movie. They were carrying on like two love-struck teenagers, talking in whispers, giggling softly and cuddling in the darkness.

Jae Hoon and Shan Mei were nearing the end of their training for Miss Cha. Shan Mei asked Jae Hoon to take Miss Cha for a make-over at the stylist he took Roh Bin to at one time, then later to Armani to outfit her. She had struck a deal with Armani. “Jae Hoon, may be while you are at your stylist, you can discuss with him whether his team would be interested in providing support services for image makeover for the 30 new recruits from our current batch? The image consultant will be coming over from Tokyo. Mr. Masuda will need to work with a local technical team.”

Xiang Jie wanted to put Miss Cha on prime time news on 28 March, before she would officially be placed in the hot seat on 1 April. Senior Chairman, Uncle Jin, Yin Xiang Zhe, News Department controller, Programmes Department controller, Li Qing Xi and Liu Yong Xi were invited to a test run preview on 26th. Preview only through individual TV screens. This method was new to the others. They were used to viewing from a big screen.

During the test run, Jae Hoon and Miss Cha went through the news for 15 minutes. After a short break, they came back on for another 15 minutes.

Uncle Jin made the first comment. “I remember at last year’s Christmas party, the emcee said Miss Cha had been with News Team B Anchor Office for 3 years. After training by Mr. Han and Miss Zhen, it seems Miss Cha has potential to be one of the top news presenters for MBS. If Mr. Yin Xiang Jie didn’t find Miss Cha, does that mean she would have been left in B News office? The person or persons currently making the selection assessment, should be assessed, for failing to carry out his or their duties properly.”

On hearing this, Xiang Zhe hid a secret smile behind his hand. He had been pleasantly surprised. At the Christmas party, Miss Cha didn’t look anything like she did now. It must be those three ‘partners-in-crime’ at work again. Xiang Zhe mused, “Their image consultant is not bad. Miss Cha does look completely different and presentable in a naturally fresh and confident way.”

Uncle Jin pronounced the exercise 100 percent successful. “I look forward to seeing Miss Cha on Prime Time news beginning 1 April.”

Xiang Jie looked around and asked for other comments. When no one volunteered to comment, he asked, “What about you Senior Li Qing Xi?”

“I feel the same as Mr. Jin Jun Hao.”

“What about Mr. President? How do you feel?”

Xiang Zhe simply smiled at his brother, and gave the thumbs up.

“Any other comments? Come on, don’t tell me the rest of you have been sleeping throughout the test run?”

Programmes Controller then asked, “I wonder whether Miss Cha can be loaned to our department sometimes to host some shows. I am very impressed. While I was watching Miss Cha, I can see Miss Zhen’s influences in several areas of her presentation. And no one can dispute Miss Zhen is such a great programme host.”

Xiang Jie thanked him for his valuable input. “And since there seems to be no other comments forthcoming, I want to thank our guests for their valuable time and inputs. You are all invited to the CTN Executive Dining Room for afternoon tea.”

Uncle Jin laughed jovially, saying, “Xiang Jie, I’ve been waiting for this opportunity a long time, having heard from your father how good the food is at CTN dining room.”

Xiang Zhe led the way. Master Chef and his staff had already set out the table for afternoon tea. While tea was being served, Xiang Zhe breathed a sigh of relief. No wonder Michael had told him not to worry. As long as the training department was doing their job properly, JJ and Shan Mei would take care of the rest.

Uncle Jin kept praising the food. Xiang Jie brought Master Chef out and introduced him to Uncle Jin.

Uncle Jin commended him on his menu planning and quality of preparation. “No wonder Shan Mei is always giving you meritorious awards. You rightfully deserve them all.”

Yong Xi, News Department Controller and Zian Da didn’t join the guests at CTN Dining Room for tea. Instead, the three of them went for drinks at their usual watering hole. Now that they were in private, Yong Xi and the Controller admitted they were really impressed. “After a make-over, Miss Cha does look impressive. And her presentation was very smooth.”

The News Controller berated himself, “I must have been blind for not noticing her talent earlier. Now, we’d better concentrate on training the new batch of recruits properly. If Shan Mei is not satisfied, and decides to take over training herself, and if the recruits turn out good like Miss Cha, we ourselves will have to be assessed, or maybe get the sack. I simply can’t afford that. It will not be easy for us to get another job like our MBS jobs. People in the industry will surely know we got sacked because we were remiss in handling our duties. Also our record for Prime time news has not been good. Since Shan Mei took over as anchor when they changed everything, Prime time news shot to No. 1. I also know the contracts for many of the present anchors will not be renewed.”

Yong Xi was surprised and immediately asked, “Do you know who they are?”

“No idea, because Xiang Jie only asked for a list of ALL anchors and their performance track records. Anyway, I have the feeling the next department that will be getting the pressure will be Scripting. Xiang Jie has on several occasions hinted he is not happy with their work. According to him, the script writers were getting paid top rates but they were handing in substandard work. Because of his P.E. programme, he has become very friendly with government department heads, and has been given advice on his employer rights. Shan Mei and Xiang Jie are so high profile personalities, no one will want to employ any one sacked by them for poor quality work. My friend over at Wen Rong has told me that the Englishman they have just hired as CEO to take over the President’s duties runs a very tight ship too. The board of directors is very happy with this man. He comes with doctorate degrees from Cambridge, Oxford and Harvard. It is rumoured that the president, Mr. Yin Xiang Zhe, is taking 3 years off work to spend time with his family.”

Zian Da looked surprised. He had heard, as early as January, that Xiang Zhe was going to take time off from work but he thought they were simply rumours. “If Xiang Zhe is taking 3 years off work, this will mean that Shan Mei will be off too. I wonder who will be running the MBS ship?”

News Controller made some obvious comments. “With the new team, MBS is in better shape than ever. Xiang Zhe may be very experienced in finances and management but he only has some idea of programme content. If something didn’t work out, he used to want us to come up with solutions and always became angry and frustrated when the solutions proposed didn’t meet with his expectations. This new team is different. They are highly creative. They have all the right solutions and only want good cooperation to put their ideas into action. I think I’d better return to the office now to check on this evening’s news segment.” Before he left, he advised Zian Da to put more effort and concentration into training of the new batch of recruits. “If the new recruits don’t work out, even your father-in-law cannot save you. Now that the BOD has tasted success in the News department and the share price has gone up again, that CTN English director who has some shares in MBS will be the one calling all the shots.”

After seeing Father and Uncle Jin to the MBS main lobby and into Father’s car, Xiang Zhe decided to go visit his wife at her office. As soon as he saw her, he gave her his sweet smile. She smiled back at him, inviting him to please take a seat. She was almost finished with her work. Xiang Zhe stole a glance at her shelving unit. The stack of 4 boxes was still there.

Shan Mei then switched off her CD player. She buzzed her secretary to please bring 2 cups of coffee to her private reception room. Taking Xue Zhang’s hand, she led him to her private reception room.

After Xiang Zhe sat down on the sofa, he shook his head and laughingly chided, “you and your brothers.”

“Good?” his wife asked.

“The best part was when Programmes Controller wanted to know whether he could borrow Miss Cha to host some of his shows. That was a real slap in the face for the News controller.”

Shan Mei laughingly said, “This is just a sampler to show the department heads what Xiang Jie can do. If they want to stay, they better cooperate nicely with him. If not, they can leave. With the new batch of recruits, if the training department doesn’t put 100% effort into the training, the whole exercise will be wasted. The production crew has told us that Zian Da always complained to them the girls didn’t have the looks, how could they make it? Xue Zhang, I want to pull Zian Da out of training for this batch of recruits and replace him with Senior Li Qing Xi. Going this way, Senior Yong Xi will know we mean business and put her 100% effort into training. With this afternoon’s preview, she should realise Miss Cha will most probably be performing better than her in a very short while. But Zian Da is Xue Zhang’s senior, your brother and your best friend. Before we do anything drastic we have to seek your approval. We don’t want to create bad feelings.”

Xiang Zhe believed his wife was fair and would not do anything out of revenge. He looked at his wife. Because she could do the presentation, she could host, she could train, she had loads of concepts, she could garner support from sponsors, she was not afraid to take the hard line. Not like him before, when he was afraid he would lose this talent or that talent to his step uncle. That time, MBS was divided into a few camps, each one vying for power control, which Xiang Zhe could now see was very bad for the station. Everything was decided for all the wrong reasons. This time, there was only one common aim, to ensure MBS became the leading local television and broadcasting station in Seoul. Shan Mei was managing it like a little CTN-KE operation. After work, Patrick, You Zhen and Xiang Jie usually met up in Jae’s Hoon’s place for braining storming sessions. These sessions provided many ideas and solutions.

Just then, a phone call from a sponsor came through for Shan Mei, so she went to her office to take the call and left Xiang Zhe in her private reception room to finish off his coffee.

While he was alone, Xiang Zhe had thought Zian Da was always loyal to him. He was so wrong. Zian Da was only loyal to himself. If he was such a good friend, he wouldn’t discourage his friendship with Shan Mei, knowing well enough Shan Mei was the first girl he had ever indicated an interest in. Instead, he tried to sabotage it. He tried to push Xu Ying Mei who was intimate girl friend of Kim You Zhen on to him. Worse, he didn’t even vet carefully the background of this Xu Ying Mei when he pushed her to him. What did he think Xiang Zhe was? So hard up for a girlfriend or wife that he would accept just anybody? There were plenty of ambitious high society mamas eager to introduce their daughters, with impeccable backgrounds, to him. If Xiang Zhe was so easy, he would have settled for Yong Xi long time ago, to avoid harassment from his mother and from Yong Xi’s family.

Now, things at MBS were looking up, they had never enjoyed such high profile and popularity and fantastic ratings. Since selection of the new recruits was Xiang Jie’s project, they had to make sure it would not fail.

When Shan Mei returned 20 minutes later, Xiang Zhe told her, “You pull Zian Da out by all means. I will have a talk with him tomorrow. Only one thing needs clarification. YOU, and not any one else, is my best friend. Do you understand?” Shan Mei smiled and thanked her husband for his kind understanding.

Shan Mei gave Xue Zhang’s hand a squeeze and a meaningful look. A few more nights with news, and she would be free. “How is Philip coming along? Did he complain about his tea? Polly tasted her soup, and complained it tasted so vile. Luckily she only had to take it once a month.

Don’t you want to go over to Wen Rong office and visit Philip and see how things are going on at that side?”

Xiang Zhe shook his head. “No. I want to wait for my wife.”

Shan Mei was going to the recording studio to pre-record this week’s Musical Postcard. “If Xue Zhang behaves well, you can come along into the recording room with me.”

“I would like that very much,” he assured his wife and very happily they walked off together, hand in hand.

“And since you are going to wait for me to finish work, I will treat you to supper tonight.”

Xiang Zhe smiled at his wife, thanking her in advance for her treat.

That evening there was a private celebration at control and news production room because it was Miss Cha’s first night at the 9 o’clock News Desk. Jae Hoon and Xiang Jie thanked the crew members for their hard work and help. “From now onwards, we’ll need more help from you guys. You are all at liberty to correct Miss Cha privately. After all you are the most experienced ones in the studio.” Miss Cha thanked every one for their kindness and tutelage.

Chapter AW-91

One morning when Xiang Zhe phoned Madam Kim asking about new arrivals, she told him she was about to call Shan Mei. She had kept back 2 outfits that were perfect for Shan Mei.

Xiang Zhe soon arrived at her boutique, and agreed the outfits were just right for his wife. What about matching handbags? He wanted to know.

He returned home with his shopping.

Shan Mei was at her office table talking on the phone with Brother Sung. On seeing him enter, Shan Mei gave him a smile and continued with her conversation. As soon as she hung up, she went to the kitchen to get the soup for her husband.

He was in the bedroom, in her dressing room. She peeped in and caught him hanging up a couple of dresses.

She pulled one out and said it looked gorgeous.

“That is for the Founding Day anniversary. The other is for the shipyard library opening.”

She circled her arms around his waist and lifted up her face to him for his kiss. “I do love you so much,” she whispered lovingly into his ear.

As Xiang Zhe was taking his soup, Shan Mei wanted to know what he had been telling Brother Sung about going on holiday? “They expected some where fancy, like taking cruiser, lounging around all day? I told him we are only going down to Busan for the library opening, and are thinking of inviting him along since Bansung has been so generous with their donations. We are going to take BB and BR along.”

Xiang Zhe was grinning and asked good-naturedly, “So?”

“So, he wants to come along anyway.”

“Of course, he would. I’m letting him go on holiday with my wife,” Xiang Zhe teased.

When Philip heard about the planned trip to Busan, he wanted to go along with them. “I want to go see granny. The migraines have subsided, and I’m sleeping so much better now. I’m still worried about the last time when granny told me I would have problems making babies. Polly and I have decided to have 4 babies like you two.”

Husband and wife laughed. Philip and Polly didn’t know what they were getting themselves into. The Yins could barely manage, and they had so many helpers.

Talking of their babies, they decided to go over to Father’s place and see what they have been up to. Xiang Zhe was relieved. Soon BR would be 3 and could attend the playschool with BB. Then BB himself would move onto primary school.

During April, the new recruits went through very intensive training, with Li Qing Xi, Jae Hoon and Patrick in charge of several different areas. Shan Mei checked on the training several times, and she couldn’t agree at all with Zian Da. The girls didn’t look bad at all. In fact about 4 or 5 looked really good. They had been instructed to keep their face free of make up, and to leave their hair as it was. It had been a few months already, and their skin was in great condition.

The team was balanced out very nicely, 20 girls and 10 guys. Shan Mei had checked on their qualifications after Michael made the final selection. All of them graduated with top grades in mass communication. They were conversant with many areas of the discipline. Before they started training, they had been told if they were accepted after training, they were expected to perform multi tasks. They agreed. Shan Mei already saw a few good potentials for the scripting department. Her plan to convert a few 2-part mega movies into Korean language 2-part mega movies now seemed a reality. The important thing was that the team was young, eager and team spirit was very high. After MBS had their pick, CTN would sign up the rest.

Shan Mei recommended to Xiang Jie, “The first project for the new team will be the Founding Day anniversary function in May. The overall performance from the recruits is very good. I think we can sign up all 30, then there would be no need for more recruitment drive from MBS for the next 5 years at least.”

Xiang Jie agreed absolutely. “In fact many of the recruits are doing better than some of the presenters currently in Programmes and News Depts.” Both sister and brother exchanged glances regarding the recruits with scripting writing experience, and smiled. Their new recruits would cost so much less. Shan Mei had asked them for sample works, and they were all very good.

The team had been taken to Armani for fitting. Masuda and his team arrived first week of May, and they worked out of Jae Hoon’s friend’s salon. You Zhen was there for photography. Shan Mei was getting tired. They had been there all day. But the efforts were worth it. It was 9 p.m. and they had just finished their dinner.

Masuda, on seeing how tired Shan Mei was, drew her to a chair, saying he would up date her image.

She refused, jokingly claiming, “My husband won’t be able to recognise me and will most probably lock me out of our house.”

Masuda simply ignored her protest and just as he lifted up a brush, his arm was caught in mid air. He looked around, it was Mr. Yin.

Xiang Zhe pulled his wife up from the chair and into his arms, and laughingly told Masuda, “I love my wife the way she is. And I won’t want a thing changed.”

Masuda was so happy to see Xiang Zhe. Following close behind was his favourite boy, Xiang Jie . They had come to check, seeing the time was so late.

The recruits who had just had their photographs taken were sitting in one corner going over with the Japanese make-up expert the way their makeup should be applied. Each had a chart with colour scheme listed out. The make-up kit was handed out with the chart. With new hair styles and make-up applied by experts, the girls looked stunning, elegant and poised and the guys looked presentable and handsomely suave with individual personalities, like those models appearing in Japanese youth magazines: fresh, youthful, intelligent with vitality, nothing at all like those news casters with plastered on looks.

Xiang Zhe was grinning broadly, so was Xiang Jie. Elder brother nudged his brother, asking him, “Did you see your angel?”

Xiang Jie looked at Xiang Zhe shyly, saying, “This is work. Anyway I am too young to think of such things. And I don’t want to be involved.”

Shan Mei was setting up in one corner of the salon some dinner for her husband and her younger brother. Xiang Zhe kept looking at her and grinning.

While they were having their dinner, Xiang Jie told his brother, “We are going to sign up all 30 of the recruits.”

Xiang Zhe looked skeptical and asked, “Is MBS able to absorb so many at one time?”

“Sister has told me CTN will sign at least 4, and another 4 for the scripting department to prepare her project of 2-part mega movies.”

Xiang Zhe was surprised. “Aren’t these recruits trained to be newscasters? How did scripting come into the picture?”

“These recruits are capable of multi-tasking and they have agreed to accept whatever post Sister will allocate to them.”

Xiang Jie took some notes out of his briefcase and showed his brother the scoring sheets from the different production crews on duty. “See how their gradings are almost very similar? In fact, they have remarked this batch is the best under going training so far, and the crew members have not even seen these newbies with their new image!”

Xiang Jie further continued, “I have already told Human Resource to pend all contracts of existing broadcasters awaiting renewal. After the recruits made their debut appearance at Founding Day Anniversary function, I will reassess the performance of all present broadcasters. Those who have been performing well and can multi-task will get to stay. Those who are mediocre will have to go. MBS must try to expand its reach. Seeing how well P.E. is received by the younger viewers, I want to give MBS a new image, to reach the young audience segment. Sister has another project that will need all the young help she can get.”

Xiang Zhe looked at his younger brother, very impressed on the inside, and he teasingly reminded him, “Since you and your sister have planned everything out by yourselves, there really isn’t any need to let me know.”

Xiang Jie grinned sheepishly at his brother, and teasing reminded him, “I wasn’t sure how true it is that you are taking a 3-year hiatus off work, and how much you really want to be involved.” To show he was sorry, he went off to get some coffee for Xiang Zhe.

Xiang Zhe turned around in his chair and looked at his wife indulgently. He gave her nose a tweak, complimenting her on a job well done.

Because Shan Mei wanted to keep the new team under wraps, after their image make-over, they reported to CTN offices for training and to plan their programme for Founding Day function. Senior Li Qing Xi helped their planning a bit. She was impressed when she saw them at CTN. That Zian Da would eat his words saying the girls didn’t have the looks. They didn’t have those vampish looks that Zian Da secretly fancied, that was for sure!

The team looked very elegant and professional in their new Armani outfits. Many of MBS employees didn’t know who they were.

News Department controller together with Yong Xi and Zian Da were stunned when they saw the new trainees at the function. Some acted as ushers and usherettes. On the stage, 2 pairs of trainees were given the task of being emcees. Before lunch began, introductions of the VIPs were made. At one stage, President Yin Xiang Zhe was invited on to the stage to make a special announcement.

The President announced that he would concentrate 100% on Wen Rong. He would now leave the management of MBS to the new president, Miss Zhen Shan Mei.

Shan Mei was stunned. She thought, ‘Why is Xue Zhang doing this? He knows well enough that I’m not interested to be responsible for MBS.” Xiang Zhe invited her on to the stage, so he could present her to the guests and MBS employees. She was a very popular choice. She began to cry quietly. Xiang Zhe took her into his arms and wiped away the tears as he held on tight to her hand. He then announced the new president would be assisted by the new DoP, his younger brother Yin Xiang Jie.

Xiang Jie came on the stage to accept a round of warm applause from the floor.

Shan Mei’s eyes misted again; for Xue Zhang to acknowledge so publicly Xiang Jie’s position in the family. She hoped those vicious gossips going on behind Xiang Jie’s back would lay to rest once and for all.

Senior Chairman felt the same in his heart. As You Zhen set up his camera, Xiang Zhe went down the stage to where his Father was sitting, and escorted him up to the stage for a family photograph.

When all had left the stage, Xiang Zhe asked Shan Mei to take the stage. Shan Mei then announced the new image they wanted to give MBS and the new market segments they hoped to capture to ensure even better ratings. And to start the project off, they had been training a new team for the past several months to carry the banner of MBS. She called the new team together. She hoped the staff of MBS would give their total support to the new team. They assembled with Xiang Jie to pose for group photographs. They looked stunning, and staff members were wondering how come they never saw them around the MBS building.

Before a meeting was scheduled for the next day with Programmes Controller and News Controller, Michael had sent Shan Mei an email regarding the new trainees. In his email, he outlined his thoughts. “If these new trainees work out fine, there shouldn’t be any need for recruitment drives for the next few years, saving a lot of money and unnecessary wastage of time. During this time, JJ should arrange for some of the new trainees to take over some training responsibilities, so the old team of training leaders at MBS should go or be given other responsibilities.

Zian Da should concentrate on PIR, and help in P.R. department, one section being his sole responsibility. I know that Zian Da’s father-in-law is a shareholder of Wen Rong and according to Junior, this Zian Da has hoped to be No. 2 in MBS. This is not possible because Zian Da simply does not have what it takes to be No. 2. The only person in MBS presently capable of becoming No. 2, after JJ, will be Han Jae Hoon. Bear in mind that I am making all these suggestions as 20% shareholder of MBS. MBS is gaining ground against rival stations. I don’t want to see wrong decision-making in staff reshuffle again.

That Liu Yong Xi should also be slowly moved out of Prime Time News. Apart from PIR, she is to follow up on News scripting, and be in charge of anchor scheduling and helping the News controller. She can occasionally appear on 7 p.m. news but not on Prime time.”

The next day at the meeting in conference room A, Shan Mei wanted to know how many hosts Programmes Department controller wanted for their shows, and so it continued, until it was time to assess the performances of current anchors. Six contracts were not renewed and another 4 coming up would not be renewed. The anchors were too into their own thing and not prepared to help out in other departments. Shan Mei wanted multi talented personnel. If not, that personnel should be so good in their specialty, they could go out before the camera and gain top ratings for their show, if not then multi task.

To prove her point, she buzzed on the phone extension for the manager of scripting department to come to conference room immediately. She wanted to know how many script writers were at work.

“Four, and 3 have gone off to do free lance work.” She wanted to know how long they had been away.

The manager replied, “For up to mid May, they had been in 6 days.”

“Okay, these 3 needn’t come back. Make space for 4 new scriptwriters.”

She looked at Xiang Jie who buzzed for the new trainees selected for scripting. Shan Mei introduced the manager to the new girls, and told him to take them to scripting department. “These girls are to start work at scripting department beginning tomorrow. Mr. Manager, do not look down on these girls, but to help them along. They will be bringing many new ideas to your department. If you help them properly, you will reap the rewards soon. At least these girls will respect you as their manager, and you will have no more script writers’ problems.”

After discussion, eight trainees to join News Department, two to 2STAC team, two to P.E team, two to roving reporting team, two to Dubbing, six to CTN. “Every quarter, the trainees will meet for refresher course. In case of emergencies, they can take over news desk at short notice.”

Before going home after meeting, Shan Mei ordered take out from Japanese restaurant. The chef made specially small rolls for Shan Mei’s son, knowing he just had his birthday.

That night at dinner, Philip enjoyed the crab meat and avocado sushi rolls very much. Xiang Zhe had his lobster rolls. BB and BR enjoyed their little sushi rolls.

BB related BR’s first day at playschool. “BR didn’t cry at all.”

Daddy and mummy were impressed.

After dinner, BR secretly pulled his daddy aside to lodge a private grievance. “Daddy, Brother BB gave Grandma a little present. Many of the children at playgroup did the same. I want to give grandma a present too.”

Xiang Zhe looked at Shan Mei. Mummy wanted to know where BB got his presents?

“From a box in grandpa’s room.”

Mummy beckoned BB over, asking him to let BR take a present too from the box. “When there are no more presents left, daddy will fill the box up. Okay?”

BB nodded his head, then the two brothers went off hugging and laughing.

Chapter AW-92

That night, at home, they watched Miss Cha and Jae Hoon on prime time news. She was getting better. Jae Hoon was supporting her very well. The ratings had dropped slightly, which they had expected. But still better than before, they were now about 3% behind SGS. Jae Hoon was personally training one of the recruits whom he said had very good potential. His personality matched Miss Cha’s very well.

“I have asked Xiang Jie to try putting them together next season. The ratings may drop further, but it will be for one season. Jae Hoon is sure by the fourth quarter, the ratings will go up. If that happens, MBS will have no more worries, because there are about 5 to 6 similar team-ups waiting.”

Xiang Zhe didn’t want to hear about work. “Aren’t we supposed to be on holiday, darling?”

“For you yes, for me no! But I have an assignment for you.” Xiang Zhe became all alert and looked suggestively at his wife. “Next week, I wonder whether my husband will be free to accompany me to visit CTN’s offices in Singapore and Hong Kong? You will go officially as my financial advisor. Later on, we will visit Tokyo office, then Sydney office according to the same arrangement.”

Xiang Zhe’s eyes opened wide, asking his wife, “Is this true?”

“Of course, now that I am the president of MBS, I’ll need a personal bodyguard whenever I travel.” She looked sweetly at her husband and confirmed, “Maybe 1 day Singapore, 2 days Hong Kong? Just remember Thursday and Friday I have to be back in Seoul.”

Xiang Zhe laughing blissfully, drew her into his arms, and began raining kisses all over her face. “Don’t worry, Madam President, you leave all the financial and security matters to me.”

Afterwards, while they were nestled in each other’s arms, Xiang Zhe told Shan Mei Mr. Kawasaki had recommended an exclusive Japanese retreat that was very famous for its private hot spring pool, romantic environment and seclusion. “At the first available opportunity, I want to take you there. We can spend a long weekend there, then on Tuesday be at CTN Tokyo office, after that we fly back to Seoul same evening.”

Shan Mei was in agreement with everything Xue Zhang suggested, and told him to hand the details to her secretary so she could make all the travel arrangements.

Xiang Zhe stole a peep at his wife. Since the successful launch of the new batch of recruits and the ensuing meeting with Programme and News department Controllers, he had noticed a change in Shan Mei. It seemed she had finally relieved herself of some kind of burden, and was out to enjoy herself. She hadn’t argued with him once and was so acquiescence with everything he had suggested.

Was it the fact that he had made known, in an indirect way to the people at MBS, that Xiang Jie was family and could one day be one of the chosen heirs to MBS, having same status as his children? This was directed to the old hats who were still trying to hold on to their importance grasping on to whatever power that still came with their positions. He would not interfere with Shan Mei’s decisions in running MBS.

Since they wouldn’t need to carry out recruitment drive for the next few years, if Shan Mei decided Zian Da had to go, he would have to go. Zian Da used to say Xu Ying Mei was so beautiful and so capable, whereas Michael said that person shouldn’t be allowed in front of the camera. Viewers would switch to other channels. No wonder their Morning of Eve even though received good ratings at the beginning of each fresh re-vamp, would soon receive poor ratings, meaning the planning and production teams had to constantly keep coming up with new ideas every week, which was very tiring and unhealthy. And their news presentation fared even worse. It proved that Zian Da didn’t have the depth to assess a talent properly.

When Shan Mei was still at MBS, her Music show at MBS was just the opposite. In a short time, it became the most successful show of MBS, and Shan Mei was voted the most popular host with her show. She had such an easy time, no drawn-out production meetings. All live! In fact one time he heard from some production crew members that they were taking half the day off so they could be at the site of some musical concert Shan Mei was hosting that night. Even if Zian Da wanted to admit Shan Mei was good, Yong Xi wouldn’t let him. Yong Xi led him by the nose, and she was out to make sure Xiang Zhe suffered for rejecting her. Women!

Anyway, Xiang Zhe thought to himself, “I am going to spend the coming 3 years only with Shan Mei, making up to her for the years we have lost, and making her happy, like he had promised on so many occasions.” He himself had become more relaxed and not uptight even when an eligible man came within smooching distance of his wife. Michael must have realised, Shan Mei would not go anywhere without him, and he wouldn’t let Shan Mei go anywhere without him. These 3 years would be fun, traveling around the region with his wife. Simply thinking of Sydney and the yummy oysters was enough to whet his appetite.

Shan Mei had arranged for company van to collect them this Sunday morning, then to collect Pa and Ma. The boys BB and BR were so happy to see their grandpapa and grandmamma. They were going to Nanny’s home to visit her son and daughter-in-law in some village on the outskirts of Seoul.

When the arrived at the modest home, Shan Mei and family put down the presents they had brought.

Pa and Xiang Zhe looked around the place accompanied by Nanny’s son, who showed them his small plot growing baby cucumbers. “Our baby cucumbers sell very well but we don’t know how much longer we can keep our farm going. The local Land office has informed all the villagers around here that the land will be reclaimed for roads and other kinds of development. We will be compensated but it won’t be much. Anyway we don’t want to look so far ahead.”

The two boys followed their nanny around the house. Ma and Shan Mei went into the kitchen to help prepare lunch.

They sat around a square table on the floor for lunch. Nanny’s daughter-in-law, knowing the little boys would be coming, had made little cakes for them. The boys simply loved the cakes!

When it was time to leave, Shan Mei asked Nanny, “Nanny, do you want to stay back for a few days. It’s alright with us.” Nanny didn’t want to, knowing how busy the Yins would be, traveling overseas.

Arriving home, Nanny took the boys over to the mansion, while Pa and Ma went to Shan Mei’s place, and quickly proceeded to the kitchen to prepare some coffee.

All sat around the kitchen table, as if ready for a meeting of some sort. Xiang Zhe didn’t know what was going on.

Shan Mei asked the 3 of them, “What do you think of the couple?”

Ma as usual couldn’t keep any counsel to herself. “I want to know how come they still have no children since Nanny’s son appears to be 32 years old, and the couple has already been married about 10 years. I am curious.”

“Ma, according to Nanny, her son caught mumps during his NS days. The army Doctor had advised at that time her son would most probably be sterile, having mumps at such an adult age. Nanny always praised her daughter-in-law for being so understanding and patient, readily accepting the fact.”

Xiang Zhe said, “The man seems to be very hard working. Being a farmer is not easy.” Pa readily agreed.

“Our Korean government is aggressively pushing for land reclamation. Soon very little agricultural land will be left. The little pockets of agricultural land around the park where our noodle shop is located would be reclaimed soon. Xiang Jie saw their plans when he visited the Public Works Department to follow up a P.E. complaint.

The old gardener presently helping at our noodle ship is facing the same dilemma as Nanny’s son. He told me he will return to his village in Taegu, after he receives his share of compensation from the government.” Shan Mei sounded sad when she related this.

“Xiang Jie and I have been to see the PWD director for advice. He told us it was possible for the zoning to miss a very small part of the gardener’s plot, but it would be too small for viable gardening. If I want the house and some access land, I can apply for it, using the reason that we want to place an alert for fire hazards in the area. I want to buy over the small patch, and gift it to Nanny. Her son and daughter-in-law can stay there, and help take care of the noodle shop. Pa and Ma can then take it easy. Since the noodle shop is famous for its wonderful kimchi, Ma can continue to prepare the kimchi and Pa to simply sit around and enjoy the scenery. If you like, you can continue to help out. I am sure Nanny’s daughter-in-law can expand the present menu with her delicious mini cakes for the children visiting our shop.

In this way, nanny doesn’t have to worry about her son. She can concentrate 100% on looking after our babies. She has brought the babies up well and has never once complained. Especially with BR, and the twin’s difference in age so close. The 4 babies are so healthy, well brought up, and they are truly devoted to her. I want to do that for Nanny. Pa and Ma, if you don’t feel comfortable with the situation, I’ll keep quiet and think of another solution later.”

Pa agreed straight away and looked at Ma for her confirmation. After understanding the situation, Xiang Zhe knew Pa would agree. The father and daughter were the same, always so compassionate and thinking of others all the time. He smiled softly to himself thinking, “I see, I am going to end up with another family quite soon.”

Ma was hesitant. “I actually enjoy running the noodle shop. At least I have something to do, apart from PIR. If I am too free I will forever be going off to You Zhen’s place and Minnie may not like that.”

“Ma, you have misunderstood me,” Shan Mei laughed. “We don’t want you to give up. We want you to have some helpers so you and Pa can go off for holidays whenever you feel like it. Not like now, you have to close up the shop whenever you go off somewhere. Your supporters get so disappointed, when they miss out on your fabulous kimchi.”

Ma smiled and agreed, “You’re right there. Many supporters have told me they come to the park especially for my kimchi noodles.”

After thinking awhile, she proclaimed the couple looked alright. “I’ve noticed that they kept their house and kitchen very neat and clean so that’s a plus point for them.”

Pa immediately said the man kept his tool shed in immaculate condition. He looked at Xiang Zhe for confirmation. Xiang Zhe nodded his head. Ma highly valued Xiang Zhe’s opinions. According to her, her son-in-law could do no wrong.

When the meeting was over, Shan Mei concluded, “Since all of us here agree with the plan, I’ll begin working with the Land Office and decide on compensation for the old gardener. I want him to go back to his village with enough savings.”

Xiang Zhe walked up to his wife and gave her a loving hug, his eyes telling her he would support whatever she had decided. After all, she was right, Nanny had been with them since BB’s birth and she had taken care of the home front so Shan Mei could concentrate on him (he smiled sheepishly) and her work at CTN. And the four children were so attached to her, especially BB. She was practically blood family.

They went to freshen up. Xiang Zhe took them to dinner at Cream House. Ma had accepted the situation, and was happily saying, “If Minnie has a second baby, I’ll have more time to help her out.”

Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei eyed each other furtively. Pa advised Ma not to interfere. “Don’t mention this to You Zhen. Nowadays, with the young people, it is difficult to tell whether they want a large family. Most want one or two children only. Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei are smart having 4. They will always have at least one baby in the house to keep them company. It is only because of Xiang Zhe that I agreed to let Shan Mei marry. Otherwise, I would have kept my beloved daughter at home. No man is good enough for her.” Xiang Zhe laughed and agreed totally. He was already harbouring such thoughts for his precious baby girl.

That night in bed, Xiang Zhe wanted to know what he could do to help.

“Well, we’ll need Xiang Jie to make the introduction to the PWD director, after that we can handle the matter ourselves. Does Xue Zhang think it will be a good idea, after this, to check up what kind of a place the old gardener has?

“One can never put a price on a faithful servant. Nanny is worth every cent. Don’t go and disturb Uncle Gardener. After his departure, we can always improve on his old house if you are not happy with it.”

“Thank you, Xue Zhang.”

Wrapping her arms around her husband, Shan Mei apologised to him. “I have been so caught up with MBS situation, I didn’t spend too much time looking after you. At least, Xiang Jie will now have the new trainees to help him with his planning for MBS 31st anniversary. I have decided I am not going to interfere. Next year will be his year. He has enough helpers already,” she laughed softly, thinking of David rolling out everything just to make things happen for JJ.

“Hey, scoot over here. I want to check the scar on your head.” Tenderly running her fingers along his scalp, she asked him whether any spot hurt. Seeing his eyes responding with naughty glints, she stressed, “on the head.” Not waiting for an answer, she began to knead gently along the scalp and neck. That felt so good, soon her husband was asking his wife for back massage too.

“Oh, Xue Zhang, I do love you so much!” she breathed into his ear when she was kneading his nape.

Hearing that, Xiang Zhe simply smiled contentedly and continued to enjoy his wife’s gentle ministering, silently agreeing, “Yes, perfect arrangement – Nanny concentrating 100% on their children, and Shan Mei concentrating 100% on him!”

Chapter AW-93

Xiang Zhe liked to travel independently without hotel limos, etc. He knew Shan Mei liked public transport too. As soon as they arrived at Tokyo airport, they took the train to Hakone where the traditional Japanese onsen ryokan was.

Shan Mei was fascinated by the quaint Japanese setting and tranquil atmosphere. After they were shown to their private quarters, Shan Mei stood enraptured with the scenery of the valley before them. She flung her arms wide, embracing the grandeur of the giant pine trees that studded the hills all about them. The gentle green rolling hills with the quaint Japanese setting and tranquil atmosphere fascinated her. She threw her arms around her husband, kissing him swiftly saying, “I feel as if we are the first two persons ever to be here. Like I’m an artist who sees a painting no one else has ever seen before. I wish we can stay a week.”

Xiang Zhe understood her awe and looked at her intently. “We can if you really want to. We can cancel the meeting at CTN office, and only leave on Wednesday night for Seoul.”

Shan Mei liked the idea of playing truant. While Xiang Zhe did the unpacking, she phoned her secretary, telling her to change their departure flight from Tokyo to Wednesday night last flight, and to cancel CTN Tokyo office meeting and hotel booking in Tokyo.

As soon as that was done, she flew into her husband’s arms, telling him she was not going to move from the room until it was time to leave. Outside the room, from their private garden, the musical sound made by the water dripping from the bamboo spout into their private pool was so mesmerising.

Xiang Zhe looked disheartened. “I had thought you wanted to stay because the place is perfect for love making.”

She gave him a naughty look, and agreed softly, “that too.” He laughed and immediately began to help her undress and change into a comfortable cotton yukata matching the one he had just put on.

Total privacy at this onsen was assured for their inhouse guests. The maids would leave inhouse dining and refreshments outside the unit by the door, at certain times of the day. Though the place was traditional in décor, the bathroom came with modern amenities. After a quick shower, they went into the hot spring pool, the water temperature being just right for Shan Mei. Cool mountain spring water came slowly cascading down a small waterfall. Natural landscaping of rocks and trees ensured total privacy for their outdoor pool. Small rockeries submerged in the water acted like stools. Xiang Zhe was sitting on one, with Shan Mei nestled on his lap, his hand stroking her legs, her hand stroking his chest. “Oh,” they thought, “this is total bliss.”

The cool mountain spring water also ran into an adjoining smaller pool. They dipped into it. The water felt so refreshing. Xiang Zhe got out of the pool and pulled Shan Mei up, then carried her into their ‘Japanese home’ – tatami mats with beautiful silk futons all laid out invitingly. They dried each other before lying down to rest. “This IS perfect bliss,” Shan Mei breathed into her husband’s ear. Xiang Zhe answered her with hot kisses.

By the time they awoke, they had missed afternoon tea. They took their dinner trays inside to their room. The food was beautifully displayed, with several courses. There was special green tea, also sake in a ceramic tokuri (wine container) being heated on a ceramic warmer. Xiang Zhe didn’t say anything. Shan Mei was the one who warmed the sake and served her husband. She took a little bit of the sake to keep him company. He smiled appreciatively at her understanding.

By Wednesday late morning, Shan Mei was almost in tears. “I just can’t bear to leave this place. We have spent the most unforgettable 4 days and nights ensconced in such love.” Today was already Wednesday and the 5th day. She was so tempted to phone Patrick asking him to host 2STAC on his own. She had no appetite for lunch. Xiang Zhe tried coaxing her to eat. He reasoned, “Even if we stay on a few extra days, at the end of which we still would have to leave.”

Shan Mei sighed heavily. Xue Zhang was so right.

When she was at university she had seen some picture postcards of such places in magazines. Ever since, she had wanted to live in such an exact place. She thought these places were very difficult to reach. She didn’t realise just a plane and a train ride was all that it took.

A fortnight after they returned from Tokyo, Shan Mei was brooding and not talking or eating much, or sleeping properly. She had a strange look on her face most of the time.

This worried her husband greatly. One day before Xiang Zhe could find out what was bothering her, when she asked, “Xue Zhang, aren’t you bored taking such a long hiatus from the company? Darling, you are now the president, later on the Chairman; you’ll need to know what’s going on in the company, and someone capable to assist you on the social scene. I can’t help you anymore. My limit is MBS.”

“Darling, what are you trying to get at? I don’t get your drift.”

“You know, I don’t like circulating among high society or putting on a pretentious front. I like the simplest things in life. Having a wife like me will only be a hindrance to your future. You once claimed I was childish, possessed no judgmental skills, and didn’t know how to give you face in public. You are so right!”

He looked at her dumbfounded. “Why are you dragging out history?”

“It is history; nevertheless what you claimed is true. I always feel safer in my comfort zone. With Wen Rong, the business and social circle will be much wider. I am afraid I will embarrass you with my lack of social skills.”

Deep frowns knitted across his forehead brows. As he rubbed the back of his neck with his hand, he wanted to know what she was getting at.

“Didn’t we spend the most glorious 5 days at the serene and beautiful traditional Japanese ryokan? Didn’t you tell me you have never been so happy? Have you forgotten how much I loved you? Didn’t you tell me every time we made love how much you loved me? And I have lost count the number of times you professed your love.”

She turned to look at him, her big round eyes moist with unshed tears, appealing to him for his understanding. “You’ve just answered your question.”

“What do you mean?”

“I have never been so happy, living amidst the serenity and simplicity of nature. Being First Lady of Wen Rong will mean doing things in grand style and with a flourish. That is not my style. Now, I know what I want. I will try to find a place similar to that Japanese place in Korea and go live there. If I can’t find such a spot over here, I want to move to Japan!”

Xiang Zhe became nervous. His eyes were getting red and he tried to blink away the tears that had begun gathering. He didn’t know what Shan Mei had in mind.

She assured him, “Every thing is in place for you. At home, there will be nanny to take care of the children. Roh Bin is now taking care of the shipyard very well. At MBS, Xiang Jie is doing so well, ably assisted by Jae Hoon. Also the new trainees are coming along very well. At CTN, Patrick will be there. All you have to do is to concentrate on Wen Rong and get yourself a new wife – one of those high society daughters who can run the show very nicely for you.”

Xiang Zhe studied her downcast face, his mouth small and its line tight, his throat constricted, so confused and hurt he didn’t know what more to say to her.

She looked off into the distance and continued in a clipped tone, “Of course, it would hurt me terribly to let you go, but I love you so much, I am prepared to let you go if it means Wen Rong would benefit.”

In Shan Mei’s simple mind – true love meant sacrificing for the one you love. If she disappeared from the picture, the Wen Rong Group could enjoy greater success gaining more leverage from a merger with a highly prominent family, or so she thought or was led to believe.

Xiang Zhe let out a chunk of sound resembling a laugh, short and hurt. He turned away, stood facing a blank wall, his hands sitting loosely on his hips, his mind busily remembering Xiang Jie’s words – something like what Shan Mei had said that if she found out he was out fooling around she would simply disappear. Quietly, Xiang Zhe turned back to face Shan Mei, sensing only doom ahead!

“Care to explain what’s going on? Have you been hearing stories? Didn’t I tell you whenever in doubt to come to me directly, and not listen to gossip?”

Taking hold of her arms to place them around his waist, he asked, “Shan Mei, look at me. Don’t my eyes tell you, you are the most important person to me? Even more important than our children! What’s this nonsense about Wen Rong and MBS? They mean nothing to me if you are not by my side. I agree that that beautiful place in Hakone is like paradise. When you find such a beautiful spot, let me know because I want to go with you too!” He studied her downcast face, his mouth small, his throat constricted, so confused and hurt he didn’t know what more to say to her.

Cradling her face between his shaking hands, he looked deeply into her eyes, his eyes overflowing with profound love. He slowly caressed her lips with his, hoping to assuage her grief. Burying his face in her hair, he cried silently with her, and thought why were mischief makers so bent on hurting his wife? He did not let go of her until he felt her body relaxed. He begged her not to do anything irrational to make him cry again.

‘I had wailed but couldn’t even shed tears when my mother died. I had thought I was incapable of shedding tears until Miss Zhen Shan Mei came along. Every time I saw you walked away with You Zhen, the tears would automatically come. You have simply no idea at all of all the tears and sleepless nights I had endured over you.”

That night in bed he cradled his wife in his arms. “Darling, please believe me, I understand how you feel. So, you don’t like socializing at big events, we don’t socialize. I never like those things anyway. Wen Rong needs to throw a big party? We’ll get a professional event management company to organize it. We’ll circulate at the party together. Don’t underestimate your capabilities. You’re managing very well on your own, always keeping your guests enthralled. Not only that, you are pretty and spirited – 2 qualities that will win over the most recalcitrant man. After all, haven’t you not completely captivated me right from the start? And I’m the most recalcitrant of the whole lot! And, if you must know, you and our children are more important to me than Wen Rong.

If you leave me, do you think I’ll want to re-marry? You think I’ll let another woman touch me? You think I’ll let another woman sleep next to me? Huh, now I get it! You want to leave me because you want to be with another man? Is this so? Shan Mei, please believe me, I love you. I loved you when you were a young innocent girl, and I love you even more now. I’ve gone from unrequited love until you reciprocated my love. I’ll die before I let another man touch you. Do you understand me?”

Shan Mei remained silent, and he was getting angry – angry at her, because he was afraid he was going to lose her again!

“Say you understand. Now!” he insisted, his tone dangerously low.

She nodded. “I understand.”

“I still don’t think you do,” he sighed, resigned. Catching Shan Mei’s hand, he placed it over his chest. “Can you feel it?”

She did. It was his heart, beating strongly against her palm.

“This is what happens to me when I’m with you. I feel more alive, more inspired, more encouraged, something like that. Maybe now you believe me when I say I cannot live without you!”

Shan Mei didn’t know what to say to that. She had expected his ranting but when he came up with something so totally unexpected and declared with such genuine honesty, she almost wept. He felt her body shaking quietly, and he knew she must be silently sobbing too. Both of them were suffering in silence. What had triggered this sudden change in her thinking? Xiang Zhe couldn’t work it out. They had been so happy when they returned from Tokyo.

The next morning, after breakfast and playtime with Shan Mei and the children, he went to MBS office, and immediately told his secretary to inform all department heads, except Dubbing department, to meet at Conference Room No. 2 for emergency meeting at 12.30 p.m. He then phoned Xiang Jie, letting him know what happened with Shan Mei. The brothers talked on the phone for about half an hour. “Xiang Jie, see what you can dig out. You don’t have to attend this morning’s meeting. Before the end of today, I want to know what kind of trash has been going around the office gossip grapevine!”

Easing himself into the seat at the head of the conference table, Xiang Zhe didn’t waste time with triviality, but went directly to the point. He told the people sitting around the conference table, “Shan Mei wants to leave MBS. Can anyone shed some light on this sudden decision?”

No one uttered a word, like he had expected. He further added, “If Shan Mei leaves, what are we going to do and how are we going to cope? I want answers!” He told them to go take early lunch. “I want to continue with meeting at 1.30 p.m. Everyone must come up with some information or suggestions. Any one remaining silent and not voicing an opinion, would mean voluntary resignation, and I will accept it instantly on the spot.”

When the meeting was convened at 1.30 p.m., Xiang Zhe had his assistant and MBS accountant on hand. Each department head was expected to say something.

Scripting Department was first in line. The manager said, “If Shan Mei leaves, it will be easier for me to handle my department. When Shan Mei told the previous freelancers not to come back the last time, and put in 4 new trainees, the experienced writers were not too pleased.”

“I don’t see why that should happen? Their payment rates have remained the same. In fact, the new trainees are being paid the minimal trainee rate but I heard that they have been working very hard.”

Xiang Zhe immediately turned to the head of Drama and asked, “Sir, what do you think of the standard of scripts from the new trainees compared to the free lancers work?”

“I can say the work is very fresh and consistent, and for the modern dramas, the language more in tune with what the youths can relate to, and they do work faster. Not like the work from the previous freelancers. The dialogue sounded so stale and similar to the scripts of dramas running on the other stations. Security-wise, we have better control in regard to security of story contents. Loyalty-wise, we will be assured of strong scripting, not like previous dramas where I sometimes couldn’t understand how the lines could be so weak, as if the script writers didn’t want our dramas to fare well.”

Xiang Zhe then turned to the accountant and asked, “Mr. Accountant, please give cost comparison.” The accountant reported, “In terms of daily cost, since the free lancers left, and the 4 new trainees took over, we managed to save about 60%, sometimes a few % more in terms of operating costs in Scripting Department.”

Xiang Zhe looked at the Scripting department manager sternly and asked, “How can it be more difficult to run your department when Drama department is getting faster, better and more consistent output? From MBS viewpoint, we are saving at least 60% operating costs in your department. It isn’t Shan Mei’s fault, but your ineffectual handling of the scriptwriters. If you feel you cannot handle them and must pander to your scriptwriters’ whims, either you resign or the scriptwriters go. Shan Mei has more of these very talented scriptwriters waiting to be given a chance to work in the Scripting Department. Xiang Jie is right, paying top rates and getting sub-standard work. Drama Department is right – the freelancers have no loyalty to our company. I want a report from you on how you currently run your dept. If the report is not on my desk within the next 2 days, I will assume you have voluntary resigned.” Xiang Zhe turned to his assistant and instructed, “Make a note of that. If a report is not received within the next 2 days, ask H.R. to issue a dismissal letter.”

Next. Programmes Department. The department Controller said, “MBS must do everything to stop Shan Mei from leaving. The way the new batch of 30 trainees has turned out is amazing, and the 4 recruits Shan Mei has allocated to my department are doing very well. They are very cooperative, hard working and very friendly. Shan Mei is really very important to the future success of MBS.”

Xiang Zhe thanked him for his compliment. “But what I want to know is do you know the real reason Shan Mei wants to leave.”

The Department Controller suggested, “I’m not too sure. May be it’s due to the recent spread of rumours by mischievous tongues.”

“What kind of rumours?” Xiang Zhe asked, his brows arching up.

The Department Controller looked around and weakly said, “Mr. President, they are just rumours. I’ve heard the story that President Yin gave Shan Mei the presidential post to keep her busy. President Yin has taken 3 years off work, so he could spend more time with his mistress.”

“Does Mr. Programmes Controller believe this?” Xiang Zhe asked quickly and tiredly, his eyes never leaving the Programme Controller’s face.

“Of course not. In fact, I’ve instructed my staff to ignore those rumours completely. I’ve worked up through the ranks of MBS. I remember the time how Mr. President was always in the studio to watch when Shan Mei was recording any programme when she first worked out at MBS. I also understood during your courting days, mischief makers were already trying to cause much trouble for you and your wife. Which man would want a mistress when he has a wife like Shan Mei at home?”

Next. News Department Controller said, “I am confused. Things have happened so fast I don’t know whether having Shan Mei on is good or bad. The new team has changed every system set down a long time ago.”

“Like?” asked Xiang Zhe with no emotion in his voice.

“Like picking anchors who are new, disregarding those waiting in queue to go prime time. Broadcasters are beginning to grumble that they would never get the chance, if the newbies are queue jumping.”

Xiang Zhe glared at him in a stern manner. “Because of your inability to spot talent, you want to lay the blame on Shan Mei? Take Miss Cha, for example. She has been in News Team B anchor office for 3 years. If she has to wait in line, she would never have had the opportunity to appear on prime time. See what happens now? Even though 9 o’clock news lagged behind SGS slightly, the rating is still far better than any News Department has ever achieved before Shan Mei and Xiang Jie took over selection. TV is so competitive nowadays, the old system must go. Those with talent and the right presentation skills will of course be selected. Now I want to know what you think about the scripting.”

“The new trainees script in a different way from the old batch that their department head liked. The viewers seem to like the new style.”

“See?” smiled Xiang Zhe. “I want you to see how you can devise a method to bring up the standard of the broadcasters in your department. What about the rumour that Programmes Department Controller has just told me?”

“I’ve heard of them. Because this is a private matter between Mr. President and Shan Mei, I don’t want to get involved.”

Next. The security Head said, “I have heard about the gossip in the car park when MBS employees go to collect their cars. But all Security personnel don’t believe it one bit, seeing how Mr. President is always so loving and gentle towards his wife, whenever they arrive or leave the car park. The guards in control room have told me how they always catch on CCTV Mr. President kissing his wife, or playing ‘catching games’ with Mrs. President when they are walking in the car park towards the elevator or towards their car.”

Xiang Zhe looked embarrassed.

Next. Strategy Department Controller expressed emphatically, “Since Shan Mei and Xiang Jie came on board, we have coordinated very well. Everything is discussed well in advance and then confirmed in black and white, making overall planning very smooth. If Shan Mei leaves and we go back to the old system, it will be a great pity. Of course, I too have heard of the rumours that have been going on for about 2 months. I’ve ignored them knowing how in love Mr. and Mrs. President are.”

Next. Housekeeping Manager was adamant Shan Mei shouldn’t leave. “Now that the cleaners know Miss Zhen is part of the inspection team, they take real pride in their work, keeping the building clean for Mrs. President. Of course, they will be the first ones to hear of these rumours, because these rumours usually originate in washrooms. But they would not be the ones to relate such stories to Mrs. President. They wouldn’t think of hurting her.”

Next was Yong Xi’s turn to make a comment. “I too have heard of these rumours. In our line of business, such rumours always are prevalent. If Shan Mei cannot take them, then she should resign and stay home. Anyway, if Shan Mei wants to resign why is it necessary to call such an impromptu meeting? Don’t we have more important things to take care of?”

Xiang Zhe looked at Yong Xi unbelievingly. “From a shareholder’s point of view, I suggest you go home and ask your father, Mr. Liu, who happens also to be a shareholder of MBS why it’s important to call this meeting. From MBS point of view, Morning of Eve lost money for the 3 years it was on. In spite of brain storming at the production meetings, no one could come up with a winning formula. Don’t forget, you yourself also hosted a money-losing morning show that was replaced by Morning of Eve.

When Michael Dutton heard that Mr. Kim Enqi instigated the other MBS directors to give me an ultimatum regarding my position in MBS, CTN gave approval for Shan Mei to come up with a concept that would show immediate results for MBS morning time slot. PIR was conceptualised by Shan Mei in 3 days, and it took another week for her to contact her guests and sponsors and get their support. Many nights she did not sleep, to get the working mechanics into place. After that, it was all minimum effort, maximum profits for the PIR team. After all this time, PIR IS still the most successful morning show. Not only with viewers, but with Internet subscribers. If you still cannot understand the importance of Shan Mei to MBS, then maybe Miss Liu has a better plan to keep MBS profits at its present level?” Xiang Zhe turned away, looking disgusted. His eyes went to Zian Da.

Next. Zian Da looked nervously at Yong Xi, then at Xiang Zhe. “P.R. Department has received several enquiries from news reporters asking about the rumours.”

Xiang Zhe stared back at Zian Da, asking him angrily, “Why wasn’t I told of this? According to Strategy, the rumours have already been circulating 2 months, and the first time I’ve heard of them was when Programmes Controller told me about them an hour ago.” He slammed his hand on the table to show his fury. Zian Da cast down his head and kept quiet.

“What about Shan Mei wanting to leave?” Xiang Zhe asked.

Zian Da replied, “If Shan Mei wants to leave, promote Xiang Jie to the Presidency post, then make someone else No. 2.”

“Then I want to know who does Mr. Kim Zian Da recommend to hold the No. 2 post, bearing in mind that someone must be qualified enough to continue to keep up MBS’ present momentum to retain so many No. 1 shows?”

When no answer came from Zian Da, Xiang Zhe moved on to the next person.

Next. Li Qing Xi of Planning explained that she has brushed off the rumours as nonsense, knowing how loving Mr. and Mrs. President were. “If it is this that is making Shan Mei unhappy, I’ll go have a talk with her. In any case, Shan Mei must stay. The real turning point for MBS was when Shan Mei and Xiang Jie became involved with MBS. They are definitely the future of MBS!”

Xiang Zhe turned to his assistant and asked for movement graph of MBS share price. The graph was displayed on the big visual screen. It showed the share price really moved to an unprecedented level, at the time, when CTN announced the channeling rights for CTN-KE was awarded to MBS. That week also saw the wedding of Mr. President & Mrs. Yin, resulting in active MBS share trading the entire week. A few months later, there was movement in share price when CTN announced MBS was given exclusive dubbing contract for their CTN film material. Active trading for MBS shares 1 week after launch of PIR. The next obvious movements of share price were with Chosoon Court Case, 2STAC, birth of Master Yin Bao Bao, appointment of Mrs. Yin as CTN-Asia/Pac Director, birth of Master Yin Bao Rong, P.E., birth of the Yin twins, Mrs. Yin’s Retirement announcement, announcement to upgrade Wen Rong Shipyard and Shipping Line, CTN/MBS franchise of 2STAC to Australia, Mrs. Yin as Anchor for MBS 9 o’clock News, Appointment of Mrs. Yin as MBS President, and the recent signing by Mrs. Yin to supply 52 5-episodes mini drama titles from CTN and 4 long-running MBS dramas each year for 5 years, dubbed in Japanese, to YYK Cable TV of the Yamaguchi Group in Osaka.

To round off the meeting, Xiang Zhe stressed he was getting tired of gossip mongers out to hurt his wife. “I realised right from the beginning marrying Shan Mei would give her this kind of burden. I had thought I could protect her. But some people who are so envious of her achievements don’t want to see her have an easy life. If I can’t talk Shan Mei into staying, I want to leave too, meaning selling off the station. I have been given an offer from a serious buyer who seems to know where MBS weak and strong points are. They have insisted many of the employees who had worked for more than 8 years with the station be dismissed. In fact they have already submitted a list of MBS employees who must go. The buyers are not impressed by their performances. Their main purchasing condition is for Shan Mei to stay back to run the station. Shan Mei has refused outright, because if she accepts, many people in MBS would lose their jobs and she doesn’t want to see that happen.”

Before Xiang Zhe closed the meeting, he told them, “My family life is of course my private business, but I hope you all will help me squash these vicious rumours. I want you all to know that I love my wife very dearly and to me there is nothing more important than my wife, not even MBS or Wen Rong. I hope those trouble makers will make it their business to stop causing mischief. Otherwise be prepared to face the consequences!”

When they were gone from the room, Xiang Zhe remained in his seat. He suddenly seemed vulnerable and exposed, all his stern-looking exterior melting, to show a sensitive man who had been hurt at the thought of his precious wife being attacked by vicious rumuor mongers time and time again. He splayed his hands on the table and slowly let his breath out as his anger began to abate slowly.

Chapter AW-94

Xiang Zhe went back to his office, utterly exhausted by the afternoon’s meeting. Xiang Jie came along. After making some coffee for his brother, he said the trouble makers were the usual suspects.

Xiang Zhe agreed. “From this afternoon’s meeting, it is very obvious who they are!”

After taking some coffee, he looked at his younger brother. He let off a heavy sigh. “That manager of Scripting Department must go.”

“That’s the main reason I came to see Elder Brother in the first place. I’ve found out the free-lance scriptwriters racket was run by him. Every month he submitted an invoice claiming for wages for staff who did not show up for work. He sent similar kind of invoices to other companies he was supplying free-lance script writers to. The girl who did his accounting on part-time basis at his home, had copied a CD file for her cousin to pass on to me. With the CD file, Patrick said the man should be sacked without any compensation. He would get into trouble with the Labour Tribunal and the police. This case can be classified as breach of Commercial Trust.”

“What about the woman who is supposed to be my mistress? Where did she crawl out from?”

“She is Yong Xi’s cousin from America.”

Xiang Zhe gave a tired laugh. “And to think that I’ve never even been to America!”

“Patrick has heard of her. She went to a university in L.A., spent a term in Harvard and most probably graduated the same year as Philip McKenzie. She always thought she was royalty and acted as such. But her reputation is worse than trash. Apparently she has been in Seoul since the end of March and has been meeting up with the social gossip-mongers at the most exclusive dining outlets, telling them she plans to stay 3 years in Seoul since she is the mistress of the President of MBS who has promised her that he will take 3 years off work to especially spend time with her. The President has complained that his wife, though quite capable as a news anchor has no social class at all and he is getting fed up with her because after all these years, she still hasn’t managed to cultivate any social graces!”

“What??!!! Who the devil is this shameless woman? I want to meet her!” Xiang Zhe, when he heard that rubbish, had almost screamed and jumped out of his chair in a fit of uncontrollable fury!

“Don’t worry, you will. I’ve managed to find out that Liu Yong Xi intends to bring her along to CTN-KE’s anniversary function because, according to this woman, that’s where you are supposed to have arranged a secret rendezvous with her, without raising your wife’s suspicions! Ha-ha! Watch out, big brother!”

Xiang Jie, seeing the dangerous glints in his elder brother’s eyes, tried to calm him. “Hey, no need to get angry. Just leave things to your little brother.”

Angry? Xiang Zhe wasn’t angry. He was FURIOUS. This type of reaction was so unlike him – it normally took something mega-drastic to roil him like this.

“And where did you get this bit of tasteless juice from? I want to know!” The pitch of his voice was getting high and bristling, and from his looks, it appeared Xiang Zhe was ready to strangle anyone who dared continue with the hurtful rumour.

“Brother Sung. His mother had first heard about that woman talking and has asked him whether there was any truth in what she has heard. Of course, Brother Sung rubbished the rumours, telling his mother how could that be true when Brother Yin and Shan Mei were always together. Anyway, Madam Sung wasn’t so sure and questioned how come everything was such a co-incidence – 3 years off work at Wen Rong; Sister being made President of MBS to keep her busy so you’ll have plenty of free time to be naughty.

According to Brother Sung, the conversation at their home ran something like this.

+Mother! Brother Yin may not be at his Wen Rong office; it doesn’t mean he’s not at his MBS office. You think that Yin man is crazy – as if he’ll let Shan Mei out of his sight? Use your brain. He is going everywhere with her, even flying out with Shan Mei when she goes to check on CTN’s regional offices. Now please forget about those stupid rumours and tell your friends to do the same.+

Madam Sung then checked with their relatives in America and was told this Liu woman was wild, man-crazy and a home-wrecker. She had always suffered from delusions of grandeur. Even her parents had given up on her because they couldn’t control her wild ways. She’s bad medicine, and she told S.D. to stay well clear away from that crazy woman! Madam Sung reported back to Brother Sung what she had been told. She was surprised when she saw that woman – simply too overdressed, out to kill. She was thinking how could Yin Xiang Zhe find that brazen hussy attractive when he had someone as lovely as Shan Mei at home! Brother Sung agreed totally with his mother and told her not to breathe a word to Sister. He didn’t want to see her hurt unnecessarily.”

After hearing all this, Xiang Zhe became really worried about Shan Mei’s present fragile state of mind. He was almost ready to break down and cry on his younger brother’s shoulders.

Xiang Zhe then quickly made a decision. “Xiang Jie, I want you to handle the land reclamation thing with the land office as soon as possible. You have to apply for the land and pay compensation to the old gardener, through the land officer, but keep this a secret from Sister. As long as Nanny’s problem remains unsettled, Shan Mei will not go anywhere. Anyway, Shan Mei is now busy with organisation of CTN-KE anniversary function so she won’t have time to contact the Land Office director any time too soon.”

Later that day when Xiang Zhe walked through the French windows of his Father’s place, his baby daughter saw him and immediately squealed with delight. The others came running to their daddy, giving him hugs and kisses. Looking at them, Xiang Zhe’s tired eyes misted up. He gathered them up around and asked himself, “How could Shan Mei think of giving these adorable babies up? She must have been hurt so badly, she couldn’t even think straight.” Sigh, sigh and more sighs.

This year’s CTN-KE Anniversary was planned in special style because Philip’s girlfriend Polly was handling the event management. Of course Westin Chosun gave their best cooperation, knowing full well they would benefit immensely from the publicity. The paparazzi came in full force.

Yin Snr came with Uncle Jin. They were curious to see who that woman was, that one supposed to be Xiang Zhe’s mistress. When Xiang Jie told his father the trouble makers at MBS were creating such problems for his brother, Yin Snr had laughed uncontrollably. “Those people are so stupid. They could have slapped Xiang Zhe with other accusations, but having a mistress on the side? No one who knows the couple would ever believe it.”

When Yin Snr relayed this to his crony Jin, Jin’s immediate concern was Shan Mei. “These people know where to hit.”

“Don’t worry,” Xiang Jie promised. “I’ll teach these people a lesson they’ll never forget.”

Uncle Jin urged him to make the punishment heavy.

“Even if it involves your good friend Uncle Liu?”

“If Old Liu knows of the situation, he is guilty and the punishment should be heavier. He is old enough to know better. After all, it isn’t Shan Mei’s fault if his son-in-law isn’t capable of taking No. 2 position in MBS, or Xiang Zhe has rejected Yong Xi. Xiang Zhe rejected her long before Shan Mei came into his life. At that time, I had agreed with Xiang Zhe’s decision, and had always secretly admired his firm stand in refusing the engagement.”

Liu, Yong Xi, Zian Da were standing with a vampish-looking woman who must be Liu’s niece. Liu made the introductions when Jin, Yin Senior and Xiang Zhe arrived. The woman, Marilyn, shot out her hand for a handshake with Xiang Zhe. He ignored it but gave her a slight, sullen nod. His eyes were straying to his wife, who was this evening wearing the 2-pc suit he had bought her for her first meeting with his father at the 20th MBS Founding Day anniversary. She had replaced the silk velvet camellia flower with the diamond butterfly brooch. As he was admiring her, he wondered whether there was any significance in her choice of clothes for this evening.

He shook his head slightly, all smiles as he kept his eyes on Shan Mei. She hadn’t aged at all since that evening at Madam Kim’s. He still remembered that night very well. As the curtain of the changing room was drawn, revealing Shan Mei in the new suit, she looked up and sought his eyes for his approval. That look was forever imprinted in his mind – her big round eyes and luscious lips. If Madam Kim wasn’t there, he would have caught her up in his arms and kissed her, telling her that he loved her. Depending on her response, he might even have proposed. He smiled secretly to himself recalling Shan Mei’s look of shock and reproof at his joke when he introduced her as his fiancée to his father. She had looked so adorable.

Actually, he made the introduction at such a public event, hoping to end the public’s speculation and the family’s assumption that he was going to marry Yong Xi, and to let Yong Xi know, in a subtle gentleman’s way, that he was simply not interested in her.

It had irritated him no end how Yong Xi could still expect him to marry her, when he had rejected her every time she brought up the subject. He also wanted his father to know Shan Mei was his choice, so he would stop feeding false hope to Yong Xi. He was never going to bow down to family pressure. Xiang Zhe, being a true gentleman, couldn’t come right out and tell Yong Xi right off that he had no feelings for her at all. He thought she would get the message when he came up with excuses that looking at her reminded him of the unhappiness of his parents. That Yong Xi was thick and clinging onto the hope that he would one day forget his unhappy past and make a go at marriage with her. Ugh! Some women simply refused to see the truth. Yong Xi should have accepted his rejection a long time ago.

How he wished the introduction of Shan Mei he made to his father at that time in jest was really true – that Shan Mei was really his fiancée!

The same emotions were running through him now, as he walked up to Shan Mei whose back was towards him. He was waiting for her to turn around to face him. As she did so, he wanted so badly to kiss her full on her luscious lips. But then again, he couldn’t afford to upset her. In her mind, he was supposed to have committed some crime, which he knew nothing about.

Somewhere else in Westin’s grand ballroom, Philip McKenzie with Jae Hoon by his side approached Marilyn.

“Hi, Marilyn, what a surprise? Fancy seeing you here?” Philip greeted.

“Hellooo there, Philip, what a pleasant surprise too! You’re in Korea?”

“Yes, working for Wen Rong Group. Oh, sorry, please meet my very good friend, Jae Hoon. His family owns several oil fields in eastern Russia.”

Marilyn flashed a seductive smile at Jae Hoon, at the same time, her eyes strayed to his left hand. No wedding band. “Good” she thought. While they exchanged pleasantries, her body language sent out signals that she was interested.

Polly beckoned to Philip who went off leaving the two alone. Jae Hoon wanted to sit down somewhere quiet and get to know irresistible Marilyn better. She was ecstatic, when Jae Hoon led her somewhere out of the grand ballroom to a quiet nook at the other side of the building.

Jae Hoon wanted to know what she was doing at the function. “After all you’re new in Seoul. I’m sure you don’t know anybody at CTN.”

“I am a cousin of Liu Yong Xi of MBS. Yong Xi and Zian Da have told me they thought MBS president needed new scenery, a wife with all the right social connections. If I want to seduce MBS president Yin Xiang Zhe for myself, now is a very good time. I admit he looks gorgeous, but he has on a constant poker face. One look at him a few minutes ago and I know he is no fun, unlike you Jae Hoon. You look even better than that Mr. Poker Face.”

“So, you’re good at seduction games? I like that. Don’t waste your time with that Yin Xiang Zhe. He’s only good at handling little girls like that Zhen Shan Mei. Even little Shan Mei has let on that Yin is the most boring creature on this planet. You’ll be doing her a big favour taking him off her hands. He wouldn’t know how to handle a real woman.”

Marilyn was getting carried away with all that flattery. She asked Jae Hoon

“What about you, what are you doing here?”

“My family investment company wants to buy MBS. I’m here to finalise some terms with them. We’ll be signing the Sales and Purchase Agreement sometime next week.”

“So you want to go into broadcasting too?”

“No, nothing so tedious! MBS is going for cheap. Why not buy it? It will just be another toy for me. I got no wife, so I spend my money other ways.”

“Besides oil, what other business is your family involved with?”

“My family is the major silent partner of the largest investment bank in Russia and a string of diamond mines.”

“With all that money, why are you still unmarried?” The conversation was getting interesting.

“Haven’t met the right girl. All the girls here looked so uninteresting. You’re the only one worth a second glance in this place tonight. What seduction games do you play? I’m very interested.”

Marilyn gave a hoot. “I majored in Seduction while at university, and passed with Honours. In March Yong Xi threw me a challenge. According to her, even though Yin Xiang Zhe is married, many people expect him to grow tired of his wife by this time. All I have to do is to spread some rumours around to get rid of that Zhen Shan Mei. With his wife out of the picture, that Yin Xiang Zhe will be lost and go crying to Zian Da for advice. Yong Xi and Zian Da will help me on the side to land Yin Xiang Zhe if I can get him interested. That sounded simple enough for someone as experienced as I am. After all, Zian Da is his senior and best friend. Yin Xiang Zhe usually took Zian Da’s advice. Once I become the First Lady of MBS, Yong Xi wants to be made director of Planning, Zian Da wants to Vice President of MBS. Both of them have worked long enough at MBS, yet they are getting nowhere up. The post that Zian Da wanted was given to Xiang Zhe’s younger brother, a mere kid with no experience. Zian Da was adamant that that controlling wife must have nagged Xiang Zhe to put his brother in such an important position.”

“Forget about that small stupid television station. I can give you a small bank to play with, when you become Mrs. Han Jae Hoon. Wouldn’t counting bank notes every day be more interesting and fun?”

“Really? Can I come over and check out your place tonight?”

“If you don’t come, I’ll feel insulted. But if you come, I won’t let you go home for 2 days at least.”

“I like this kind of game!”

“Won’t Liu Yong Xi worry when you stay out all night?”

“That’s none of their business. In America, I stay out every night. My parents can’t even control me so these minnows think they can control my movements? After all, I’m doing them a big, big favour! That Zian Da thinks he is capable of being VP of MBS? These few months staying with them I can see he’s a brainless fool, toadying up to my cousin because of her money. And my uncle’s dislike for him is very obvious.”

“I thought you were here to help them?”

“Yeah, only if I could land that MBS president! Anyone can see he’s not interested and he looked as if he has no sense of humour at all. I’m not a fool – I know Yong Xi is out to cause trouble for his marriage because she couldn’t get him for herself. Now that I’ve met you, I am more interested in you because I think you are a way better catch.”

Shan Mei was running around the place frantically searching for Jae Hoon and this girl Marilyn. Xiang Jie, Patrick and Philip seemed to have disappeared all of a sudden together into thin air. The guests in the ballroom all looked amused and transfixed in their standing positions. Even Xiang Zhe had to hold his glass of champagne in front of his mouth so that no one could remark on the unholy grin that overtook him when he heard the dialogue between Jae Hoon and Marilyn being broadcasted aloud in public and the panic-stricken looks Zian Da and Yong Xi had on their faces.

Uncle Jin and Yin Snr, while in their armchairs, looked at each other trying to hide their bemusement.

Just then Jae Hoon with Marilyn’s arm hooked on to his, walked through the door of the ballroom, and all eyes were on them. Jae Hoon unhooked Marilyn’s arm, telling her to wait while he went and got them some drinks, then off he went.

Yong Xi and Zian Da came rushing up to Marilyn, asking her what was she trying to do, sabotaging the entire plan? “Now everybody in the room knew what we have been up to. The conversation you just had with Jae Hoon was broadcasted over some hidden microphone. Shan Mei is now trying to locate the source to disconnect the broadcast without success.”

Marilyn, looking defiant and disdainful at her cousin, hissed, “So what!”

Just then, Uncle Liu approached them with a black face. Without a word, he escorted them out of the ballroom. He was too ashamed to even stop and apologise to Yin Snr.

Shan Mei went up to Xiang Zhe, her eyes appealing to him for help, to find those monkeys. “Wait till I get my hands on them!” she said, trying to sound threatening. Her husband simply shrugged his shoulders, grinned at her and went off to join Father and Uncle Jin.

Many of the guests didn’t know what was going on, and thought CTN was sampling a new show. Shan Mei saw Polly and quickly went up to her and asked, “Do you know where the microphone is being hidden?”

Polly gave her an innocent look and asked somewhat belligerently, “What microphone?”

Needless to add, the paparazzi present were having a field day, busily scribbling down notes and phoning in to their publishing houses with the ‘scoop’, relaying the exact verse and text of Han Jae Hoon/Marilyn Liu’s dialogue via sms.

Later, when Xiang Zhe drove his car into the driveway of Father’s house, they didn’t see Patrick’s car and Shan Mei wondered where the boys had gone. Their apartments were in darkness. Polly claimed she was tired, she would go up first since Philip had given her a set of keys. After seeing Father into the house, Shan Mei went back into the car, and Xiang Zhe drove off towards home.

Xiang Zhe went upstairs to their bedroom. He waited awhile, wondering whether Shan Mei was going to join him in the shower. He could still hear her moving about downstairs. Standing out on the landing, he could see her. She was talking on the phone with Yong Xi, asking about Uncle Liu. She told Yong Xi not to worry about tonight. Many of the guests at the function thought that the broadcast was a sampler of one of CTN’s new shows. She apologised for the prank the boys had played on Marilyn.

Xiang Zhe shook his head in disbelief. She had been hurt by the Liu’s, yet she was the one apologising to Yong Xi. He sighed, that was Zhen Shan Mei, and one of the reasons he loved her so much. She was always so generous in loving and forgiving.

Shan Mei walked outside again to check on the apartments. She saw lights. She sent sms to Xiang Jie reproaching him for not answering her calls. She wanted him to call back immediately. Soon her phone rang. It was Xiang Jie apologising to her that they ran off, but that was the only way to teach Yong Xi and Zian Da a lesson.

“Yes, but why make it so public?”

“Otherwise they would have protested their innocence. And you would have believed them.” Xiang Jie pleaded with her, “Sister, please do not get angry with Elder Brother, he is innocent in this; he didn’t know what we were going to do.”

She smiled into the phone promising to treat his Elder Brother well. “I promise I won’t get angry with him.” When she flipped the cover of her mobile phone shut, she smiled sweetly and secretly to herself.

From the landing, Xiang Zhe heaved a sigh of relief when he saw the smile on his wife. At least she was not going to be angry with him. With that, he tiptoed back into the bedroom to wait for Shan Mei.

As she walked through the bedroom door, Xiang Zhe came up behind her and wrapped his arms about her, tugging her gently back against his chest. He kissed the side of her neck. Then he turned her around and began raining kisses on her face, her everywhere. He had been dying to do that the minute he walked into the ballroom this evening to where she was standing. She must have felt he was some where close by, because she had turned around, to gaze straight into his eyes, and he was lost!

He didn’t want to hear her protests. He swept her up into his arms and carried her off to bed, pressing her down, not letting her go, and softly whispering into her ear that he wanted to make love to her until they were both too exhausted to move.

Shan Mei didn’t hear much of what Xiang Zhe said at the end, especially when she looked at him the way she was doing now – his eyes telling her very lucidly she was the centre of his universe, her love for him was the only thing he had ever wanted.

A few days later.

When Uncle Liu came to apologise to his best friend Yin Senior, telling him that he had sent that disgraceful niece back to her parents, he was thinking of sending Yong Xi and Zian Da to America too. “Old Comrade, the trash printed in the newspapers these past 2 days after CTN’s anniversary about my family has been really difficult to digest and ignore. Maybe with Yong Xi and Zian Da staying in America, they can both take up further studies in broadcasting, to update their knowledge according to what is required by new technology and techniques.”

“Well, Old Liu, I am glad you realize what you read in the newspapers is pure trash, but it’s no more trashier than the disgusting lies spread around town about my son. At stake was the happiness of Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei. If Shan Mei had simply closed her ears to all reasoning and walked away from their marriage, who would take responsibility for the breakup? Your indulgence in that daughter of yours has turned her into an unrecognizable creature. Even if you don’t want to face real facts, we can’t avoid the real situation. Even if Shan Mei puts Yong Xi in the DoP position this moment, she won’t be able to handle it because she’s not popular with her colleagues at MBS. Let’s face it – she won’t be able to get the crucial support necessary to make things work. Nothing is as easy as it looks. That Zian Da is another case. Some shareholders have already called me to dismiss them from MBS for their disgraceful behaviour.”

Shan Mei realised it was embarrassing, may be even an impossibility, for the two seniors to return to MBS, knowing how Yong Xi liked the prima donna treatment. She put in a few calls to her doting Michael and a few sweet whispers into Xue Zhang’s ears, and she got what she wanted.

Shan Mei told Uncle Liu it would really be a pity to let them go to America. It was not easy to get good people of their experience in the broadcasting field. She offered them both, as a couple, to work as MBS and CTN foreign reporters/correspondents in Japan. They would be home-based but work from the offices of CTN Tokyo whenever necessary. All news and reports coming from Japan would be exclusive and most up to date for CTN/MBS. They could follow the CTN-Japanese production crew around, the Japanese team to do their thing in Japanese and English, while Yong Xi and Zian Da to do theirs in Korean. All expenses for this appointment would be borne equally by CTN and MBS. This way they would be able to spend more time with their daughter. The initial contract would be for 2 years, after which they could return to MBS. All bad memories should have been forgotten, by then.

All concerned knew Shan Mei went out of her way to arrange this because Father considered Uncle Liu his comrade, and Xue Zhang considered Zian Da his senior, brother and best friend. Father was so grateful to Shan Mei for her kind and forgiving heart. He hoped the Liu family appreciated her generous gesture. Privately, Yin Senior knew Xiang Zhe was fuming and wondered if he would still consider Zian Da his best friend after such betrayal.

Uncle Liu was so grateful. At home, he insisted his daughter and son-in-law accept this kind offer. “It isn’t as if CTN or Shan Mei needed special Korean reporters in Japan. All the relevant film footages currently shown on CTN-KE are sent from Tokyo for direct translation into Korean at their CTN offices. Shan Mei is trying to help you two get out of an embarrassing situation. Both of you deserved to be flogged!

If it was left to Xiang Zhe, he would not have been so accommodating. After all, you were playing with his reputation and integrity. He is not just anybody. He is the president of Wen Rong Group, and the husband of Zhen Shan Mei, the couple famous for their unshakable devotion to each other, and now someone comes along to say he has a mistress tucked away somewhere?”

Looking at Zian Da, Liu Senior further chastised, “No wonder I always remind you not to blame others at the Station, but to blame your own brain for its dismal functioning! Hatching up such a preposterous scheme not only showed you cannot be trusted to hold a position of responsibility but also a person with no loyalty. I really should have stuck to my earliest gut feelings which made me hesitate to allow Yong Xi to marry you. I only finally relented because my spoilt daughter kept nagging me about my old fashioned ways, still being so class conscious, reminding me that Xiang Zhe’s father had accepted Shan Mei as future daughter-in-law with open arms. But look at Shan Mei’s family! They have truly been a blessing to the Yins, happily running their simple noodle shop and never once looking out for advantages from the Yin connection. In fact, I should say it’s the other way round, the Yins benefiting from blessings from the Zhens.”

Actually, Xiang Zhe had felt this was a good opportunity to remove Zian Da from MBS, but Shan Mei as usual was pleading on his behalf for second chance. Xiang Zhe only agreed to the Japan posting, to see a smile on his wife’s face, nothing else! If Michael had disagreed, he would have refused too. But knowing how Michael doted on Shan Mei, he knew he couldn’t refuse her too.

When he agreed to the arrangement, Xiang Zhe stressed to Shan Mei, “But only for two years! After that, I don’t want them back at MBS. If they are smart, they’ll use their time in Japan to ferret out new opportunities for themselves, but seeing many of the local newspapers reporting so prominently on their betrayal of their employer, I don’t think they’ll make many friends in Tokyo too. Don’t forget, the Japanese value ‘loyalty’ very highly. They’d rather die than let people question their loyalty!”

On their wedding anniversary which was the same week as CTN anniversary, Shan Mei invited the partners in crime for a special dinner at their house. She had Ma prepare her most special kimchi, Auntie prepared her special roast beef, and she, her own super delicious sushi rolls. When all were enjoying the feast, washed down with champagne and peach coolers, she began firing her missiles. She admonished them for causing such embarrassment to Uncle Liu. She thought Polly was above this kind of underhand play.

Polly thought it was great fun and the three of them deserved every bit of the ridicule coming to them. “When I visited Philip at Harvard where he was doing his doctorate degree, that witch Marilyn used to taunt me about my height and my weight, so much so I became too embarrassed to visit Philip in the States. When Philip told me about JJ’s plan over the phone, I simply couldn’t resist the fun and immediately contacted Sami offering my services to coordinate the CTN event and visit Philip at the same time. Oh, darling Sami, revenge is so sweet. You simply have no idea.” Polly got up from her chair, went around to where Shan Mei was and gave her a ‘thank you’ kiss. “I feel as if I’ve bearded the lioness. Thank you, Sami.”

Shan Mei gave her husband a frustrated look, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Xiang Zhe gave her a non-committal look, declaring his innocence; “Honest, I have nothing at all to do with their plans, you must believe me!”

With a pout, she pretended to be angry with herself for always falling for his sweet talk. “No wonder that lecher Jae Hoon said Yin Xiang Zhe was only good at handling little girls like gullible Zhen Shan Mei!” All who sat around the table erupted into riotous laughter.

At the end of the meal, Shan Mei gave each of them an appreciative present, a crystal ‘Lover’s Knot’ paper weight. She thanked them for helping to clear Xue Zhang’s reputation. “The rumour was really getting out of hand, with the paparazzi trying to interview almost every one at MBS and CTN offices.”

Xiang Zhe wanted to know, “How come I’m not getting a present too.”

“What do you want? You’re already tied to me for life, what else do you need? And whoever heard of naughty boy getting reward, you should be getting punishment!”

“Okay, I accept.” And lifted up a hand in surrender.

“You have to go prepare fruit platter and coffee for us.” While Xiang Zhe worked in the kitchen, the rest went out to the patio to enjoy the soft evening breeze and the glorious fragrance of the roses. His wife came into the kitchen to offer help. Her husband looked at her and coaxed gently, “Offer your kisses instead.” And so ………... Soon, the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee assailed the air.

That night, when they went to bed, Xiang Zhe found, on his bedside table a happy wedding anniversary card held down by a crystal Lover’s Knot paper weight, beautifully engraved with their names and a loving message from his wife. Running his fingers lovingly over their engraved names, honey coating around his heart, he kissed his wife ever so sweetly.

“But it has all turned out well, hasn’t it?”

“Very well, indeed,” he murmured, nuzzling her neck.

Chapter AW-95

Xiang Zhe on waking up was all excited. As usual, today held special meaning for them, August being their special Reunion month.

He filled their room with cut roses, placing one rose on his wife’s bedside table. Breakfast was ready in the kitchen. He rummaged through the pantry to see what other dried or canned food he could find. He had only prepared fresh food for one day, when he remembered his wife was most unpredictable. He packed all the stuff into his car.

He went back to bed. Shan Mei was still sleeping. He began running his fingers along her creamy smooth back. As he was about to plant a kiss on the hollow on her back, she stirred. Looking up at her husband, rubbing the sleepiness from her eyes and seeing excitement all over his face, she asked him with slow trepidation, “You’re up to mischief again?”

He let off a soft laugh and pulled her up from the bed, telling her, “Breakfast is ready.”

Shan Mei looked at the bedside table clock. “Darling, it’s only 8 in the morning. What’s the big rush?” Seeing his eyes bright with excitement, she realised he was up to something and tried to wangle some clue.

Giving her a kiss, he simply told her to be a good girl, go wash up, finish breakfast, and he would let her in on the secret.

She washed up after breakfast, and sat at the kitchen table waiting for some clue from him.

He simply smiled and shook his head. He had a finger to his mouth, as he led her to their car. Before they drove off, he gave her another kiss, and put a finger to her mouth, seeking silence. Giving him her sweetest smile, she obeyed. He drove to their cabin. Suddenly, she remembered it was their special day. With so many things happening since MBS Founding Day, her birthday, CTN anniversary, Yong Xi and Zian Da, Shipyard Library opening in Busan all needing her attention, she didn’t realise how fast the time had flown by.

She had a strange feeling the cabin was looking a bit funny. She looked at her husband.

He pointed to the roof. “Does it remind you of something?”

It reminded her of the style of the old Japanese cottages around Hakone in Japan. As soon as they passed through the gate, their garden now had some kind of Zen landscaping. Their vegetable patch and rose bush had been replanted in a corner to blend in with the new look.

When Xiang Zhe unlocked the door to the cabin, the inside décor was exactly as their unit in the Japanese ryokan in Hakone, right down to their spartan dining bench setting, the tatami mats and exquisite silk futon and quilts in lover’s knot design. As Xue Zhang led her through to the backyard through Japanese sliding doors, she was too stunned to speak, at the view before her eyes. All she did was hung on tightly to her husband, her arms locked around his neck, and sobbed into his chest. His arms wound around her tightly, his hands patting her back gently, his face buried into her hair, inhaling its sweet fragrance, their faces radiating their bliss.

When she had quietened down, Xiang Zhe drew her away from him and looked into her eyes, love overflowing as he said, “Now, there’s no need to go look for your little corner of paradise, right, darling? Please don’t ever think of running away and leaving me behind. That would be the most unbearable thing for me. The few times you left me, I had shed much tears, so please not do that ever again. Understand?”

She nodded her head, her mind too affected to think coherently. A smile wavered, still trying to come up winning. She began hitting his chest with her tiny fists.

Her husband understood her perfectly well. Laughing, he caught her fists in his big hands, he pulled her down the cabin steps to their private Japanese garden, the layout, waterfalls and landscaping of which was an exact replica of their paradise in Hakone. “We can’t have the hot spring pool, because there are no natural mountain streams around our area, but that is alright. The ID has placed little moss mounds, fern fronds and rockeries around the Jacuzzi to give it the feel of a sunken pool.”

Xiang Zhe unloaded the food supplies from the car. He also brought in the yukatas he had specially ordered from Japan. When Shan Mei was in the kitchen, she noticed a large bottle of sake, together with a basic range of Japanese crockery set. She ran up to Xue Zhang who was now filling the tub with water. Hugging and kissing him, she promised to let him have some sake this evening. Seeing her so happy and smiling so radiantly, he was ready to accept anything, even bread crumbs. It was because of him, she had to suffer spiteful talk from jealous tongues and wicked hearts.

“On our next visit, I will bring with me an original Korean table setting gifted to us by Madam Sung. I want to use this rather than the Japanese stuff. I hope Xue Zhang doesn’t mind.”

“I wouldn’t mind anything as long as I am part of your plan.”

Shan Mei took out their original quilt and bedding for airing. After all the hard work, they took their shower, and then changed into their yukatas. So blissful!

The water temperature in the tub was now just about right. They went in for a soak. Shan Mei was ecstatic. With water slowly running from an overhead man-made waterfall, and water dripping from a bamboo spout, all the problems of the world seemed so far away. A tiny kettle warmer was built next to the bamboo spout, keeping their green tea warm and ready for drinking. She began kissing and thanking her husband for his efforts.

Holding her safe in his arms, he murmured, “Darling, you’re worth every bit of it.” To him, she was more precious than the most flawless of diamonds, and more special than the rarest of blooms.

Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei were just awakening from a peaceful slumber, drugged with their love. He propped up on one elbow and looked with infinite love into her eyes, his other hand sweeping tenderly all over the front of her body.

“Say you won’t ever even think of leaving me again,” Xiang Zhe said, as he dropped little kisses and caresses randomly all over his wife.

Shan Mei was feeling euphoric as she responded in word and deed, “I won’t, darling. I’ll never ever leave you. I love you.” She kissed him back same way as what he was doing to her.

“Say it again. I need to hear it again.” His dark eyes glistened brightly with emotion and passion.

“My dearest husband, I promise I won’t ever heed gossip again. Please forgive me for not coming to you with my doubts?” Shan Mei uttered, barely above a whisper as she stroked his tensed-up back, trying to soothe away the frayed nerves.

He then changed position and took her beautiful, provocative face between his hands and said quite simply, “I’ll take you wherever you want to go, whenever you want to. You’re never leaving my sight again or talk about another woman. You’re the only one I want. I don’t have the courage to face the awful agony of being separated from you again. Promise me.” He was very solemn. “Promise you’ll never leave me.”

An instant, unbidden wave of joy pervaded Shan Mei’s heart as she said very solemnly, “I promise.”

One powerful arm encircled her waist and, drawing her against his hard body, he covered her trembling lips with a tender, restrained kiss that spoke potently of his protective love. His kiss deepened, as he asked his wife to give him more.

Xiang Zhe was the first to speak after they descended from passion and were breathing normally again.

“Are all doubts gone now, darling?” he asked, looking intently down into her eyes.

She smiled up at him, assuring him, “Every single one!”

He pulled her closer. “Good because our babies need their mother and their father together.” Xiang Zhe stroked her stomach tenderly as he spoke.

Shan Mei’s eyes were closed. She was most probably enjoying the sound made by the dripping water from the bamboo spout. Xiang Zhe moved up quietly next to her, giving her a tender kiss on her neck. Without opening her eyes, she asked him softly whether he was hungry.

“A bit,” he murmured into her ear. She opened her eyes, stretched her arms about, then towards him asking him to pull her out of the water. In the kitchen, Xiang Zhe had already set out a lacquered tray with tea and some sushi and special kimchi.

The day was simply too beautiful. Lying on the mat, she turned to her husband asking him whether they could stay a few more days. Xiang Zhe looked smilingly at her, and then devilishly replied, “depending on your performance.” And they both laughed, falling into each other’s arms, remembering those were Shan Mei’s exact words when Xiang Zhe had wished he could spend the next 1, 2, 10, and 20 years and every one of her future birthday, by her side.

Chapter AW-96

Shan Mei’s mobile phone was vibrating and buzzing softly. She looked over at Xue Zhang. He was still asleep. Very quietly she crept out to the other end of the garden to take the phone call. It was Brother Sung. He was in Germany attending an auto fair. Bansung had 2 of their newest car models on display.

As soon as Shan Mei left the cabin, Xiang Zhe awoke, and saw her walking with her mobile phone towards the far end corner of the garden. She was talking very quietly, at one point she was laughing quite uncontrollably. She talked for quite a while before she hung up. Who could that be? He looked at his watch; it was almost 1 in the morning. He heard Shan Mei going to kitchen.

(tbc)

She then crept back into the cabin without making a noise and lay next to him. After a while, he stirred. Shan Mei inched close to him to lean on his chest, asking softly whether he was hungry. He gave her a weak smile. She brought a tray from the kitchen to place on their small dining bench. She had also prepared sake in the tokuri, being warmed in its hot water warmer.

She brought over some hot damp towels that she had kept warm in the rice cooker. She gave one to Xue Zhang to freshen up his face, she used another to wipe his back and his arms and hands. She served him some sake and gave herself a little bit. Xue Zhang admitted he must have been very tired, otherwise how could he have slept so long. Giving Xue Zhang a kiss, Shan Mei said she liked watching him sleep, that was why she didn’t wake him.

“Anyway, a little while before you woke up, Brother Sung had phoned from Germany. Madam Sung remembered it would be BB’s birthday in a week’s time. She wants to throw a party for him. I told him I would have to discuss with you first.” Then she began giggling at something else.

“What’s so funny now?”

“Brother Sung said he might need your brothers-in-crime to help him out of a sticky situation, same way they helped you out of the ‘mistress’ dilemma. The government has invited a famous actress to join the Korean delegation that he’s now with. He can’t shake her off. He is afraid, next month she will announce she is pregnant with his child, even though he hasn’t done anything with her. Xiang Jie would need to expose her scheming ways. If that happens, I told him he didn’t need Xiang Jie, he would need a doctor!”

Xiang Zhe laughed in agreement. As Xiang Zhe was enjoying his sake with his meal, his eyes were on his wife. Shan Mei became shy under his scrutiny. “Is something the matter?” she wanted to know.

He ruffled her hair, telling her he suddenly felt so much love for her, he just wanted her to know. He asked his wife to look into his eyes. “Can’t you see them filled with so much love for you?” Shan Mei blushed, telling her husband with a smirk that he was drunk, but inside her heart, she felt as warm as the sake in the warming pot.

“This Brother Sung is really a very busy man, flying here and flying there. Barely 10 days ago, he was with us in Busan for the shipyard library opening.”

On the day they arrived in Busan, Xiang Zhe went with him, BB, BR to the shopping malls, while Shan Mei accompanied Philip and Polly to see granny Roh. The three of them came away from granny’s place very happy. Granny gave Philip and Polly more herbal preparations, and some special tea leaves for Shan Mei to brew tea for Xiang Zhe. Philip was anxious about babies. Granny laughed. Looking at the slimmer figure of Polly, she pronounced they would have no more problems. By the end of the year, if Polly continued to take the herbal concoction once a month, they would successfully conceive. Philip and Polly hung on to her every word, seeing how well he could sleep now, and Polly had lost weight without dieting. It was amazing. Philip again stressed to Sami he was serious about opening a factory with Junior. In fact, he had spoken to his father who promised him their bank would advance financing to the venture.

When all of them met back at the hotel for early dinner, Brother Sung was so happy he insisted on bearing the costs of their entire stay in Busan.

Xiang Zhe looked at his wife and gave her a secret smile. “While we were having ice cream at a shopping mall this afternoon, your son BR told his godpa he would continue to be his godson only if his elder brother could be his godson too. I really have no idea what your two sons have in mind.”

Sung shook his head in disbelief. “Just imagine, I went out with one godson, but came back with two.” At the dinner table, whatever the two boys wanted, they got. Later, Sung asked BR and BB, “Do you boys want to spend the night with godpa?” BR looked to his brother BB who, after some hesitation, nodded his little head.

Shan Mei was not too sure. “I am afraid they will create problems during the night for you.”

BB immediately answered, “No, we will not! I am a big boy now and will look after younger brother.”

Brother Sung laughed, satisfied with the decision. Shan Mei appealed silently to her husband to intervene. Xiang Zhe leaned forward to face the boys, asking them, “Are you two sure you want to spend the night with your godpa? I don’t want to hear you crying for daddy and mummy in the night, understand?”

Both boys nodded their heads and laughed. They climbed over Godpa to where daddy was sitting and gave him big hugs and kisses. Shan Mei looked on at their antics exasperated.

Brother Sung immediately phoned the Reception, asking them to arrange for another king-sized bed with few sets of pillows, bolsters and quilts in the bedroom of his suite.

On hearing that, the boys clapped their hands, asking godpa, “Can we play with our new toys on the bed?”

“Of course” Sung assured them, his eyes full of indulgence. Looking at the others, he grinned wickedly. “Those girls at Reception must be thinking I am going to have some kind of orgy tonight.”

After bathing the boys and dressing them for bed, Xiang Zhe took them along to Brother Sung’s room that was the corner suite on the same floor as the Yins. The boys immediately hopped on to their bed and started taking their toys out of their boxes. Brother Sung couldn’t wait to usher Xiang Zhe out of the room, readying himself to play Daddy for the first time.

When Xiang Zhe returned to their suite, he could see Shan Mei was not happy. He drew her into his arms, giving her kisses here and there, telling her, “Whew! I finally have my wife to myself. That brother Sung must have been able to read my mind. I have been wondering all day how to get rid of the two boys.” He quickly talked his wife into sharing shower with him where he gave her a very relaxing body rub, after which she was in a better mood.

The next day was the library Opening Day. Besides a few representatives from Busan’s Government Education and Welfare Departments, Mr. Sung, Polly and Philip were special VIP guests. After ribbon cutting ceremony, the volunteer helpers recruited by Roh Bin, were on hand to show the guests around. Mr. Sung was guided all over the library especially to the Multi Media Section; Polly was shown the books that had been purchased with funds from her sponsors, and Philip was taken to a high security room where the most expensive reference books and encyclopedia sets were kept. The room and books were donated with funds from the Dutton and McKenzie families.

Afterwards, at the tea reception, Philip thought they could add some English Language audio tapes to the library. “My father is one of the patrons at British Council. I’m sure the council will be glad to donate some tapes to the library to propagate the English Language.”

Later that afternoon, Philip and Polly returned to Seoul because Polly had to fly back to London the next day. Her company was handling the P.R. and event management for the British Auto Fair. Bansung Motors was participating in that too.

Brother Sung suggested to Xiang Zhe, “May be we can stay an extra day. The boys are just about getting used to having me around. It is so rare for me to have such fun. As soon as I am back in Seoul, I will have to leave for Europe to attend the Auto Fair.”

Xiang Zhe didn’t want to begrudge him this joy, so they stayed another day. They went to the fishing port to watch the trawlers coming in, and see how the fishermen distributed their catches for the day. They bought a lot of fresh seafood, because Roh Bin had organised a hot pot buffet style dinner that night at the shipyard at the request of the shipyard workers. They wanted the Yin family and the generous Mr. Sung to enjoy Busan-style cuisine.

Before they went their separate ways at Seoul airport the next day, Sung insisted they meet again when he returned from Europe. The boys gave him hugs and kisses, and also passed on kisses to grandma and grandpa Sung.

The boys didn’t want to go home with their parents that night. They wanted to go to Grandpa’s place. They wanted to show BA and BZ their toys. Yin Snr was pleased to hear everything went very well, and the shipyard workers were all happy. Xiang Zhe wanted his father to visit the shipyard in Busan with him on his next trip. “The place is really beautiful. In fact, renovation work for our old family home is in progress. Everything will be very simple. Shan Mei doesn’t want anything grand.”

His father agreed. “That is so like Shan Mei.”

Shan Mei’s mobile phone was ringing. “Who can be calling this early?” Shan Mei asked herself. She freed herself from her husband’s embrace to rummage for her mobile phone that was somewhere around.

It was Brother Sung. He apologised for disturbing them so early. For him it was late at night and he had just gotten in after partying with their local agents. “Shan Mei, did you manage to talk to Brother Yin about birthday party? My mother has been harassing me for an answer.”

“Hold on a minute please. Xue Zhang is just waking up. Brother Sung, you can talk to Xue Zhang directly about this,” then she passed her mobile phone to her husband.

She went into the kitchen to brew some fresh coffee. She heard birds chirping in the garden. She took her cup of coffee and hurried off to one shady spot of the garden, hoping to see where the birds were. They sounded so close. May be they had a nest hidden some where.

Xiang Zhe came up behind her and caught her to him, wanting to know why she abandoned him again. Before she could answer, he carried her back to their cabin. “I am not ready to get up yet,” he told his wife as he held her securely in his warm embrace on the mat.

Xiang Zhe was soon asleep. Shan Mei had noticed since the ‘mistress’ episode, Xue Zhang had become very clingy. Actually, she would be the one who wouldn’t be able to bear to part from him. She admitted this time she had acted too rash; she should have gone to her husband with her doubts. She now understood he was afraid she would pull a similar trick like the one his father pulled on him and his mother. Stupid her! How could she be so insensitive to her husband’s insecurities? For months, she had been beset by insecurities herself too, with those gossips saying even though she was very popular as a newscaster, she lacked the social pedigree to assist her husband. Wen Rong Group could be enjoying same success as Bansung Group that had pedigrees all over, if not for Zhen Shan Mei who couldn’t give that pedigree to Yin Xiang Zhe. After all, she came from working class background. What could she do? Her mind became fraught with anxieties.

Suddenly, her mind seemed to clear, when she looked at the situation from an outsider’s perspective. She knew Michael and Brother Sung doted on her. “Are they trying to give me some claim to pedigree by insisting on being godfather to my children? Of course, for them circulating in that kind of social circle, they know first hand how cruel and unkind the upper crusts can be to those they consider beneath them. Isn’t that the reason Brother Sung steered well away from those snobs and arranged marriages?

Her children having two sets of godparents with the best pedigrees would stop people talking about her. Or making them more envious of her? I should have been more appreciative of their thoughtfulness, instead of worrying about the children being spoilt by them.” Shan Mei smiled. She was not going to worry any more. She was going to spend the time enjoying her husband’s love. No more self doubts which would only end up hurting them!

She snuggled up to her husband. Feeling his wife’s warmth and nearness, Xiang Zhe slowly roused from his sleep. Seeing the smouldering desire in his wife’s eyes, he laughed softly and lifted Shan Mei up to him, kissing her deeply, his tongue seeking hers hungrily, his hands tenderly caressing her creamy smooth back and hips.

Chapter AW-97

After lunch, they enjoyed their coffee in the garden. After a while, Xiang Zhe asked his wife, “Why didn’t you ask what transpired between me and Brother Sung regarding BB’s birthday?”

“Darling, whatever you decide, we will simply do as you want, but I thought Auntie has told you she has arranged something on that day? Have you forgotten?”

“No, I haven’t forgotten. BB is inviting his friends over from playschool. But to make Madam Sung happy, after the party, the two boys can spend the night at their place.”

Shan Mei gave her husband a kiss, praising him for his good decision.

Xiang Zhe gave Shan Mei a suspicious look. What was she up to, being so accommodating? He became worried.

Shan Mei was soaking by the pool, trying to find the bird’s nest she was sure was somewhere around the ferns, or tucked away under the overhang of the waterfall. She thought she saw a little bird squeezing through a little hole under the overhanging rock. She left some rice out and kept watch. Xiang Zhe was beside her in the pool, watching, bemused, at her antics.

Xiang Jie called at that moment. “Sister, we have been going over the ratings of prime time news of the past few nights. The new team of Miss Cha and Mr. Cheng doesn’t seem to be working. Cheng appears to be giving himself too much pressure.”

“Of course he would, coming right after Han Jae Hoon. How about the boy with the cute dimple? Try him. I’ve felt he has the most potential of the whole lot, and has appeared unfazed by what is happening around him. Jae Hoon and Patrick should together put him through intensive training, in a real newsroom environment. Then during P.E. put him through the paces of a mock interview, to publicise his appearance on prime time news, beginning September to gauge viewers’ response. Xiang Jie, maybe you can consider one of the new trainees, for the weather report spot.”

Xiang Zhe was curious of the boy with the cute dimple. He didn’t notice any such boy. Apparently, this boy had caught his wife’s attention. Of course, any boy or man would want to catch her attention. If she was interested, she could make him a star overnight. He had seen the present anchors fawning over Shan Mei whenever she was in the studio. So far, she had only been polite to them. She never singled out any one of them for special attention. With this cute boy, whom she had singled out to Xiang Jie, Xiang Zhe wanted to see what kind of treatment she would give him.

When he handed the presidency post to Shan Mei, he never thought of her becoming the most powerful woman in the local broadcasting industry. To him it was simply giving the job to the most qualified person. Since then, he had realised, women were jealous of her power, and good looking men were falling over themselves to try to catch her attention. Even when he was in the same room as them, these men simply ignored his existence. And the funny part was Shan Mei was unaware of all this power vested upon her. All she knew was her Xue Zhang had entrusted her with a very important task and she had to do her best and not let him down, because she loved him.

They went into the office on Thursday. Shan Mei wanted him to go with her to CTN office. They went in search of Patrick who was training that cute boy.

One look, Xiang Zhe had his doubts. “Isn’t he a bit too young for such an important task?”

Patrick assured Xiang Zhe, “Bai Taku may look young, but he is in fact 27 and has worked 3 years as deejay in a small town radio station in Japan, before returning to Seoul to continue further degree course in Mass Comm. His style is very similar to Jae Hoon’s. In fact he has a whole stack of videos of Jae Hoon doing his news with Shan Mei. Once he has his hair styled properly and all suited up, he should look okay, and Miss Cha would balance him nicely. His presentation is very natural.”

Xiang Zhe admitted the best team he had seen so far was Jae Hoon and Shan Mei. “If necessary, would they team up again?” he asked himself. Of course they would, to ensure Xiang Jie would get no criticism from the directors. Later they sent Taku and Miss Cha off to the stylists for make-up and hair styling.

Xiang Zhe looked around for Shan Mei and wondered where she had gone so he went searching for her. Just as he was emerging from the lift on the 9th floor, he saw Shan Mei walking back into her office, studying some papers in her hands. “Shan Mei, there’s something I need to talk over with you,” he called after her.

Shan Mei, already back in her seat at her desk, swiveled to face her husband as he walked through her office door. She folded her arms over her chest and smiling at him, she gently said, “I’m listening.”

“You didn’t go look over that Bai Taku to see whether he was coming along alright with Patrick and Jae Hoon. You’re sure he’ll be ready for such an assignment after such a short training session?”

Shan Mei laughed. “During his training, I’ve already looked him over and know exactly what he is capable of producing. In fact I want to push him out as one of the New Faces during 31st anniversary year. He carries himself very much like Jae Hoon, and is a natural. He will be a great help to Xiang Jie, if given the right opportunities.”

Xiang Zhe couldn’t deny that the kid looked quite easy on the eye but he felt bothered with Shan Mei’s decision and the shadows in his dark eyes showed his confusion. In the interest of the station and in all fairness to the other news anchors, he felt he had to let his wife know that he felt it was too early to put that Bai kid on.

“Well, darling, reading the 9 o’clock news is evidently a big responsibility. Can he take the pressure? Do you think the News Department Controller will agree …..?” he began and stopped when he saw the defiant look on Shan Mei’s face.

“I don’t care whether News Department controller agrees with me or not, I will stand firm on my decision to push him out on Prime Time news in September. Whoever disagrees can resign.”

Xiang Zhe was shocked on hearing this. His wife had never taken such a hard stance before with an employee! Was Shan Mei doing it for the station or was she interested in Taku? All along, he had never heard her mention one word about this Bai Taku. He didn’t even know such a person existed. Suddenly, she wanted to put him on prime time news and would sack anyone who didn’t agree. And Xiang Jie was told to plug him during the last week of August during P.E. Xiang Zhe kept quiet, afraid if he disagreed, he too would be given the sack at home. He sighed resignedly, quietly accepting the fact that matter was out of his hands – the final decision rightfully rested with Shan Mei now that she was heading the station. At least she was proactive and ready to fight for what she believed in.

After that afternoon’s 2STAC, and they had arrived home, Xiang Zhe decided to visit their children. He knew if he stayed around Shan Mei too long, without distraction, she could feel his discontent, and would use any means to dig out the reason. If he didn’t watch it, he might throw another jealous tantrum.

The children had been missing their parents. They hadn’t seen mummy and daddy for so long, they thought she was bringing home another baby.

“Would you like it if mummy brought home a baby?”

They shook their heads, their hands in the air, gesticulating “No, No.”

“Okay, if you behave and are good, no more babies. Just the four of you will be plenty enough for daddy and mummy.”

“Yeah,” they shouted, and ran to their daddy, hugging and kissing him, reminding him not to allow mummy to bring another baby home.

Daddy laughingly assured them, “The four of you are enough for me. But if you make mummy angry……..??”

At once they promised to be good. Oh no, Shan Mei thought. Already picking up their daddy’s habit of making rash promises!

The night was very beautiful. After dinner, Shan Mei decided to stroll around the garden with Xue Zhang. They rarely spent much time in the garden like they used to. Uncle Gardener had taken care of their garden beautifully. And the roses were blooming profusely. Shan Mei wanted to give her husband a perfect rose. She went into one of the greenhouses [they now had 3] to select a bloom. She cut off one, after removing the thorns, she kissed it and handed it to Xue Zhang, telling him, “This rose comes with all my love.”

He was too confused by her actions all day, ever since they were at CTN office. Did that Taku boy have such a soothing effect on Shan Mei? She was all smiles, she didn’t even give him accusing looks when they were talking about babies. Normally, she would give him dark looks knowing they would never be able to have another baby. At dinner, whatever their babies wanted, it was alright with her, even second helpings of ice cream.

He was going to ask her what was on her mind, when she laughed lightly, then pulled him along back into the house. “Come on, it’s bedtime. I need my beauty sleep.”

“What’s the big deal? Aren’t you beautiful enough? Why do you have to make yourself more beautiful?”

“I want to impress a secret admirer!”

When Xiang Zhe heard that, he kept unusually quiet, wondering who that secret admirer might be – could it be that Dimple Boy?

August went by very quickly. First they had BB’s birthday, then the boys together with nanny went to stay with their godpa for two days. Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei had the twins to themselves during that time. Shan Mei made time to watch P.E. when Xiang Jie had Bai Taku on with him, the entire week. Shan Mei appeared very happy with the results. Xiang Zhe was not that impressed. Shan Mei had not let him know the people meter rating % had shot up on the final 2 evenings of P.E. Xiang Jie was excited but Shan Mei had told him not to let his elder brother know. “I want to give him a pleasant surprise.”

Over the weekend, tabloids were speculating whether this new ‘secret weapon’ being groomed by Zhen Shan Mei for prime time news would work. “Mr. Bai has the looks, the talent and flair, but not the experience. Can he take the pressure?”

As expected by Xiang Zhe, the evening that Bai Taku and Miss Cha were to go on, Shan Mei made it her business to arrive at the studio well before 9 o’clock. She didn’t go talk with the anchors. Instead she was joking with the production team and to thank them for their valuable support. Xiang Jie, Jae Hoon and Patrick were there as well. When it was almost time, Miss Cha and Bai Taku got ready at their news desk. Xiang Zhe looked through the camera lens and was greatly surprised. Taku was so like Shan Mei in the sense the camera loved them. The lens caught him with a clean cut shy movie star look, and his slight dimple instead of being irritating became his most captivating point.

Xiang Zhe had another shock. Taku was made the main anchor. Was Shan Mei so infatuated with the boy, she was playing with the reputation of MBS by putting him, on his first outing, as the main anchor? If he slipped, the newspapers would have a field day roasting him tomorrow, especially after the hype they had built up last week on P.E. And his beloved Shan Mei would go hide herself in a corner to cry, and he would be left picking up the pieces. He knew no one dared talked her out of it, because she had insisted whoever disagreed with her decision would get the sack.

Fifteen minutes into the news, Xiang Jie in the control room was frantically trying to get the attention of Shan Mei who was standing behind the camera, to the left of the camera, to the right of camera. He signaled with 2 V signs. Xiang Zhe quietly slipped out of the studio to where his younger brother was. The ratings had shot up so quickly and so suddenly, MBS was now miraculously only 4 % behind the leader SGS. Xiang Zhe grinned, his hand rubbing his forehead as if releasing the tension that had been building up in his head. He didn’t understand how the rise in % came about or what made it worked. As long as his wife understood, that was good enough for him. He was still shaking his head in disbelief, when he suddenly remembered he had to watch Shan Mei’s reaction to the news and to Dimple Boy.

At the end of the session, Xiang Jie announced the good news through the microphone, and for all to meet in canteen for celebration. Shan Mei went up to Miss Cha and Taku and patted them each on their arms, giving them the thumbs up, her face breaking out in a mega-watt smile. Taku took out a hankie from his pocket to wipe away the perspiration on his forehead. Miss Cha laughed, and offered her congratulations. Shan Mei then went to talk to a production crew, pointing out some spots where she felt might need some attention, and lighting adjustment.

Approaching the control room, she saw Xiang Jie. They hugged each other tightly, Shan Mei telling him, “No more worries, we have found our man. Now, no more disturbance from you, while I am out having romantic time with your elder brother!”

Xiang Zhe heard this, as he was coming up behind Xiang Jie. He smiled at her deliciously, then went up to her and gave her a congratulatory kiss. Draping his arm around her shoulders, he led her to the canteen. Xiang Zhe gazed into his wife’s eyes, his telling hers how much he adored her.

As he looked on at the celebration going in the canteen, Xiang Jie, Patrick, Jae Hoon and Taku deep in conversation, Shan Mei discussing some finer points with Miss Cha, Xiang Zhe heaved a sigh of relief. For a moment he had thought he was losing her. Shan Mei beckoned to her husband. “I am tired, I want to go home.”

Before going off, she reminded them, “There will be more work to do from now onwards, training a pair for 7 p.m. News. Tomorrow, the news reporters will surely turn out in force. Jae Hoon, will you please be the front for Xiang Jie and Taku. Thank you.”

After their shower, while abed, Xiang Zhe wanted to know why the big secret in keeping Taku from everybody in MBS. “I was waiting to see what the others could do. I didn’t want to give Bai any false encouragement. Then I wanted him safely locked into a 5-year contract, before I would show what he was capable of producing. Anyway, it all turned out well because I found out he’s someone with a strong sense of loyalty. When he signed the contract, he said he liked working with MBS, because of its young team. He wouldn’t think of going anywhere else.” Looking over to her husband, she added, “But one can be, never be too sure! Circumstances can change.”

Xiang Zhe wanted to know, “How could you tell from the beginning that he had potential?”

“I couldn’t. I began to notice his talents later, when I saw him taking his hankie out of his pocket to wipe the perspiration off his forehead quite often. It reminded me so much of Xue Zhang; his hankie and his forehead always breaking out in perspiration.” Pretending Xue Zhang’s forehead was moist, she began wiping his forehead lovingly with a damp towel.

“Zhen Shan Mei! See if I don’t give you a real smack on that delicious bottom of yours if you continue to be so cheeky.”

Chapter AW-98

When Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei entered the big function room where this year’s company Christmas party was held, it reminded him of the scenario in Sydney when they attended the Australian Broadcasting Union Christmas Ball a few years back.

Big TV screens were mounted in every strategic corner, all promoting MBS’s forthcoming 31st anniversary the following year, with trailers. After he sat down, he paid attention to the screens and was so surprised to see his second son’s face on all advertising material with the tagline ‘The future Face of MBS’. He was upset Shan Mei did not discuss this with him.

As he sat watching, his hand over his mouth to hide a satisfied smile, he had to admit his son looked simply adorable, especially in the promo trailer where he was filmed at his daily activities. In one frame he looked intently at what his elder brother was showing him, in a few other frames he was hugging and kissing the twins, and so on and so on. Soon, his staff was coming up to him to congratulate their President on his beautiful children.

Before the party began, all anger at Shan Mei was forgotten. He was sitting at the table being proud father, and began enjoying the promotional trailer, laughing softly and shaking his head at the children’s antics. This must be the work of Xiang Jie and You Zhen, because he remembered they were filming at the twins’ recent birthday party. After the initial trailer, other promotional trailers followed.

It seemed MBS 31st anniversary would be packed with various specials, programmes and shows. The amazing thing was all programmes had been sponsored. MBS needn’t put out a cent to provide such entertaining programmes to its viewers. Some programmes were re-sponsored, like CTN sponsored re-runs of some 2STAC, P.E., and 2-part mega movies on weekend afternoons, were in turn taken up by big foreign corporations.

Even Yong Xi and Zian Da were supposed to work on a programme, similar to Shan Mei’s Korean Kinship, from southern Japan. This would be an info-documentary and would be sponsored by KTB, JTB and Diamond Cruise Line Company in Busan. Was this the reason Yong Xi and Zian Da decided to send their daughter back to Seoul to stay with her grandfather? Apparently not, because Yin Snr did mention that Uncle Liu had lamented the girl was missing her friends at her previous school so much, she had trouble adjusting to the new school in Tokyo.

Xiang Zhe recognised many of the presenters in these trailers as the new trainees. There was even going to be a special Musical Postcard radio show for last Thursday of each month, for the next 12 months, dedicated to Korean listeners in Japan. This, surprisingly, was sponsored by Bansung of Japan.

Shan Mei, her face all flustered, finally re-appeared and came to sit down next to Xiang Zhe. She gave her husband an apologetic look, letting him know she didn’t realise those monkeys were going to use BR’s images for promotion. Xiang Zhe simply smiled at her, drawing her attention to one of the promo trailers. It stated all MBS executives and selected staff members, during the month of May, would be interviewed, one day one interview, for the 31 days. He caught hold of her hand under the table and smiled tenderly at her. “I know you and Xiang Jie always favoured a transparent style of management, but isn’t this getting a little too transparent? Now, I can’t hide anymore!”

Father and Auntie brought BB along this year, insisting he was old enough to attend, when Xiang Zhe commented this sort of thing was way past the little fellow’s bedtime. Yin Senior observed around. “There are children younger than BB attending the party.”

After this, BB didn’t want to sit with his parents, afraid they would send him home soon. He stuck to Grandpa and grandma all night. He too became excited when he saw himself on the promo trailer and wanted to know why BR had to stay home and not be at the party.

The promo trailer receiving the most reaction that night was the one inviting children between ages 4 and 10, born on same day as BR, to birthday party. Only 90 invitations would be issued, so application forms had to be filled out, for lucky draw. All applicants must be children of MBS employees, or at least be sponsored by an MBS employee. Xiang Zhe was rubbing his forehead out of habit thinking, ‘These kids are going to turn MBS inside out.”

Next was the one announcing one different star footballer from KFA appearing once a month for the next 12 months, giving tips on their playing techniques to viewers, and which event, in their lives, propelled them to stardom!

Even BBS in conjunction with CTN-UK would sponsor a Fairground next December, complete with carousel, as promotion of BBS children’s programmes and CTN cartoon features. Shan Mei’s good friend, Zhao Di, would host a fun kiosk for the kids.

Xiang Zhe recognised many well-known personalities whose names were given as guests to appear on next year’s 2STAC shows.

There was even a table for press!

Simple as that! All of next year’s time slots would be taken care of. Every month, there would be one special highlight. No wonder Shan Mei and Xiang Jie insisted at least 2 years would be needed to plan for 31st anniversary celebration. Shan Mei whispered to her husband that additional sponsorship money was still flowing in to MBS!

During the course of the evening, many girls approached Xiang Jie for one thing or another or asking one question after another. After politely refusing several to accompany them back to their tables, he finally went up to the stage with BB in his arms. He thanked all colleagues and well-wishers for their support. As they could see, tonight he had with him his little helper from P.E., whom he had promised his undivided attention for the entire evening. “BB and I would like to take this joyous seasonal occasion to make a toast to all attendees here tonight, wishing all a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!” BB enjoyed that, and was waving his glass of orange juice in all directions, smiling non stop. Some children from the floor were shouting to him, “I love you” to which he laughingly shouted back, “I love you too”, then gave Uncle a kiss on his cheek.

After the entertainment programme was at its end, the band struck up some music for dancing. Xiang Jie took BB in his arms and swirled around the floor a few times before handing him back to his daddy. He then took the chance to invite his sister for a dance. BB on seeing that wanted his daddy to dance with him too. After that, the Yins made their escape after leaving BB back in the care of Xiang Jie.

The winter night was very cold. Wrapping Shan Mei snugly in her thick coat, Xiang Zhe bundled her into the car and headed for home. Xiang Zhe wanted to spend the time alone with his wife at home, not in a room full of carousal merry makers.

At home, after they had settled down comfortably in their TV room with their midnight snacks, Xiang Zhe laughingly told his wife he didn’t know MBS had so many employees. 300 copies of the applications for BR’s birthday party simply vanished as soon as they were put on the counter. Luckily only 90 children were going to be invited.

Shan Mei gave him an enigmatic smile. “Darling, I won’t bank on that. You know Brother Sung. He insisted on sponsoring the birthday party and if the response is overwhelming enough, he may want to invite more. You know his flamboyant way of doing things, especially that day being BR’s birthday. He’s so afraid people won’t know BR is his godson. Your brother told me Brother Sung is going to invite some of his cousins from America to the party.”

When Xiang Zhe heard that, he asked, “But how could so many children from MBS employees be having the same birthday as our BB?”

“Well, we’ll have to wait and see.”

Xiang Zhe thought he shouldn’t lose out to BB’s godfather. He too should do something so radically different, at his son’s birthday party; his staff would see him in a different light. Shan Mei agreed wholeheartedly. She really wanted them to realise their President Yin had a soft and funny side to him.

After some thought, she suggested he play a clown who had a whole bag of magic tricks. “Yes, this is it! ‘Mr. Clown the Magician’! The children will simply adore you and you will become the most popular head of a television station. After the holidays I’ll arrange for clown and magic lessons for you.”

Xiang Zhe tweaked his wife’s nose with “you and your silly ideas”, but he was grinning widely, his mind already running riot with images of himself in a clown’s outfit and trying to pull a rabbit out of a black top hat. Shan Mei also promised, “Darling, if you come as the Clown Magician, I’ll come willingly as your most helpful assistant.”

Xiang Zhe immediately asked worriedly, “Will you be wearing one of those short sexy frilly outfits showing lots of leg?”

“Of course not! I’ll come dressed as Mrs. Clown. Happy?”

He nodded happily, giving his wife a lingering kiss, followed by an “I love you so much” declaration.

Anyway, the flyers advertising next year’s events also disappeared very fast. It seemed MBS would profit greatly from its 31st anniversary celebration. All corporations had been so supportive. Apart from their sponsorship, they would also be donating prizes and offering special tour/cruise packages.

Xiang Zhe went to the stereo player set and slotted in a long playing record. He then drew his wife into his arms, slowly moving in step with her around the room to the tune of some romantic ballads. He had been dying to hold her in his arms all night, but she was running all over the function room, he decided to get her away early. “Darling, didn’t you miss me the way I was missing you?” he murmured longingly into Shan Mei’s ear.

“Of course I was missing you. I’ve thought of no one except you all day, that’s why I remembered to make you granny’s soup.” Xiang Zhe drew his wife closer within his arms. He really loved holding her close to him.

After a while, they went to the kitchen. Shan Mei was nagging him about his drinking a few nights back before Philip returned to London for the Christmas and New Year holidays; and tonight, he was practically emptying the wine casket.

Stopping her in her tracks, taking her face between his hands, he kissed her deep and hard. He grinned sheepishly. “No nagging, please? Not tonight, anyway. Tonight, I am so happy I want to celebrate. The planning you all did for MBS 31st year appears to be very successful, beyond my wildest expectations.”

During previous years, his time was always taken up with production meetings, thrashing out ideas for shows hoping to increase the ratings. It was a constant war of ratings! Now, everything was planned and arranged with such ease. They only had production meetings once a week. Other times they met whenever necessary at Xiang Jie’s office. Shan Mei had always said push out what the viewers wanted, and the ratings would eventuate.

Shan Mei went into her husband’s arms, and asked, “Do you want to visit Mother tomorrow?” Xiang Zhe’s eyes misted. If only his mother was alive, she would surely be ensconced in Shan Mei’s total love as well. Even though Mother was long gone, Shan Mei made his mother a real part of their lives!

The next morning, treating the day as an outing, Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei took the 2 older boys together with Xiang Jie to visit Mother’s grave.

“Daddy, where are we going?” asked BB excitedly as Xiang Jie helped the boys into the car.

“Daddy is taking you to visit Grandma,” Shan Mei answered. The boys were confused and looked at their mother. “Isn’t grandma at home with grandpa?”

“This is daddy’s mummy, now no longer alive, but has gone to heaven.”

At the graveside, the boys noticed daddy and uncle were very solemn. They went up to daddy, putting their arms around daddy’s neck, they gave him kisses one on each side of his cheek. “Daddy, please don’t cry. We’ll share our mummy with you. Our mummy loves you very much, too.” Xiang Zhe, his heart all soft, looked at his boys tenderly, his eyes red with unshed tears.

They really had inherited Shan Mei’s beautiful character. They then ran up to mummy, their little arms around her neck, “Mummy, will you be mummy to our daddy and our uncle too and promise to love them even when they are naughty? Their mummy has gone to heaven.” Shan Mei nodded her head, fighting hard to hold back her tears. She went into her husband’s arms. The boys went to uncle, telling him not to be sad. “Our mummy has agreed to be your mummy too.” Xiang Jie kissed them, and then hugged them close to him.

All of a sudden, BR ran to his parents and sat between them. He rested his little head on his mother’s bosom and earnestly begged of her. “Mummy, I don’t want you to go to heaven. I want you to be by our sides forever. I want my mummy always.” Looking over to his elder brother, he asked “Right, Elder Brother?” BB nodded his head solemnly. Daddy ruffled the little tyke’s hair, and gave him a kiss. He was so touched.

Xiang Zhe and Xiang Jie did final cleaning around the plot, after which Xiang Zhe announced he would take them to Westin Chosun for crepes, ice cream and refreshments. Uncle led the boys to the car, Xiang Zhe holding Shan Mei’s hand followed close behind. And with that visit, MBS 31st year was blessed!

The Monday after the MBS Christmas party, Shan Mei invited Patrick to lunch at Westin Chosun. She urged Patrick to propose to Brother Sung’s younger sister if he was interested. Shan Mei felt she was very sweet and soft, and not at all status conscious like her mother. If Patrick felt shy bringing up the matter, she would approach Brother Sung. Shan Mei hoped after the marriage Patrick would still remain with CTN and not be influenced to join Bansung. That was the only way they could escape the domineering ways of Madam Sung.

Patrick went red in the face and was shy all over, suddenly lost for words when he was usually so articulate.

Shan Mei gave a soft, understanding laugh. “What about Brother Jae Hoon? Patrick, do you think he may be interested in the elder sister?” Shan Mei suddenly got excited with the idea of double wedding.

Patrick immediately told her Jae Hoon was not interested to go beyond friendship.

Shan Mei gave his hand an understanding squeeze, telling him to leave everything to Big Sister!

Later in the day, Shan Mei told her husband the conversation she had with Patrick, and wanted his opinion. Should he talk to Brother Sung, should they both see him together, or should she get Brother Sung’s opinion before they officially meet with the Sung seniors?

“Darling, shouldn’t we first ask Auntie’s opinion in having Miss Sung as a daughter-in-law?”

Shan Mei almost laughed out loud at her husband’s question. “Husband, did you ask your father’s opinion when you foisted me on him as your fiancée? Were you going to ‘dump’ me if your father didn’t like me, seeing I came from a working class background only, definitely not good enough for his son?”

Xiang Zhe looked sheepishly at her, saying he needn’t seek his father’s opinion. “Since my father has given up all hope of me ever marrying and giving him grandchildren, any girl I put in front of him, he will gladly accept. In fact, the next night my father had asked me to go home for business meeting. After the most important business issues were discussed, the rest of the night, he only wanted to talk about his future daughter-in-law. He was so captivated by his son’s ‘fiancée,’ he simply couldn’t believe I met such a sweet and beautiful girl in London only 1 week after her arrival in the city.”

When Xiang Zhe told his father Shan Mei didn’t know he was MBS heir, neither did he know she was going to apply for MBS training class, Yin Snr insisted it was destiny. He wanted to know when they could meet her parents so they could plan for the wedding.

Shan Mei gave another short laugh. “Darling, Auntie is the same, no? She has said it was easier to get a bull up a tree than to get Patrick talking about girls. If we tell her Patrick wants to marry, she will immediately take out her sewing kit and start making baby clothes! Better to confirm with the Sungs instead of getting her all high and excited.”

Xiang Zhe laughed at that too, the same image going through his mind. His angel was right. It was a love match; no one had the right to object unless there was a very valid reason.

Brother Sung had always felt more comfortable in Shan Mei’s presence, so maybe it was best to invite him to their house for informal dinner, to get his advice.

“Darling, I hope you know, the Sungs will demand protocol of the highest order.”

“I know what you mean, but I don’t think Patrick will be comfortable with that, knowing how he likes to keep his lineage low profile. He would rather not marry if he has to go through the whole exercise. I’ll have to make Brother Sung understand Patrick’s stance on this.”

Xiang Zhe was surprised Shan Mei knew about Patrick’s direct descent from Admiral Yi. Of course she did. Patrick told her a lot about himself whenever they traveled together. Otherwise, how else could they keep themselves awake? Apart from her darling husband, she would never allow herself to fall asleep in the presence of another man.

Brother Sung was the key man. He made his sister understand Patrick was not the type to take any nonsense from his wife, in the sense he wouldn’t tolerate behaviour like their mother’s. “Patrick wants a wife like Shan Mei. Even though she is a highly successful career woman, at home her husband is the boss. Dear Sister, have you noticed Patrick’s mother, even though she’s well educated, she does exactly as Uncle Yin wants. And Patrick definitely will not accept an interfering mother-in-law. If you don’t think you can do it, you shouldn’t be talking about marriage.”

Luckily for them, after Patrick proposed and Brother Sung made his parents understand that Patrick would only go ahead with the marriage if only the least amount of fuss was made, the Sungs agreed to the marriage, seeing their younger daughter was now almost 33 years old. Sung Senior told Madam Sung not to interfere too much in their married life. After all, it was a love match. The Sungs would gift their daughter with a house they had in the same area as where the Yins were presently living.

At the end of the year, when Xiang Zhe accompanied Shan Mei to Madam Kim for final fitting of her specially designed hanbok for February’s Award ceremony, he also chose several outfits that he wanted her to wear to the various functions during the year. Shan Mei protested his extravagance -- she didn’t want to appear too outstanding from the rest of the MBS team. Madam Kim suggested new arrivals in the styles favoured by Shan Mei. She already had another hanbok for anniversary ball, and a cocktail dress that Madam Kim had ordered for her for CTN anniversary.

Drawing her close, Xiang Zhe softly told her he wanted her to look beautiful. Didn’t Xue Zhang always maintain whatever she wore, she looked beautiful? Standing on tip toe, she whispered into his ear, “and didn’t you also say I look most beautiful with nothing on?”

His eyes, gleaming with mischief, looked into hers, a wicked smile slowly breaking out on his face, “so true, so true” he whispered back, promising himself, tonight his wife was going to pay for the teasing reminder.

Chapter AW-99

On 1 January, MBS officially launched its 31st year. Many guests, CTN and MBS staff and the press, including 20 lucky Internet subscribers – selected from a lucky draw – were invited to a buffet luncheon spread, the entire meal laid out in P.I.R. format. One counter hosted by Aunt Shu displayed 31 different dishes of food, cooked from fresh supplies only bought that morning from the market.

The travel counter had a choice of 31 travel packages, 31 places per tour type, all going at 31% discount.

NSK Bank gave out 31 lucky draws of cash prices, redeemable at the travel counter.

Bansung, through Bargain Counter, offered 31 cars of their latest model at 31% discount, financing at 3.1% interest p.a. was available through NSK Bank. 31 units of the laptop model used by P.E. were also offered at 31% discount, financing again available through NSK Bank at 3.1% interest p.a.

Sports shoes from the American sportswear sponsor of P.E. also offered: 31 latest designs, 31 pairs per design at 31% discount. Hosts and assistants of PIR, 2STAC and PE were on hand to help with the sales.

Xiang Zhe was sitting quietly at a corner table with his 2 sons, grinning and enjoying the food. Their launch would make headlines in tomorrow’s newspapers, seeing how the newsmen were busy grabbing bargains for themselves and their colleagues unable to attend. At this party, he didn’t have to make small talk with anybody because everybody was busy trying to grab some bargain, no matter what. Even his father, Auntie, Pa and Uncle Jin were at the Bargain counters fighting for bargains.

Shan Mei was busy helping in the shoe dept., Patrick busy going through cars, Xiang Jie taking care of the laptop, Bai Taku and some of the new trainees helping Chen Sui and Shen Qi Tong with travel department, another group of trainees helped in serving food. The cars were sold as soon they were offered, on first come first serve basis.

When party was over, everybody appeared very happy and pleased. Uncle Jin managed to buy a car, a laptop and 2 seats each on 4 different tour packages. Father and Pa also each secured 2 seats each on the same tours as Uncle Jin. Staff members and press reps almost bought out the shoe shop, the laptops on offer, and took out 60% of the tour packages.

All who helped at the function were totally exhausted. They were invited to an informal sit down dinner at Yin Snr’s house for later that evening. Westin Chosun was in charge of the catering and arranged for table layout and setting in the garden. Shan Mei’s roses on display were much admired.

Xiang Zhe, Shan Mei and Xiang Jie played host at the table specially reserved for the sponsors. The sponsors were so pleased with the day’s sales. In less than 2 hours, everything was sold. The Bank also gained a lot of business financing motor, travel and laptop sales. NSK’s Credit Card Department also signed up many new members. They suggested to Shan Mei to organise another similar event, at the end of the year, on 31 December.

Sung Snr became excited too. He told the others around the table that Shan Mei’s second child Bao Rong born on MBS founding day anniversary was his son’s godson.

He suggested to his son, “S.D., why don’t you offer one of Bansung’s less expensive apartments, at a lucky draw open to PIR internet subscribers, at 31% discount, NSK to finance at 3.1% interest, on MBS founding day anniversary to mark BR’s 4th birthday? The Yins and the Sungs are practically family. This will immediately attract new Internet subscribers.”

Xiang Zhe was taken aback, Sung Snr making such an unexpected claim. That must be the forthcoming wedding of Patrick and Susie Sung he was hinting at.

The trainee presenters were busy preparing February’s Valentine’s Day Special. Most evenings Xiang Jie returned home late. The Seniors met up with him at CTN dining room for dinner on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights. Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei would sometimes join them on Thursday nights.

Xiang Zhe could see the trainees cooperated very well. They helped one another in their research, and if they came across some information that was useful to their colleagues, they would pass the information on.

The Valentine’s Day Special was put together by the batch of new trainees.

Lots of research had gone into it. Valentine stories and gift ideas from around the world were shown. In fact many remote places as far away as Iceland, lovers celebrated Valentine‘s Day by conducting weddings in St. Valentine chapels.

Closer to home, the new presenters interviewed four couples separately regarding their love stories.

One couple married 48 years ago. Theirs was an arranged marriage. In fact they didn’t even know each other’s name until the birth of their first child, when the birth had to be registered.

The second couple, in their 5th year of marriage, became acquainted when they met at their local church gatherings. The woman was a graduate of social studies, while the man was a handicapped, wheelchair-bound church member.

The third couple owned a chain of skincare stores. They were childless, and their passion besides their business was breeding pedigree dogs.

The fourth couple was MBS president and CTN-KE Director/Controller, first met almost 16 years ago at Cambridge, and now married for 8. They had 4 children.

From the interviews, the presenters reached a conclusion. Such true love transcended a point where even without verbal exchange, one knew what the other was thinking or wanted, and making their understanding of the other so profound and powerful, they shared or sacrificed everything in the name of love.

Film showed presenters making their way separately at the same time to meet MBS President Yin Xiang Zhe at his office, and Miss Zhen Shan Mei at her office for short Valentine’s Day interview.

Reporter A: President Yin, your wife addresses you by many names. Which one is your favourite and why?

YXZ : Xue Zhang. Meaning I’m doing something perfectly right.

Reporter B: Miss Zhen, your husband addresses you by many names. Which one is your favourite and why?

ZSM : Dearest Wife. The way he says it makes me feel like I’m the most loved woman in the world.

Reporter A : The most meaningful present given to you by your wife?

YXZ: The Peter Rabbit ornament sitting on my table right there. To me, it represents Shan Mei. He has been keeping me company wherever I am for the past 16 years.

Reporter B : The most meaningful present given to you by your husband?

ZSM : His friendship. When I left London the first time I met him, he said knowing him was his best present to me. All these years, he has always been there for me, by my side, no matter what.

Reporter A: Since your marriage, you have been so successful in love and career. What’s your secret?

YXZ : My wife.

Reporter B : Since your marriage, you have been so successful in love and career. What’s your secret?

ZSM : My husband.

Reporter A : Will you and your wife be celebrating Valentine’s Day?

YXZ : Not really. I don’t need Valentine’s Day to remind me to be loving toward my wife. The moment I wake up every day, I want to show my wife how much I love her in every way I can. Giving her a rose a day is one of the ways. I place roses all over the place, one in her office, one on her pillow, in the kitchen, in the bathroom, in the house, every where.

Reporter B : Will you and your husband be celebrating Valentine’s Day?

ZSM : Every day is Valentine’s Day for us. Whatever I do for each day, I want to do it out of love for my husband. I don’t want to miss any opportunity to let my husband know how much I love him.

Reporter A: In your opinion, what is love?

YXZ : I don’t really understand what love is. I only know I have a feeling inside of me so deep that makes me want to hear my wife’s voice all the time. If I don’t see her I miss her very much. I want to be with her. I want to spend my entire lifetime loving her, protecting her and making her happy, just being by her side.

Reporter B: In your opinion, what is love?

ZSM : To me, it seems like a very strong emotional attachment of feeling and sharing with the one you love. Feel and share in my husband’s happiness, his sadness, his successes and his failures, in sickness and in health. To be there for him always.

Reporter A: Please give a Valentine’s Day message to your wife.

YXZ : My dearest Wife, you’re my one and only love. Just remember I love you very much and I thank you for the blessed happiness you’ve given me, this life, the next, and eternity.

Reporter B: Please give a Valentine’s Day message to your husband.

ZSM : Xue Zhang, you’ve made me the happiest woman in the whole world. I thank you for your love. I don’t want to be with anyone else except you this life, the next and eternity. I love you. You’re the best!

Placing the interviewing frames side by side, one can see how true and sincere the Yins love one another.

The sponsor of this show was the NSK Bank, to tie in with a “Let your Love Grow” Valentine’s Day promotion. This promotion also carried many other special privileges from bridal salons, honeymoon packages, restaurants, wedding planners, boutiques, etc.

This special feature was so well received, viewers requested more detailed information, like how people in each country had their particular way of spending Valentine’s Day, and where to get the special presents they showed on television. Viewers also requested more in-depth reporting on love stories, like the one for Zhen Shan Mei. This segment generated the greatest response. It was noted this couple met 16 years ago, and only married for 8 years. They wanted to know what happened in between those years.

The viewers liked this kind of interviews where both partners were interviewed separately. It was hilarious just waiting to see how different their answers would be.

Not only were the viewers very interested in the Yin’s interview. Friends of the Yins were, too.

When pressed further, Yin Xiang Zhe agreed to divulge a bit more to the interviewer only if the team of reporters promised not to disturb his wife. “My wife values her privacy very much. The other reason is to put to rest all gossips and rumours going around that I’ll soon tire of my wife. I want to state once and for all, I love my wife so much one life time with her will not be enough for me to show her just how much I love her.”

Interviewer: Many people have assumed Miss Zhen Shan Mei met Mr. Yin Xiang Zhe when she began working at MBS. When many girls found out that the couple had met while at Cambridge, many said they should have gone to Cambridge too. So, President Yin, what’s your response to this?

YXZ: (Xiang Zhe laughed gently at this.) I don’t want to sound rude or arrogant, but it doesn’t mean if these girls were at Cambridge, I would want to make their acquaintance. I was in London for more than 10 years, yet I was never interested in any of the girls over there, many of them Koreans, daughters of my father’s friends or from the diplomat corps.

Interviewer: So, what type of girl was President Yin looking for?

YXZ: “To be honest, at that time, I wasn’t looking for any particular type of girl because I was simply not looking. I also didn’t know what type I liked. I only knew it would be one very special girl, one of a kind. If she appeared I would know it was her.”

Interviewer: Did she appear?

YXZ: (Grinning widely, Xiang Zhe nodded his head.) She did, but ignored me. I spent days roaming around the campus trying to find her, without success – until I found a letter waiting for her at the Students Mail Room. I personally delivered the letter to her, wanting to use that as an excuse to befriend her. Later I invited her for a meal but she turned me down telling me she had to rush off to her part time job. She was not impressed with me, until her Gugu vouched that I was a good person and could be trusted. You see, I had been a loyal and regular patron of her Gugu’s restaurant for several years already. Her gugu confirmed I was not the playboy type because I always ate alone at the restaurant.

The interviewer looked incredulous, not believing that was the truth.

YXZ: (Xiang Zhe insisted that was the truth.) Shan Mei’s Gugu owns a Korean restaurant in London, and it was well patronised most of the time. I ate there a few times a week, after I moved out of boarding school into my own apartment. After classes Shan Mei worked at the restaurant. That was where I met her again. Her Gugu was quite relieved telling Shan Mei at least there would be someone at the campus looking out for her.

Interviewer: Was that when romance blossomed for the two of you?

YXZ: (Xiang Zhe laughed.) For me, it had begun a while back, but not for Shan Mei. In fact she told me to treat her like my little sister. What to do? Of course I agreed to fall in with her suggestion, although I’ve another role in mind for her. I had to be patient, so patient. I didn’t want to frighten her away.

Interviewer: Did the ‘another role’ mean you wanted her as a wife?

YXZ: Not right at the beginning. You must remember I was never interested in girls. I never knew what love was, and I never wanted to marry. I only knew she was someone very special, and for some inexplicable reason, I wanted to develop a strong friendship with her. Being with her made me feel very comfortable and easy in her company. You know, no airs or snobbish ways, things like that! She was very natural. One thing led to another, and before the end of her term at Cambridge, I wanted something more lasting and stronger than friendship from her.

She really tested my patience. I had to wait patiently for 8 years before I could make her my wife.

Interviewer: Why didn’t you propose earlier?

YXZ: The first time I wanted to propose, was 6 months after I first met her. I had missed her so much I wanted to fly back to Seoul during the Christmas holidays to see her.

The 2nd time; after I first introduced her to my father when I was back in Seoul.

The 3rd time; when she resigned from MBS and went off to London, about 10 years ago. I went after her immediately. All those times she was not ready and I feared being turned down. People have to remember she is very special in the sense that she is not impressed with my money, status or good looks. In fact, these factors were working against me. Other qualities rank way higher on her priority list.

There was a slight interval for sponsor’s advertorial.

Many of the female viewers who had at some time in their lives fantasized themselves being Mrs. Yin Xiang Zhe didn’t believe 100% of what they heard. How could any girl in her right mind reject him? She should be blessing the heavens for her good luck that such a rich and handsome man noticed her, let alone wanted to marry her.

Yong Xi, presently in Tokyo, and watching a replay of the interview, didn’t want to believe it too, but seeing Xiang Zhe’s happy and open face, she admitted he looked relaxed and different. Before his marriage, at MBS, he never smiled, always had on an inscrutable face, and never said more words than were necessary, and never discussed his private life.

Now, he was so comfortable with himself as a person, he was on television happily telling viewers how he pursued Shan Mei, from London to Seoul, Seoul to London, and back to Seoul. She had always assumed it was Shan Mei chasing Xiang Zhe around. Yong Xi was curious. She wondered what he had seen in Shan Mei.

And with Xiang Zhe’s confession that he had wanted to propose marriage to Shan Mei while he was still studying in London, Yong Xi almost cringed with embarrassment, because that time she and her family were still carrying on as if Xiang Zhe would eventually marry her after his studies. How those gossip mongers would now be sniggering behind her back? It was a total loss of face for her and her family.

Didn’t Xiang Zhe say he didn’t want to be with her because she reminded him of the unhappiness between his parents, and the suffering they brought upon him, and the anger he felt against his father? Miraculously, all these hurtful feelings disappeared when he entered into an understanding with Shan Mei. She knew, because she had heard from her father how Uncle Yin doted on Shan Mei, especially after Xiang Zhe agreed to move back into the Yin family home, claiming Shan Mei was a blessing from heaven.

After their marriage, Uncle Yin maintained Shan Mei was the perfect everything and Xiang Zhe was so lucky! Xiang Zhe not only showed respect and open affection for his father, he even accepted Xiang Jie as his brother. What did Shan Mei do to bind the Yin family together?

Interviewer: (After the commercial break) The Yins value their privacy very much. Throughout the years, they had given very few interviews. In one of their earlier interviews when CTN-KE first transmitted through MBS, Miss Zhen Shan Mei admitted she had at times behaved very unreasonably towards Mr. President.

Mr. President, if this was the case, why did Mr. President bother to wait for Miss Zhen? I have been told there were many beautiful and eligible girls waiting in queue to be Mrs. Yin Xiang Zhe?

YXZ: (Xiang Zhe looked at the interviewer and laughed slightly before answering.) You may not believe this, but I love it when she’s upset with me. She’s very true and honest as a person and doesn’t hold back. When she’s upset with me, it means she has found out I’m doing something not quite so right. And she does look so beautiful when she’s angry.

In truth, at the beginning, I was quite upset with her for telling me off and not agreeing with me and I often questioned her why she was not on my side. Later, when she was proved right most of the time, I realised it was not a matter of taking sides. We were not going to war. It is a matter of trying to find the best solution to a problem. After that, I always ask her for her opinion. She talks straight without any pretentiousness. I find this one of her most attractive traits. Simply so natural and refreshing, with the sweetest nature. She is the only one who really treats me very special in an ordinary way, not as some heir to some fortune or the boss of MBS. That’s why I always say she is the secret behind my success.

Back to your indirect question on what first attracted me to Zhen Shan Mei. After all these years, I can say the initial qualities that attracted me to her are her compassion, kindness and gentleness; honesty and courage; innocence and simplicity with no artifice whatsoever; generosity and her sweet, forgiving nature; humility and appreciation; loyalty and lovingness to family and friends alike. She is hard-working and helpful; intelligent, logical and understanding; never back-stabs, gossips or talks bad of anyone. She’s not money- or class-conscious. When she began working at MBS, I found she was kind and compassionate; humble and unassuming; just and honourable; fearless and bold; too honest for her own good in this world of trickery. In spite of how mean some of her colleagues treated her, she possessed a naïve faith in the basic goodness of others because she herself had no scruples. Later, she showed me that with bravery, faith, serenity, confidence and a lot of mental strength, one can face any situations no matter how difficult. Her beauty happens to be an added prize rather than a prerequisite.

Anyway, in my eyes, my wife is the most beautiful. My father is worse.

He always maintains his daughter-in-law is the perfect everything. Zhen Shan Mei is the only one I want. I was prepared to wait a life time for her.”

Interviewer: From what you’ve just told us, it does seem Miss Zhen is the perfect everything. For final question, I ask that Mr. President be totally honest with your answer. What Valentine’s Day present are you planning to give your wife?

YXZ: (Xiang Zhe gave a shy smile but kept quiet although there was an exciting twinkle in his eyes.)

The interviewer prompted with: Expensive jewelry? Car? A blank cheque?

YXZ: (Xiang Zhe laughed.) My wife is not interested in any of those things. Most of her favourite things cannot be bought with money. To be honest, if I can have my way, I want to give her a sky full of stars tonight. I have been praying hard for a starry night. If the heavens decide no stars, they can send rain instead. My wife loves clear blue skies with beautiful white clouds, starry nights, rainy nights and the gentle sound of soft rolling waves by the seashore. We must have spent at least a quarter of our married life sleeping out in the open under the stars. I also never realise rain could be so calming and mesmerising until my wife taught me how to appreciate its different rhythm.

Xiang Zhe then indicated that was as much as he had to say. He thanked the viewers for their kind interest in his family. Maybe sometime in the future, when their twins were a bit older and more manageable, he would try to convince his wife to agree to a family interview.

The interviewer concluded the interview by thanking Mr. President and wishing him good luck in getting his starry night.

The next morning, Xiang Jie burst into Xiang Zhe’s office and informed him in a highly excitable tone the hour showing his Valentine Day’s interview garnered the 2nd highest % of viewers among all stations that day – PIR being highest with its special Valentine’s Day Bargains Galore. Xiang Zhe smiled softly. He guessed the viewers must have been praying along with him, for his Valentine’s Day wish was granted: his Shan Mei got her sky full of stars!

After the Valentine’s Day interview, many of Madam Kim’s new customers became very curious about Shan Mei, asking a lot of questions.

Madam Kim was hesitant to talk much about Shan Mei, protecting her privacy. When her customers wanted to know what Zhen Shan Mei had bought or what she liked, she was never direct with her answers. She always told them Shan Mei dropped by the boutique with her husband most of the time, and would only purchase the items her husband approved.

And how did her husband act?

Madam Kim usually brushed off those busybodies with an answer like, “Like a very contented, happily married man, so in love with and so attentive towards his wife.”

Chapter AW-100

The morning sun was already up and shining bright.

As soon as Xiang Zhe roused from his sleep, he called out for his darling wife, but Shan Mei was nowhere around. After washing up, he went to the kitchen – his coffee was bubbling in the percolator waiting for him. Where was Shan Mei? The French windows in her office were shut, her computer was not on. He called her mobile. No one answered. She must be at Father’s place. Before he could step out of the house, he received her sms: ‘meet you at the usual place at 11 a.m.’ He checked his watch. It was already 10. What usual place was she talking about? The only usual place they used to meet was the bus stop near MBS office where he used to pick her up after work 11-12 years ago.

He quickly changed, then drove off. He was still early when he got into the city; he decided to stop by the florist to get a long stemmed rose for his wife, since she had stirred up old loving memories in him.

As he approached the bus stop, he saw Shan Mei actually waiting there. He was so relieved; afraid he might have misunderstood her message. He was rewarded with a megawatt smile as she got into the car. She leaned over to give her husband a sweet kiss, and told him she was missing him so much, she wanted to give him a treat.

“Darling, what were you doing in town so early? How did you get in?” Xiang Zhe sounded disappointed his wife didn’t wake him up same time as she herself.

“There was an early meeting at CTN. I came in with Patrick. Xue Zhang was sleeping so soundly, I didn’t want to disturb you. How about having your favourite crepes at Westin Chosun?” As Shan Mei said that, she bent over to give him another kiss.

He gave her the rose. Love radiated from her face, “Oh, Xue Zhang, thank you. You’re the best,” and kissed the bloom.

It was late morning already, the coffee shop was almost empty of people. Xiang Zhe chose a secluded corner. After ordering coffee and crepes, he enveloped his wife’s tiny hands in his, and looked at her expectantly, not saying a word, his eyes wide and round and innocent-looking, bored into hers.

When Shan Mei asked whether he remembered to switch off the percolator, he felt so dejected. He had expected some birthday greeting from her, today being his birthday. He knew she had been busy these past few weeks with meetings regarding programming for CTN and some for MBS, he didn’t want to make big issue about his birthday.

In a disappointed tone, he told her he had forgotten, in his rush to get into town. Shan Mei then called their housekeeper and asked her to remember to switch off the percolator machine when she would be in their house later in the afternoon for cleaning.

Their order came. As they ate Xiang Zhe asked his wife, “Darling, do you have other plans for the day?” She nodded her head.

Taking a sip of his coffee, he looked at his wife behind hooded eyes wondering what Shan Mei would be busy with. He had thought all MBS programmes were taken care of.

Shan Mei asked her husband, “Xue Zhang, have you been giving the pharmaceutical factory serious consideration? Philip has again indicated his interest to go into JV with you. While he was in London during the New Year holidays, his father has reminded him to get going on the project. He had been amazed when he saw Polly at one of their family gatherings. Polly appeared to have lost weight without dieting. At Christmas, Polly was looking fit, and managed to keep away the pounds she had lost. With the factory in place, Polly wanted to come to live in Korea so she could be close to Granny Roh. When that happens, she wants to set up a Montessori school for the local children.”

Xiang Zhe laughed softly. “Setting up the factory is simple, getting top grade ingredients will be the difficult part.” After a slight pause, he continued, “Granny is now getting supplies from her own garden. To manufacture commercially, we’d have to grow the plants to ensure quality consistency. Where would we get the land to grow?” Frowns began to appear on his forehead, his lips slightly puckered thinking of the near impossibility of the project.

“What about the other plots of land from your Grandfather’s trust? Maybe Xue Zhang should discuss with Granny and see what she advises.” Shan Mei’s bright outlook made Xiang Zhe re-think the venture again. Philip’s family had been in the pharmaceutical line for almost a century. His father must have expected good response for the two products that Philip had described to him, otherwise why would he keep pushing Philip, and also so freely offered financing? He had better put more serious efforts into research on this project.

Looking at his wife with an indulgent smile, he promised to talk to granny the next time she returned to her house in the village. He stretched himself, complimenting the delicious crepe. With a satisfied sigh and smile, he thanked his wife for the lovely treat. “Anywhere you want to go, after this, darling?”

Shan Mei gave him an enigmatic smile and answer. “Not telling you.”

He squeezed her hands, his eyes full of laughter, realising his wife was up to some game plan again.

As they walked out of the coffee shop, Shan Mei pressed something into Xiang Zhe’s hand, softly wishing him a very happy birthday. A broad grin broke out on his face, as he saw what was in his hand: a room key, the number of which he would never ever forget, it being Shan Mei’s Employee Number when she was MBS staff. Taking Shan Mei’s hand, like an excited school boy, he hurried her into the lift and pressed Level 10 button. Shaking his head with unexpected happiness, he drew his wife into his arms and kissed her slowly and deeply.

After they entered the suite, he noticed a birthday card standing next to a long stemmed rose, and an ice bucket chilling a bottle of champagne on the dining table. He took the card. Tears welled up in his eyes. The cover was a photograph of Shan Mei with their four children. Inside, was BB’s uneven childish scrawl – ‘Daddy, we love you’ – written next to Shan Mei’s birthday wish to him. He turned and circled his arms around Shan Mei’s waist, buried his head in the crook of her neck, murmuring hoarsely how much he loved her. Shan Mei caught her husband’s face between her hands and gave him a special birthday kiss, after that she put the two stalks of roses, the one from her and the one from him, in a glass of water.

He carried her into the bedroom and gently laid her down on the bed. He eased himself down onto the bed next to her. Holding her hand, they simply lay there in silence, deeply engulfed by their love. As his hands brushed against her warm skin as she lay there so still, Xiang Zhe felt his throat tighten. Moments later, he turned to Shan Mei, and began to slowly help her undress. Smiling softly, he said, “You are looking as nervous as you did the first time we were together. Do you remember?” The scene reminded him so much of their wedding night. That first night together, when he removed Shan Mei’s night gown, her perfect body was revealed to him inch by inch. They were both shy and nervous, but what an incredible night of passion and loving they shared.

How could she have forgotten their wedding night? “You were so tender and patient with me,” Shan Mei recalled.

They were now in their 8th year of marriage. Shan Mei was looking so hauntingly beautiful having lost some of the baby fat around her face, her body all toned and firmed to perfection. And they were blessed with such conjugal bliss!

The past few weeks, Shan Mei had been busy making last minute changes to PIR, making places available for some of the new trainees to help out, leading up to MBS Founding Day anniversary, leaving no time for him. He had missed her so much. He began to stroke his wife ever so gently, and when he heard her soft moans, he kissed her deep and hard until he felt her pliant response, then he began his feverish caresses.

One afternoon, Shan Mei and younger brother Xiang Jie had business meeting

Shan Mei and Xiang Jie were at her office, going over the latest summary of last quarter’s performance compared to the same period of the past 2 years. They were very pleased with the results. At least Xiang Jie’s hard work had paid off.

Shan Mei was curious as she said, “Xiang Jie, don’t simply concentrate on work. Even Jack has to make time for play. Any girl you fancy, at the Station or at the various functions you have attended?”

Xiang Jie gave her a surprised look and an uncomfortable laugh, “Sister, you know I’m not interested in girls, they being such enigmas. One can never tell what’s really in their minds. It can be quite frightening.

Since working at MBS full time, I have heard a lot of stories about that Xu Ying Mei and a couple of other presenters. They were interested in Elder Brother and had tried all sorts of games to entice him. The scary part was in front of him, they appeared all smiley and kind, but behind his back, they were rude, proud and unhelpful – 2 faced jezebels! That was why the staff in the back rooms sometimes questioned the ability of Elder Brother. He might be an ace at management and finances, but he was so out of touch with the real world, not being able to tell who were really working hard and who were pretending to be good workers. That was why he didn’t get the proper back-up from the employees who mattered, the backbone of the production units.”

“No harm in going out on casual dates? Wouldn’t you like to get to know the girls better?”

“No, I wouldn’t like that. I’d rather spend more time learning about the television business.”

Xiang Jie also noticed many girls at MBS were trying to catch his attention. He avoided personal contact with them. So far, he hadn’t met any one girl who was not interested in him because he was someone of importance at MBS. If there was a girl who would dare confront him if he did wrong, he would consider dating that girl. So far, they all tried to put on their good and sweet fronts. Yuk! He didn’t want that! He didn’t want to end up with some pretentious girl. Better and safer to remain bachelor. Brother Sung and Jae Hoon felt the same. Sometimes, they wondered how Elder Brother was so blessed to end up with someone like Shan Mei.

Xiang Jie rattled on, “Anyway, we have our partners. I’ve BB and BR, Jae Hoon has the twins. We have promised ourselves we’ll make it our business to stand behind the children, so they will run Wen Rong and MBS properly when they eventually grow up and take over the reins. Sister, you and elder Brother can retire without any worries.”

“I hope you are not too overly influenced by Michael’s and Brother Sung’s way of thinking. They are too involved in their work. You’re different. It would be nice to know there’s someone to share your life and look after you.”

“Brother Sung thinks along the same line. He has enough company problems to keep him busy. He doesn’t want to add to his burden with a wayward wife. Most of the high society girls he is being introduced to never had anything nice to say about you knowing Brother Sung held you in high esteem. He had said as soon as he was introduced to a girl whose heart was generous enough to say kind things of you, he’d date her. So far, none! It is funny; all the girls envy you for landing such a great catch like Elder Brother, while all the men envy Elder Brother for landing a wife like you.”

“So, Xiang Jie, what are you trying to tell me? That you don’t want to be burdened? You’re still very young, and don’t forget, you are a great catch yourself. Promise me you won’t close your mind like those 2 confirmed bachelors. I see I have to talk to Michael and Brother Sung for trying to induct you into their Bachelor Club.”

Xiang Jie laughed heartily. “In that case, you’ll have to talk to Brother Jae Hoon as well. He is just as confirmed.”

Xiang Zhe heard all this unintentionally. He was actually out in the garden just beyond the French windows reading a financial magazine, when he dozed off. The familiar voices of Shan Mei and Xiang Jie aroused him. He wanted to sneak off quietly when he faintly heard Xiang Jie mentioned some thing about Brother Sung wanting to marry Shan Mei, he lowered himself back into his seat. He could only catch snippets of their conversation that didn’t make sense. He gave up and walked around the house to the patio. He wanted a cigarette so bad. He refrained, not wanting to upset his dearest wife, knowing she was only concerned for his good health.

Soon he saw Xiang Jie, with a food box in his hand, running back to Father’s place.

A little while later, Shan Mei coming out to the patio saw him. “There you are, darling,” Shan Mei exclaimed. “I’ve been looking all over for you. Why so lonely hiding yourself here?”

“Sulking,” he half-smiled, half pouted. Shan Mei hooked her arms around his neck, bent down to nibble at his ear, whispering, “Want a treat?”

He looked up, giving her a weak smile and a nod.

In the kitchen, Shan Mei had brewed fresh coffee. She took out a thin slice of pancake and began spreading thick fresh cream with sliced mango, and placed the plate before her husband. After 2nd helping, he was in better mood and was telling his wife the crepes tasted better than the ones at Westin Chosun.

Shan Mei laughed, chiding Xue Zhang for being flatterer. “How can it be better when it is the same recipe?”

“Because my wife made these with her love.”

“Xue Zhang, you’re the best,” and she gave him a swift kiss.

They took their coffee to Shan Mei’s office where she showed him MBS performance charts for the last quarter of last year. Xiang Zhe was very impressed. The operating costs were down, while advertising revenue was up.

Shan Mei moved to the love seat in the TV room. As Xiang Zhe sat down, she snuggled up to him. They simply sat there enjoying each other’s company, Xiang Zhe smoothing the hair from her forehead with one hand, his other hand caressing her cheek.

“Xue Zhang, do you believe your mother is guiding us to some kind of destiny?”

“Of course I do. See your cabinet full of crystal butterflies?”

“I mean something more mystifying. Before we were married, Brother Sung was trying to date me. According to what he told Xiang Jie, though he loved me, he later reasoned with himself he wouldn’t want to marry me, because he didn’t want me to suffer at the hands of his mother. He is happy and contented with being godfather to our children. He has discussed with his father that he wants to make BB and BR his main beneficiaries. Uncle Sung has agreed. He would ask of the boys only 1 favour, that their first born son, apart from the Yin surname, to carry the surname ‘Sung’ as well.”

Xiang Zhe returned Shan Mei’s stare, both deep in their own thoughts. Shan Mei drew her husband into her arms, soothing away the frowns on his forehead, apologising for raking up secrets that she had herself insisted be buried forever, but it couldn’t be mere coincidence that their grandsons might carry the surname ‘Sung.’

“Xue Zhang, you and Brother Sung might have shared a common ancestor several generations ago. If this is the case, I would be very happy for Mother. Finally, things are going back to where they belong! It is still a long way off, thinking of grandchildren. Situations can change. But if this does happen during my lifetime, I am not going to oppose it.”

Xiang Zhe kept very quiet, his throat too constricted to say anything that made sense. Shan Mei felt he was confused by such development. He had managed to put the past behind him, he didn’t want to think of anything else except he must treat his Father well, because of his previous misdirected anger at him. Shan Mei gently asked her husband, “Xue Zhang, why don’t you stretch out on the love seat, and I’ll give you a head massage?”

Soon Xiang Zhe appeared relaxed and asleep.

As Shan Mei moved away, he caught hold of her hand, pleading with her to stay. Shan Mei’s heart ached with such love for him, she couldn’t bear to see him suffer another ‘identity crisis’.

She wanted to take a shower, and invited her husband to join her, wanting to put him back in good mood and forgetting their earlier discussion.

The shower cleared his head. Like Shan Mei had said it was still a long way off. They might not even live to witness it! His wife was giving him body scrubs just the way he liked them. After which she made him lie on the bed to give him back massage.

As soon as he felt the tension melt away, he didn’t want any more massage, but pulled Shan Mei onto the bed, cuddled up to her, began kissing and caressing her, telling her she was the most important person to him. He was never going to let her go, so the men interested in her should give up their waiting games.

Shan Mei laughed at his crazy remarks. “I am now an old lady, who will want to wait for me?

Giving her an adoring look, he told her, “I know of many who will!”

Chapter AW-101

March, April and May had their monthly highlights. This year, instead of the usual Founding Day anniversary luncheon, they had an anniversary Ball.

More than 500 guests and staff were present at this function. Foreign guests were out in full force, coming from USA, UK, Australia and Japan. Michael stayed at the Yin’s mansion because of his godchildren.

As soon as Xiang Zhe saw his wife waiting in the Westin suite where she had been getting make-up and hairstyling, he could only stand there and stare in awe. She looked so breathtakingly beautiful in the specially designed hanbok with special effect embroidery. The only visible jewelry was her engagement and wedding rings and the first bejeweled butterfly brooch he gifted her for her first award night.

Her hair stylist had pinned this to her traditional Korean imperial hairstyle. He drew her into his arms and kissed her deep and long. He murmured hoarsely if it was at all possible, he would want to keep her up in the suite. He was afraid to let her loose at the function room tonight, looking the way she did.

When Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei entered the ballroom, Michael was the first to notice them. He stopped talking at once, taking in the stunning beauty of Shan Mei. Xiang Zhe could see his wife was getting admiring glances from every corner of the room, especially when she later went to greet the UK and American sponsors. They were simply mesmerized. Needless to say, Michael couldn’t take his eyes off her, and kept smiling to himself with approval.

Dr. Kim, on recognising the embroidery as the butterfly scroll painting, went up to her and hugged her tightly, saying her mother-in-law would have been so proud of her. He was crying quietly as he said that, thinking of sister Wen. In her hanbok, Shan Mei was displaying some of the mannerisms that reminded him so much of sister Wen. And seeing how well Xiang Zhe was coping, he wished the young couple everlasting love and happiness.

Madam Kim, on seeing Shan Mei complete with make up and matching hairstyle could only be so proud of her. She had a natural regal air about her. Watching Shan Mei, she was also thinking how Shan Mei was so alike Xiang Zhe’s mother in some ways. Many of the ladies present had off-the-shoulder or figure-hugging ball gowns showing off their figures, while Shan Mei was all wrapped up in her special floaty designer creation with nary an inch of flesh showing, yet she was the most beautiful and outstanding.

Michael told Junior privately that JJ had done a good job with the trainees. MBS wouldn’t need to recruit for another 5 years at least.

“Senior, you see that young, handsome chap who just walked in to the ballroom and went straight to ‘report’ to Shan Mei? That’s Bai Taku, our current main anchor for 9 o’clock News. Shan Mei confirms he has potential to be top anchor and may one day win an award for MBS. Ratings for MBS 9 o’clock news, since Taku was made main anchor, are 3 or 4% ahead of SGS, many evenings even 5 or 6% ahead of them. She wants to send him to Japan for a month of intensive training, seeing he’s fluent in the Japanese language. He used to live in Japan for some time.”

Michael paid special attention to Taku, asking Junior what was rating on his first outing. “4% behind SGS” he answered, slightly jealous because though it was 4% behind SGS, it was still way higher than any % rating ever achieved by the old MBS news team during Xiang Zhe’s 12 years at MBS.

Michael was impressed and wondered how Shan Mei spotted his potential at such an early stage that she was brave enough to make him main anchor and partner him with a newbie. After a sip of champagne from his glass, Michael wondered aloud to Junior what the rating would be if Taku partnered Shan Mei. Junior was non-committal; he did not look directly at Michael but at the floor.

“Junior, I want to see a replay of tonight’s main news.”

Both men left the party venue and were soon in MBS building, in Xiang Zhe’s office.

Xiang Zhe had to admit that the Taku boy was good, and was getting more confident by the day. Another few more months, MBS Main News would surely hold on firmly to No. 1 spot. He looked over to Michael, who was smiling to himself.

“Junior, your wife has a point there. This boy is definitely going to win one or two awards for MBS. If I tell David, I’m sure he’ll want to train this Taku boy in London to ensure he stays with JJ. What kind of contract is he on?”

“One with no escape clause!” Xiang Zhe answered with a tight laugh.

“Great! There are only a few things that need improvement; image and posture. Once he feels more at ease, his total confidence will shine through. I’ll work it out with Shan Mei when to get him to London.”

“Aren’t you afraid he will steal the crown from Patrick for being best male anchor, local news?”

“Junior, you may think I’m pulling your leg but we’re looking forward to that day. Patrick’s feeling quite bad for walking off with the award every year. He wants to try something else in some other department, but we’re not letting him, at the moment. And we’re only prepared to relinquish the crown to Bai Taku, not to any of the others.”

Michael was thinking to himself, little Shan Mei had reached another level in her career. Apart from career, she had personally and slowly matured into a very beautiful and desirable woman. Michael was afraid for Junior. If he didn’t watch it, he could lose Shan Mei one day. Because Shan Mei was not aware of her own lethal charms and beauty, and treated everyone like brother, sister or uncle, she could one day be charmed off her feet unwittingly. Junior wouldn’t know how to handle it, apart from throwing jealous tantrums, and that would be disastrous. Michael let off a sigh.

When party was over, Xiang Zhe was quite drunk. Luckily for Shan Mei, Roh Bin and granny Roh were staying with them. Roh Bin helped Xiang Zhe up to his room and bed, after Shan Mei managed to remove his dinner jacket. While she tried to undress him as best as she could, and gave him warm towel wipe all over, her heart ached thinking of headache he would be plagued with later. She cradled him in her arms, hoping to ease his discomfort, rubbing his head every time she heard a moan from him.

She was grateful Xue Zhang had kept his temper in check this evening. Mr. Yamaguchi of YYK Cable Television tried to monopolise her attention the entire evening. She was embarrassed. Michael noticed it and came over a couple of times during the evening to steer her over to their foreign guests. Philip McKenzie tried to start conversation with Mr. Yamaguchi, seeing from his name card he also graduated from another American university. Mr. Kawasaki and Mr. Masuda also did their bit to engage Mr. Yamaguchi in small talk.

In actual fact, Xiang Zhe could recall the details from last night’s party very well. Ever since his first encounter with Shan Mei in London, he had never forgotten even one tiny detail of Shan Mei. After car accident and treatment at the hospital, he remembered her silent angry look at the hospital parking lot when he stated he was not to be blamed for the accident. The best part was at the university campus ground, apart from her angry look after he finished off her lunch, was her reply that she would catch him back when he had asked her what to do if he was scared away by her English. Boy, did she catch him back! Little did she know even if she had wanted to set him free, he was never going to budge even a millimeter from her side.

Last night, that Yamaguchi guy was trying to stay by his wife’s side the entire evening. Xiang Zhe couldn’t wait for the party to end, so they could send him back to his room. In fact, Xiang Zhe asked his brother to clear up the suite Shan Mei had used earlier, so they didn’t have to return to it later, giving no chance for that Japanese guy to stick further to Shan Mei.

Mr. Masuda also came up later in the evening to him, warning him to be careful of Mr. Yamaguchi. When Masuda had a brief chat with Yamaguchi, trying to break up his monopoly of Shan Mei’s time, he seemed obsessed with Shan Mei. All he talked all evening with Masuda was about her and her family. Xiang Zhe purposely got himself drunk so he would be in no condition to throw jealous tantrum later that night at home.

Today, they were supposed to meet with Mr. Yamaguchi to show him around CTN and MBS. YYK Cable Television was the single largest purchaser of CTN and MBS titles in the Asia/Pacific region, having made the purchase for delivery over a 5-year period.

Xiang Jie, Michael and their guest were waiting for Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei in the CTN dining room, when they walked in hand in hand. Xiang Zhe apologised, then pulled out a chair for his wife at which she gave him a ‘thank you, darling’. He gave her a loving look, then sat down next to her. Master Chef had prepared a wonderful 4-course lunch.

Shan Mei made sure she was never anywhere near Mr. Yamaguchi. When walking, she was always holding on to her husband’s hand; when sitting, she made sure she was always next to him; when talking, she addressed him as ‘darling’ and sought his opinions, suggestions, and approval on everything. Michael smiled inside himself, happy that Shan Mei had taken the initiative to show how in love and devoted the couple was to one another. And Junior took the lead from her, playing it up. Many times he caught them whispering to each other. The scene looked so intimate, the three of them felt like interlopers.

They visited the Drama and Dubbing Departments. They spent quite some time sitting down with Jae Hoon and Mr. Ang to see how they could discuss further about YYK using MBS dubbing facilities.

“The dubbed CTN mini-series we have been receiving was dubbed in Japanese to a very high standard. I am very satisfied,” Mr. Yamaguchi assured his host. “My family is also major shareholder of YOBS Television Station, in Osaka. I want MBS to do dubbing for the South American drama series we will be bringing in to Japan. These drama series are usually long-drawn out stories, some running into 100s of episodes.”

A call came through Shan Mei’s mobile phone. Leaning toward her husband, she whispered softly, “Darling, can you please take the call?” meaning to show there was no secret between them.

Mr. Yamaguchi made use of Xiang Zhe’s brief absence to invite Shan Mei to YYK Osaka 1st week of August. To celebrate the annual Harvest Festival, YYK intended to launch CTN mini series and MBS drama during that week, and he wanted Shan Mei to be their guest of honour. Shan Mei looked apologetically at Mr. Yamaguchi, saying her entire family had planned to holiday in England. Cambridge was having an alumni convention during August, her husband, her brother and herself would be attending. MBS could send the top line stars of the drama series YYK would be showing.

When meeting was over, Xiang Zhe told them the call earlier was from Brother Sung, inviting them over to his place for BBQ. Seeing Mr. Yamaguchi into company car, Xiang Zhe confirmed MBS chauffeur would collect him from his hotel at 6 for the BBQ. Xiang Zhe drove them back home, Michael was anxious to show his godchildren the ice cream and jelly cups he had specially bought for them.

In the car, Michael suggested to JJ may be he could try a new team for prime time news. Place Miss Cha to 7 p.m. news, then team up Shan Mei with Taku 3rd quarter prime time. It would be interesting to see the results.

At home, Xiang Zhe made no further mention of Mr. Yamaguchi’s poor behaviour at MBS anniversary ball. His wife had done her best at today’s meeting, to show she was not interested in anyone except her ‘darling’ husband. He grinned secretly to himself. His shy wife had never been so openly affectionate at any one business meeting. This afternoon, every time she opened her mouth, it was ‘darling’ this or ‘darling’ that.

She was now in the kitchen storing away the tubs of ice cream they had bought. Her “Xue Zhang, do you want some coffee?” brought him back to earth. Never mind, at this evening’s BBQ, he was sure she would be back to ‘darling’ mode.

Leaving Roh Bin and the twins to keep the seniors company, Xiang Zhe in one car, Patrick in another, they drove the rest of the gang to the Sung’s palatial residence for BBQ. Shan Mei reminded Michael the Sung’s antique collection was very rare and impressive, and he should help keep an eye on his godsons making sure they would not break anything.

Michael laughed, and said he was not worried. His godsons were Sung’s godsons too, right?

Talking of this, Michael wanted to know when No 5 and No. 6 would come along. He could see 4 babies were not enough to share around. Xiang Zhe gave a healthy laugh, saying his wife was more into quality and not quantity. If Senior wanted more, he could make some of his own.

Michael laughed wondering where to get a suitable partner?

“How about the elder Sung sister?” Xiang Zhe suggested.

Michael immediately objected. ‘No thank you! Did you see her mother?”

The two men roared with laughter, while Shan Mei chided them for being so ungracious. But Shan Mei was secretly agreeing. The younger sister was a lovely person.

Shan Mei also told Michael Jae Hoon had an impressive collection of Russian antiques. He should view it some day. Now, Michael became very interested with this bit of information. Since the eastern bloc opened its doors, he became interested in eastern bloc collectibles which had become more accessible.

That night, when Xiang Zhe was in bed, Shan Mei was in her office, going over last minute paperwork with Roh Bin. He was returning to Busan tomorrow, while granny Roh would be leaving a day later.

Xiang Zhe called his wife on her mobile phone. On hearing her soft caring voice, he felt like rushing downstairs. Instead he chided in jest, “I haven’t seen my wife for 3 nights. If you happen to see her, can you please let her know her darling husband is waiting impatiently? He is also complaining she is not serious enough about her work.” As she snapped the cover of the mobile phone shut, she looked at the machine with a smirk and laughed softly, “huh, the cheek of him!”

Xiang Zhe was waiting in bed. She approached him and handed him a letter.

“What’s this?” he asked in jest, knowing she liked playing pranks.

“Resignation letter,” came her swift reply, before dashing into the bathroom.

Very soon he joined her in the shower and pinned her against the wall, not letting her go until she promised to take back her resignation letter.

She laughed softly asking him whether he had read the letter.

He shook his head. While toweling himself, Xiang Zhe went back into the bedroom to read the letter— “Dear Mr. President, please accept my resignation from all posts with immediate effect, as I want to devote 100% of my time to my darling husband.”

Xiang Zhe went back into bathroom with towel. After drying his wife, he carried her off to bed, declaring happily, “Resignation letter accepted only if you promise to remain by my side always.”

Patrick and Susie were married in June, six months after Patrick’s proposal. Twelve months after their marriage, they had a baby girl, followed by a boy 2 years later. BR, being so close to Patrick, treated them as his baby sister and brother. The two families became very close. Brother Sung already looked upon BB and BR as his sons and was very involved in planning for their future.

Susie Sung was nothing like her mother. In fact her character was very much like Brother Sung. Each respected the other’s parameters, Patrick with CTN, Susie with her family’s business.

Chapter AW-102

July 7 finally dawned on them. Xiang Jie and his brotherhood of Patrick, Jae Hoon, You Zhen, Brother Sung, Michael, Philip and Polly were highly excited.

In fact, Polly had since the beginning of the year been planning this event. Today was the Yin’s 8th wedding anniversary. Knowing how Shan Mei liked to keep such personal and private matters low profile, Polly had raked her brains to come up with a super-duper event that even Shan Mei wouldn’t suspect as anything else other than CTN doing its bit to celebrate MBS 31st Founding Day anniversary.

July being CTN-KE month, Polly had organised a friendly football charity match, naming it the CTN-MBS Merger Cup. Of course, under the very big capital lettering of CTN, were the initials of ZSM in smaller letters, and under MBS, were the initials YXZ. Since the magic number was 8, everything revolved around this number. Money collected from ticket sales would go to 8 charity organisations, 4 such organisations to be nominated by the KFA, the remaining four to be nominated by CTN, MBS, ZSM and YXZ. Lunch packs being sold at cost price at the football stadium would contain 8 different kinds of sushi rolls. Eight packs of the 60,000 lunch packs on sale would each carry a gift voucher, the gift being all expenses paid 3 day 2 night trip for family of 8 persons at a destination of their choice, 8 destinations to choose from. And, for the footballers, eight special prizes of all expenses paid 8D/7N trip for 2 to Cheju Island, the remaining players would each received 4D/3N trip to same island.

Of course, the footballers who made up the original team when Shan Mei worked with them in London had all agreed to appear, even though many of them had retired from active professional play. Others volunteering to play were some gifted players from the KFA rookie teams. Many local large corporations took out the most expensive seats and made block bookings for their staff. All 60,000 tickets were sold out within a week. Due to their strong local connections, many items were sponsored, like free use of the stadium, free FIZZ or water to accompany the food packs, free pack of 1 cap, 1 face towel and small litter bag from P.E., free T-shirts from 2STAC plus many other auxiliary services provided by the local council.

Many announcements were aired through MBS radio station that no tickets would be available for sale at the door. All tickets had been sold. No hawking allowed within the stadium precinct. Motorists not attending the match were advised to use alternative routes to avoid traffic congestion.

Polly had organised a simple, light luncheon buffet inside the stadium premises for the football teams, sponsors, CTN-MBS key people and the organising committee. Michael Dutton was there early with CTN employees, since he was a very good personal friend with the Chairman of KFA. Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei were there early too with their children and their two sets of parents. Brother Sung was there early with his gang. You Zhen and his crew set up all camera and filming equipment.

Shan Mei was entertaining Manager Chung and his footballers, thanking them profusely for their generous gesture for no-fee appearance. Xiang Zhe kept an eye on them while he was talking with the CEO of FIZZ and Michael. He had never met this Lee Chung Woon in person. He was the one who was supposed to be very keen on Shan Mei before her marriage. It was everyone’s guess whether he still was. Everyone had been saying how handsome he was and such a great player, he wondered which one was he among the players. The players, may be due to their healthy outlook and strong physique, all appeared ruggedly handsome. A player had a hand lightly on Shan Mei’s left shoulder, and she was laughing up into his face at something he had just said. Was that Lee Chung Woon? Xiang Zhe didn’t hear the joke, but his face had gone dark. That girl was going to get her neck wrung tonight, that was for sure. How many times had he told her not to smile or laugh like that to anyone except to him?

At that juncture, Xiang Jie went up to Shan Mei with Patrick in tow. Xiang Jie had BB in his arms. Much to Xiang Zhe’s consternation, his son was giving the same megawatt smile to the footballer as he took BB into his arms from Xiang Jie. Shortly, Shan Mei took BB away as Patrick was being introduced to that man by Xiang Jie. The 3 men then seemed to become engrossed in some kind of friendly debate.

As Shan Mei was walking towards her husband, BB decided to make a run for his godfather. Michael on noticing this, quickly stooped down and scooped the adorable brat up into his arms. BB gave Michael a kiss on the cheek, telling his godfather he wanted to sit with him later on to watch the match. Turning around to look at his daddy, he told him that Uncle Lee [so he was Lee Chung Woon Xiang Zhe fumed] just promised him he was going to score a goal especially for him. As he said this, he clapped his little hands with glee. The CEO of Fizz was captivated by BB’s precocity, asking whether this was the lovely boy on P.E.

At 2.30 p.m., an announcement came through the P.A. system, calling for attention and quiet in the stadium. The event caterer had informed the organising committee that all the 60,000 lunch packs had been sold. Eight of the packs contained gift vouchers. If the spectators had finished eating, they would see a gift voucher underneath the sushi rolls. To start the event off, the committee called on the 8 lucky spectators to come forward to the podium, to collect their prizes from the President of KTB.

The match was supposed to start at 3 p.m. Before that, time for opening speeches. Sir Michael and Wen Rong Chairman were up on the podium. This CTN-MBS Merger Cup Match was supposedly organised in the name of successful cooperation between CTN and MBS (the two gentlemen then hugged each other, wide smiles beaming on their faces). In actual fact it was to celebrate the 8th wedding anniversary of the brilliant team-up of CTN’s Zhen Shan Mei and MBS’ Yin Xiang Zhe. Applause thundered throughout the stadium, as Xiang Zhe, with wide, surprised grin beaming across his face and Shan Mei all in smiles stood up and shyly acknowledged to the crowds. Husband, with his arm around his wife, waved to the crowd, never expecting such a public celebration. His wife had always maintained their wedding anniversary was nobody’s business but theirs. Now, 60000+ people were celebrating with them, with such a meaningful charity football match. The couple was invited by MBS Chairman Yin Senior to offer the first kick.

Shan Mei was really caught up in the excitement. She pulled her first born son BB down to the pitch with her. Seeing that, her husband laughingly carried their second son with him. BB on CTN’s side, BR on MBS’ side, standing facing each other, kicked at the ball. Daddy came to help and kicked the ball high up, then the Yins ran laughingly for cover as the footballers scrambled for the ball. When they were back in their seats, Xiang Zhe couldn’t control his happiness, he simply took his wife into his arms and planted a loving kiss on her sweet lips. For once, BB didn’t spoil the mood for his parents. He was too busy watching his team, and waiting for the goal that Uncle Lee had promised him. And when 20 minutes into the match, Lee Chung Woon scored his first goal, BB was jumping up and down claiming that goal was his, his side CTN was winning. Xiang Zhe grinned, wondering whether the boy knew he was going to be the future leader of MBS. And he was basically rooting for the other side. Shan Mei was sitting happily and quietly in her seat, wondering what other surprises Polly had planned for them. She was really such a dear, dear friend.

After a little over 1-1/2 hours, the match came to an end. CTN won by one goal. Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei were invited up to the podium to present the lovely trophy. This was the first time they saw the cup, and saw their initials engraved below CTN and MBS. They were very touched. Captain of CTN team came forward to receive the trophy. This was the first time Xiang Zhe saw Lee Chung Woon at close quarters. He was indeed a very handsome fellow. After receiving the cup, the men shook hands, Lee Chung Woon leaned forward to give Shan Mei a peck on her cheek, then held up the trophy towards the crowd. Applause broke out; the match though friendly in nature had been very entertaining and competitive, with the talents evenly assigned.

An announcement came through P.A. system again. Instead of only 8 lucky footballers each receiving 8-day holiday gift package, Mr. and Mrs. Yin had decided to treat all the footballers in the two teams and the KFA personnel involved in the organisation of this match, with the 8D/7N holiday package to Cheju Island, to show their deep appreciation for their efforts.

The large video screens erected at the four corners of the stadium showed the total money collected through ticket sales and the even distribution to the 8 charity organisations. Xiang Zhe presented the cheques, while Shan Mei presented vouchers for food supplies to 4 organisations supervised by KFA, and four other children- and aged people-related organisations.

Another announcement came through, asking the spectators to salvage their luncheon boxes from their litter bags – those with yellow boxes to please come forward, after the official photo-taking ceremony was over. They were eligible to have photograph taken with the KFA football team. Shouts and hurrahs were heard all over the place. Many excited spectators were busy looking around, wanting to buy the yellow boxes off others who were not interested in photo session. Fat hope!

That afternoon, everybody left the stadium in high spirits. The spectators were happy in knowing they had done their share towards a good cause, as well as shared in the celebration of the Yins’ wedding anniversary. Xiang Zhe was especially ecstatic. Finally, he managed to have his anniversary party, after nagging his wife for 7 years.

Tonight at the ‘thank you’ party for the footballers, organising committee members, CTN and invited MBS staff and their spouses, he would show his wife how much he loved her. He would serenade her with his favourite song ever since their marriage, Korean version of Leslie Cheung’s “My True Love for You” (Wai Nei Chung Ching). They’d better hurry home. He wanted to look up more romantic songs that he could tackle to serenade his wife with. His heart was still feeling sweet, remembering the small birthday party Xiang Jie organised for Shan Mei in June, when his wife serenaded him with Korean version of Teresa Tang’s ‘The Moon Represents My Heart’. His wife always maintained she couldn’t sing well, but that night, he had never heard a more beautiful rendition of the song. Ha, tonight he would get his brother to request the same song from Shan Mei.

Upon arriving home, BR was almost in tears. BB got to take home the football, while he got nothing. He was not happy at all and complained to Daddy. Elder Brother had the ball, and his team won, while MBS team lost and he got no football. He reproached his daddy with his childish pout, “Daddy, are you not the boss of MBS? How come you got such a lousy team?”

“What do you mean lousy team? MBS lost by only one point!” Xiang Zhe pretending to give his son an offended look.

Mummy came to Daddy’s rescue. “Sweetheart, Daddy is waiting for you to grow up fast, so you can train the MBS team to win. Daddy will buy you a brand new football tomorrow. Elder Brother, Uncle, Uncle Pat and Uncle Jae Hoon will teach you to play proper football. Wouldn’t you like that?”

The boys shouted in unison “Yeah!” BR quickly forgot his tantrum and ran up to his daddy to sit on his lap. After he gave Daddy a hug and a big kiss, he began describing the kind of ball he wanted. Everything must be better than the lousy ball that Elder Brother had.

When BB heard Daddy agreeing to everything that BR described, he suddenly wanted to give BR the ‘lousy’ football he had, telling his younger brother a new football was not easy to kick, being too hard for his tiny feet.

Xiang Zhe looked over to his wife with a secret smile wondering whether BB would ever regret this exchange later on when he grew up and realised the value of the ‘lousy’ football he was trying to palm off to BR. This football carried the signatures of the 15 top KFA football ‘stars’, celebrated as sports icons in Korea.

Tomorrow he would take his boys shopping. Apart from buying them a football, he would kit them out in jerseys and shorts and football shoes. As he toyed with the football in his hand, he stopped when he espied Lee Chung Woon’s signature. There was a certain strength to Lee’s signature, but it wasn’t as strong as his. He smirked as he recalled the time Lee Chung Woon announced to TV viewers, when Shan Mei was being interviewed on SGS that he wanted to date her. Xiang Zhe was worried when he heard that. Later he learnt that Shan Mei was not interested in any other guy. She had promised her Xue Zhang she wouldn’t look at another man. All worries over nothing!

That evening, at the Thank You party hosted by the Yins to thank their friends and the footballers for their blessings, Michael Dutton presented the Merger Cup that CTN had won that afternoon to Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei, wishing the couple a hundred more blessed anniversaries to come.

Before letting Junior and Shan Mei go off so easily, Michael commented, in his mind they always seemed like a couple of magnets, so stuck on each other. He wanted to know from them what first attracted them to one another. Shan Mei smiled shyly. After careful thought, and after giving her husband a meaningful look, she said, “his driving skill.”

Michael reacted immediately, “Hey, princess, why didn’t you let me know sooner? I used to train at Brands Hatch. I could have given Junior a run for his money.”

“Any traffic lights and zebra crossings at Brands Hatch?”

“Well, no….”

“Then Sorry, Michael, no go. Anyway, I was talking of driving, not racing.” She then gave Michael a sweet smile and swift peck on his cheek.

Michael then turned his attention to Junior who sheepishly answered, “It is her alertness.” Shaking his head and looking lovingly at his wife, Xiang Zhe smilingly continued, “Boy, this girl is so alert! She’s so alert she never takes a wrong step or makes a wrong turn. And when out walking on the roads, she knows exactly where she’s going, regardless whether she sees red or sees green.”

The two of them then fell into each other’s arms, laughing uncontrollably.

The guests present at the party didn’t know whether they were being teased by the lovely couple still wrapped in each other’s arms.

Michael rolled his eyes around the room, and towards the guests …..

“What did I just say about ‘magnets’ ?”

Chapter AW-103

Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei were inspecting their shipyard two days after a devastating typhoon had blown across the Korean peninsula. The intensity of the typhoon was so strong, many areas in the north and south east of south Korea suffered great damage. Luckily for Wen Rong, their typhoon shelters were repaired and reinforced just in time, giving their shipyard minimal damage. A few other nearby shipyards were not so well prepared and had suffered heavy damages and they were asking Roh Bin whether they could dock their small freighters temporarily within Wen Rong’s shelters.

When Roh Bin approached Xiang Zhe with their neighbours’ requests, in assessing the situation Xiang Zhe agreed to give them a week to repair their most pressing needs. “Bin, tell them we can’t give them more time, because Wen Rong is expecting many freighters for repairs after the typhoon. Many shipyards are not in any position to handle ship repairs, for the time being.”

Brother Sung was aware of the situation too. He told Xiang Zhe, “If your shipyard needs berthing bays to take in the extra repair jobs, Bansung can lease to Wen Rong a few bays for 2 months. We have received many repair orders from Korean government, but we can schedule the repairs that require the use of berthing bays till last.”

The Yins and the Sungs had been working very closely in Busan during the past few months. Knowing Brother Sung’s close association with the Busan municipal government, Xiang Zhe wanted recommendation on how to get hold of good industrial land at low cost, to build a pharmaceutical factory. His grandfather had also left him title deeds to 2 plots of land around the area. He wanted to know discreetly what kind of zoning they were under. His mother also left him some land and also their ancestral home in Busan.

On investigation, Brother Sung found out if Xiang Zhe was doing something no other factory was doing around the area and the products were meant for export, their venture could be accorded many special privileges if it was awarded ‘pioneer’ status.

Brother Sung also found out one of the plots of land being held by Xiang Zhe would be zoned prime urban land in a couple of years’ time. “You should hold on to that land for the time being.”

The other smaller plot could be used as industrial and warehousing land. One time, Xiang Zhe even took him to the special plot left to him by his mother at the hillside overlooking the sea, saying Shan Mei wanted to turn the area into a bee keeping farm.

“Shan Mei loves the area so much she wants us to retire to this place. This land is under another deed from my mother.”

Brother Sung agreed it was a most beautiful spot. In order to make the bee keeping farm viable, the right kinds of flowers had to be grown. It would take two years at least for the plants to fully mature. He would have his Busan office check on the gazetting of the land.

Brother Sung was worried with so many projects going on whether Shan Mei would be able to handle all.

Xiang Zhe advised him, “We want to start the factory in partnership with Philip. Our share in this factory will go to our child who will eventually want to take over management of the shipyard.”

“Brother Yin, this is a great idea. You put in the land from the industrial land deed, Philip to put in the manufacturing plant. Don’t use all the land. Keep half for future expansion. Ha, ha. Wonder which one of your kids will get to benefit?”

“We’ll want to put in the manufacturing plant as well. In this way, in case there’s a dispute in the future, the other party moves out. We have agreed that Philip’s family business will be responsible for marketing of our pharmaceutical products. I think this is a fair arrangement.”

When Xiang Zhe, Shan Mei and Granny Roh were in Shanghai a month ago to check out the supply of Chinese medicinal herbs, Brother Sung also instructed his Shanghai office to give whatever assistance the Yins needed. A company car was at their disposal. The sourcing of herbs was very successful. Granny Roh declared the herbs from the selected suppliers as top grade, after she tested them out.

Back in Busan, Shan Mei was packing the bedding away in the cedar wood chests and trying to clean up the ancestral home as best as she could, after a week’s stay. Husband and wife stood outside in the garden admiring the old house.

Last night at the shipyard, the Yins hosted hot pot and BBQ dinner for the workers. Mr. Ang and Mr. Pei came with their friends. ‘Eat, drink and be merry’ was what everybody did. The workers and their families claimed they never had such a jolly good time before. Every one was toasting the other, until by 10 p.m. half of the men present were drunk. Xiang Zhe decided to end party before he would be asked to drink till he was on his back. He had a flight to catch tomorrow.

Later that night, when they were sitting out on the verandah of their house, looking out towards the vast expanse of sea, enjoying their coffee, they both felt the warm presence of Xiang Zhe’s great grandfather, thanking them for returning to their roots. He wanted to see continuity of his lineage in Busan. He would bless his descendants, if they come. They wondered which of their 4 children would decide to reside in Busan. They promised each other they would not pressure their children, let nature take its course!

Shan Mei was secretly praying that BA would decide to take over management of the shipyard. He would then be close to them when they retire to the hillside plot. Xiang Zhe was hoping BZ would decide to come south, that way he would keep an eye on her and make sure no man could come near his precious daughter.

MBS 31st anniversary year went by without a hitch. Everything worked out according to plan, even the big sale held on the last day of the year. Every item marked ‘for sale’ was sold.

After further training, the new trainees became more proficient in their tasks. Planning Department could place them in whatever position was lacking, and things would work out. Team spirit was very high.

One evening Xiang Jie met up with Elder Brother when Shan Mei was taping Musical Postcard. “Elder Brother, I’m planning news anchor for the next quarter. Do you think it’s a good idea to team Sister with Bai Taku?”

Xiang Zhe shot down the idea at once. “Haven’t you noticed how that Taku boy acts? Every time he’s around your sister, he acts like an excited schoolboy. Make sure you don’t give him any opportunity to stay near to your sister.”

JJ smiled secretly to himself. His elder brother was acting no better, especially during those times, if Xiang Jie remembered well, when he was secretly courting Sister Shan Mei!

“But Michael thinks the team up will increase the ratings.”

“Don’t take any notice of what Michael says. Your sister is not his wife, so he doesn’t have to worry. Anyway, Michael wants to send Taku to London for training. This is confidential information, meant for your ears only.”

That evening when Xiang Zhe collected Shan Mei from MBS, she told her husband she wanted to go to some place romantic.

“Something nice happened today?”

“Yes, something very nice. Brother Sung called this morning.” No more identification was then needed as Xiang Zhe’s attitude immediately turned stiff and cool prompted by a fleeting jealousy. Every time Sung’s name was mentioned accompanied by that happy smile on his wife’s face, Xiang Zhe had the fear that the man might one day deprive him of some of Shan Mei’s love and devotion, seeing that Sung indulged BB and BR shamelessly. Xiang Zhe had often wondered whether Sung purposely used the boys as an excuse to phone Shan Mei at every available opportunity.

“What does he want this time?” Xiang Zhe forced out the question as civilly as he could manage. He wasn’t aware his voice still sounded forbidding.

Shan Mei understood his uneasy fear, so she casually remarked, “He wanted to take BB and BR to Okinawa for a short holiday. He invited us along.”

“Why?”

“BB and BR are his godsons, and as usual, I think he can’t help being generous and helpful.”

“Generous and helpful? I think it’s just another excuse to get me to agree so he can holiday with you!” Xiang Zhe couldn’t help himself sounding devilishly proprietary about his wife. Despite his promises to rein in his tantrums, he had this ungovernable jealousy regarding Shan Mei whenever a man’s name was mentioned. It simply didn’t respond to any reasonable logic. Of course it did – at the back of his mind – not forgetting a woman stealing his father away from his mother.

“Xue Zhang,” Shan Mei laughed as she answered emphatically and went on to explain. “You’ve got it all backward. He’s thinking more of his sister. Now that Patrick and Susie seemed to have settled down very nicely into married life, he’s trying to get Henri Lang to marry Jennie, since she’s spending so much of her time in Okinawa. Brother Sung thought with us showing up as a happy family, maybe we could convince that beach boy that married life to Jennie can be just as blissful. He thought maybe you could have a talk with Henri.”

“I’m going to do no such thing. Henri is a very particular guy with lots of personal issues about his ideal woman. For your information, Jennie Sung is definitely not IT,” Xiang Zhe declared, showing a determination in his uncompromising expression.

“Husband, please don’t sound so negative. According to Brother Sung, Jennie has changed a lot, trying to make Henri happy. I know about that body hair thing and her breasts. According to Madam Sung, Jennie has toned down her make-up, has visited the top cosmetic specialists in Tokyo to get rid of her body hair and even has her breasts augmented to the exact size that Henri liked. In fact, Henri was the one who accompanied her to the Tokyo doctor who performed the implants. What more can the woman do to please the man she wants?”

“So? These are all only cosmetic improvements. Has she managed to change her arrogant nature? This is the main stumbling block that has Henri stalling. If she has managed to make Henri happy, she doesn’t need our help – when the right time rolls along, Henri will automatically do the right thing, if he finds her acceptable.” Xiang Zhe then gave a negligent shrug to indicate that Jennie and Henri’s problem was really none of his business.

“Maybe all Henri simply needs is a nudge in the right direction!” Shan Mei pointed out. “Surely it doesn’t hurt to help?”

“They’re both grown adults so I’m sure they’ll manage to sort this out on their own. Sung seems to manage quite well in being able to talk you into falling in with his plans most of the time.” Xiang Zhe sounded miffed when he eyed Shan Mei morosely. “Maybe he should be the one talking to Henri.”

Shan Mei grew alarmed. She was learning that whenever her husband got that tone in his voice, he usually started issuing orders.

“Dearest Husband, how can you think that way when you know it’s not true? There’s only one person who can talk me into falling in with his plans and that’s you.”

Xiang Zhe smiled understandingly – his wife was trying to pacify him with her sweet talk again. “Darling, if that’s the case, then let Sung use his talent to persuade Henri into marriage. Sung only wants to get us involved, so if things don’t work out, he’ll be able to lay part of the blame on us. Remember that time when we suggested the ‘husband-and-wife’ charade? He was going to make me bear the responsibility in case his sister got hurt and his father blamed him for our scheming. If he wants to take BB and BR to Okinawa, let him as long as he takes nanny along. But I’m not going to be a party to his schemes.”

When he noticed Shan Mei’s forehead knitted into exasperated frowns, he suggested, “Just tell him we’ll use that time, when he’s in Okinawa with the kids, to go down to Cheju to spend some quiet romantic time there, then to drive my Ferrari back to Seoul. I’m not going to let the car sit and rot in Cheju. After all, it’s a present for me from my dearest wife. After that blackmail racket was smashed, I don’t feel safe taking my family down to Cheju anymore. If he wants, we can ask Patrick and Susie along so they can drive his Ferrari back to Seoul for him.”

“Then you will have another excuse to speed, spinning stories again about what a waste if the car is not allowed to go fast, etc., etc,” Shan Mei complained.

“Darling, I’ll do nothing of that sort. Once we have the Ferrari back in Seoul, I promise I won’t use it as transportation to replace my BMW. We’ll take it out one or two mornings a week and drive it around the vicinity of our neighbourhood, so the engine gets a workout.” He gave his wife a soft, coaxing smile.

Shan Mei looked at him with skepticism, as laughter came from her throat, warm and easy – he and his cajoling ways.

Stopping his car by the roadside, he turned around to face his wife. Sliding his hands lightly from her shoulders down her arms, a warm feathering along her skin that made her skin tingled, he continued, “We’ll simply enjoy the romantic drives casually to catch some morning breeze – no speeding. Or we can go for romantic evening drives, watching stars whenever we have a clear night. I promise.”

“You!” Shan Mei laughed some more as she hit Xiang Zhe’s arms gently with her tiny fist, when she detected a devilish amusement in his dark eyes. “Why do I always let you get away with your excuses?”

“Because I see a good opportunity where I can get you to myself for a few days, I grasp it. Sung can have the boys; Auntie, Xiang Jie and Jae Hoon can have the twins; and I can have you. Perfect arrangement! It’s all decided then.”

He gave her a sly smile as he restarted the car. “Did you say some place romantic, darling?”

Then he drove them off to their cabin. He told his wife, “This evening I am going to cook dinner for you.”

“Oh yeah? With what?”

“I have in fact bought some chicken and the necessary ingredients from the supermarket for hot rice pot chicken according to Ma’s recipe.”

Shan Mei was surprised. She thought her husband was only good, preparing sandwiches or simple toast to go with butter and jam.

From tonight’s dinner, it seemed he had improved a lot on his culinary skills. The hot rice pot chicken tasted really good and satisfying. They had some red wine from a sampler bottle given to them by Westin.

When they were in the kitchen washing up, Shan Mei complimented her husband, telling him, “Thank you, darling, for the delicious dinner. It was really good!”

Xiang Zhe beamed. “What kind of reward am I going to get later?”

“We’ll see, after shower.”

After shower, his wife rewarded him with a deep, lingering kiss, then they went to lie down on the heated tatami mat getting ready for bed.

Chapter AW-104

After the twins reached their 5th birthday, the Yins began throwing BBQ get-togethers for their staff and friends annually, spaced out in different months.

Harvest Festival month for all CTN staff and the 2STAC team from MBS. Auntie prepared all salads, kimchi and other delicious side dishes, and marinated all the meat.

October was month for P.E. team get-together. Master Chef was responsible for all food and BBQ meat preparation.

Last Sunday in December became PIR team get-together. Of course, Shan Mei’s Ma prepared all the delicious kimchi and side dishes. Han Jae Hoon chipped in with the cooking too, surprising his team members with his culinary skills at Russian fare.

New Year’s Day on January 1st was given over to the press for their unwavering support to MBS and CTN. Westin was responsible for catering, with free flow of wine. Invitations for this event were hard to come by, and much coveted by the media. For them, it was interesting to see how the Yins live.

Many imagined the Yins lived a lavish lifestyle of unsurpassable luxury. In actual fact, even though the Yins lacked for nothing and everything they had was of the highest quality, the Yins opted for a very low profile and simple lifestyle. Their 2 two most public appearances would be the annual Award Ceremony and the CTN-KE Anniversary. Even for the MBS Founding Day Anniversary, only special guests were invited.

During Korean New Year, the Yins would throw a traditional New Year’s party for the roving ambassadors, volunteer doctors and medical trainees who helped out at Shan Mei’s charitable shelters and with her CTN Ambassador vans.

CTN-KE had a team of 8 roving Ambassadors operating 2 vans. Shan Mei at the end of the year, would gift them cash bonuses of 3 million Won each, plus a 3D/2N all expenses paid stay at the Westin.

Xiang Zhe was greatly surprised at his wife spending that kind of money. Shan Mei let on that her bonus from internet income was more than enough to cover that expenditure, and the ambassadors were worth every cent of it for their hard work. Not one of their internet subscribers, since CTN-KE Korean Language launch, had cancelled subscription. In fact, the membership had increased steadily. Michael never expected such kind of response from Internet services when he launched Korean language services, until he found out the users were signing up because they were loyal fans of Shan Mei during her MBS days.

Because of that, he said Shan Mei deserved a share of the subscription fees. Xiang Zhe didn’t ask how much the share percentage was; he was afraid he would get an inferiority complex knowing his wife was making so much more money than he was. His wife then told him her money was his money too, and he should help spend it. In fact, he should have the whole lot, because it was MBS Radio that gave her that fan base, giving her the financial means to support her pet project: shelters for the homeless, poor and disabled.

As a matter of fact, each year a medical student serving internship would accompany the CTN ambassador van, one student per van, around the country providing some basic medical service, using the experience as their basis for thesis.

Upon successful completion of their year long service, CTN would sponsor one year of the medical studies for 2 students in England. These 2 places were hotly fought for among these medical students each year. These students were always in communication with Shan Mei. Because these were outstanding students with already a taste for community services, Shan Mei always asked her husband to follow up the correspondence. Maybe he could offer them a brief contract with Wen Rong Hospitals in either Seoul or in Busan. The students also volunteered their services at Shan Mei’s shelters.

In turn, Xiang Zhe would ask Roh Bin to pass the information onto the Hospital administrator in Busan to let him know plenty of interns and locums were available whenever resident doctors wanted to go away for holidays.

All the respective sponsors were invited to these informal gatherings. The Sung family made it their business to show up at every function.

Yin Senior was the one who enjoyed these gatherings the most. He loved his daughter-in-law so much, he had often wondered what their lives would be like if she had married someone else, say, that Sung boy. Now, their household was blessed with so much joy. Patrick had looked upon him as Father, Xiang Zhe had become very close to his younger brother, accepting him as his true blood brother, and the grandchildren simply loved them all, not aware who was from which side of the family. No wonder his elder son always maintained Shan Mei was an angel. She had, in one way or another, touched their lives profoundly.

The gardens were large enough for the guests to enjoy themselves and have their own space. The event manager and his staff for each function set up marquees all over the extended grounds of the 2 properties. One section was usually partitioned off as the children’s play area, for safety reasons.

The grandparents had never seen so many children having so much fun at one time in their home. Xiang Zhe’s 4, Patrick’s 2, You Zhen’s 1, Yong Xi’s 1, Zhao Di’s 1, and the other children from their staff members and the sponsors. One time, when the party theme for the kids was ‘Disneyland’ and when it was present time, at the end of the party, the children wanted only Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, and not any of the other Disney cartoon characters. Shan Mei had a hard time coaxing the precious little ones to accept whatever soft toys they had drawn out of the gift box. Tomorrow, she would send along to them a Mickey or a Minnie. With that assurance, the children stopped crying. The assistants were told to take down details.

Thereafter, Xiang Zhe told event management to avoid such themes in the future.

One time Brother Sung told Shan Mei the Busan Municipality was going to zone some plots of free land for community work. He advised her to apply for one plot using Wen Rong Shipyard as the applicant because he saw from the M.P.’s internal zoning plans, one piece of land was very near by to their library.

Wen Rong was successful in their application. Bansung built for Wen Rong very basic cabins that could be used as camping facilities. The local council also awarded several special benefits to the camping grounds. Wen Rong invited students and teachers, underprivileged children and their carers, to use the camping grounds as free accommodation for school adventure outings to get to know Busan and its surrounding areas better. Especially, the area’s fishing industry. All this charitable work had not gone unnoticed by the local and national governments, and Wen Rong Shipyard was awarded many awards every year for their untiring community charity efforts.

Another time Xiang Zhe organised such an outing for the children in his own and extended families. He and the Seniors went along as carers, to try out the facilities. The Busan Municipal office provided a school bus for the party. They organised the whole itinerary for the children’s visit, knowing these children were going to be the future leaders of the country’s top industries, hoping one day they would bring big investments to the south. Upon arrival at Busan and watching the city skyline from their tour bus, Yin Snr was impressed with Busan’s rapid developments.

When they were given a tour of the Wen Rong shipyard, little BA declared he loved to watch the freighters coming into harbour with their fishes.

“When I grow up, I want to live in a place like this.” He went up to his daddy, asking, “Daddy, when I grow up, will you build me a little boat just like the one we saw today?”

This son had never asked for anything, something must have stirred him. Daddy immediately gave him a wide grin and scooped him up in his arms, giving him a kiss, telling him, “Do not forget what you just asked for today. Daddy and mummy will give you all the little boats that you will want if you ever live in this place when you grow up.”

Xiang Zhe was singing inside his heart, so happy for his wife who couldn’t join them this trip because she was in Tokyo attending a 4-day CTN international workshop for Area directors. BA was her favourite child, and if he told her what BA had just said, he was sure she would be so happy she would want to dance on the moon (and on him, too, if he was lucky enough!).

BA went up to his little sister asking her, “Do you want to come and stay with me, on one of my little boats?”

BZ turned her nose up at him, claiming, “I am not interested. You can have all the boats to yourself. This place smells too fishy for my comfort. I would prefer to stay home and play with mummy’s many bottles of sweet smelling water on her dressing table.”

Patrick’s daughter, Rose, ran up to BA and consoled him, “It’s alright if Sister BZ doesn’t want to come. I’ll join you in your little boat.” She then ran up to her 2 sets of grandparents asking whether she could.

Both told her, “Honey, you will have to ask your Papa.” She was not happy and began to sulk.

Until BA hugged her and told her, “Don’t sulk. I’ll share my little boat with you, if my mummy says it’s okay.” Smiles all around. “I’m sure my mummy will agree if we are good children. And your Papa always listens to my mummy anyway.”

“Why don’t you ask your daddy since he is here?” prodded the little girl.

“No use, he too only listens to mummy,” BA answered, giving his daddy a cheeky, sneaky look. Daddy, spotting a silly grin, glared big eyes at BA.

Later, the secretary at the Busan Mayor’s office also arranged a yacht to take them sailing around the harbour and along the eastern coastline. At one point along the coastline, Xiang Zhe pointed out to the Seniors the part of the hill where he would eventually build their private commune. He didn’t mention anything about the land deed from his mother. In front of his father, he didn’t want to mention his mother, afraid his father might feel guilty about their past episode. The other elders were very understanding too about the whole situation.

At the end of the trip, every one agreed it was fun and enjoyable and they would love to return to Busan for fishing trip. The camping facilities though basic were adequate and easy to keep clean. Wen Rong employed 3 cleaners to keep the place and grounds in order.

The camp was very close by the library, giving the children plenty to do, if it happened to rain during any one day of their trip. Yin Snr was very happy, seeing Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei had established such good rapport with the shipyard’s workers, and had integrated so well with the local community.

In fact, the Yin’s ancestral home was also kept in immaculate condition. It was maintained by volunteers from the shipyard’s workers’ families. They wouldn’t accept payment, saying they wanted to do it out of appreciation of Shan Mei. Ever since the union leaders and shipyard managers were dismissed, the workers had brought home larger pay packets, enabling them to enjoy better living conditions and lifestyles.

As for the Seniors, every year in April, Shan Mei would treat her parents-in-law to a holiday trip to wherever they wanted to go. Her parents went along as well. Last year when the 2 sets of grandparents visited Canada, they took BB and BR with them. Yin Snr had always praised Shan Mei for her thoughtfulness. Of course the seniors could well afford to pay for their own holidays, but Shan Mei insisted on taking care of all the expenses, to show the parents how much they were appreciated for all their hard work. As she had said time and again, “It’s the thought that counts.” And her husband agreed 100%.

Xiang Zhe loved such times too. Jae Hoon would get his chance to take the twins home to stay with him a few days. Then, the twins were off to Patrick’s place for a week. The remaining time, they would stay home with their parents. Xiang Jie would take this time to visit his mother, and the Duttons in London. Nanny and household staff would take their holidays too.

After the CTN International Area directors’ workshop in Tokyo, Michael flew back to Seoul with Shan Mei.

Michael and Brother Sung met up at Xiang Zhe’s house for dinner. They wanted to talk about the children. Seeing BB was almost 12 years old.

Michael wondered aloud, “S.D., do you think it’s time to send BB to England for schooling? If he starts early, he will get used to the English way of life sooner.”

Brother Sung was against the idea. “Michael, I don’t think it’s a good idea at all. He’s still too young. And if he stays in London, I won’t be able to see him whenever I like. And you know BR won’t like it too with his elder brother away. They’re both very close to each other.”

“In that case, send BR as well. You can come visit whenever you like. It’s not fair to me. I get to see them only when I visit.”

“Michael… that’s not what I heard. Two years ago, didn’t the grandparents holiday with the boys in England for a month? When BB and BR returned to Seoul, they told me how much they enjoyed their time with you.”

“See S.D.? If you want to see them happy, send them over. I’ve already spoken to the principal of a very good school near my place.”

Brother Sung looked at Michael in horror. “How can you be so selfish taking the two boys for yourself? I have planned to start taking BB with me into the office during the weekends, so he will get a feel of big board room meetings and decision making.”

Michael conceded somewhat. “Okay, BB will go to London at 16. That time, BR would be 13, old enough to tag along with Brother Sung to office meetings, etc.”

The two of them then toasted each other, for having arrived at a sensible compromise.

Shan Mei had long ago gone to bed, not wanting to be involved whenever the godfathers start talking about their godsons.

Xiang Zhe, sitting there smiled silently to himself. Whenever these two talked of their godsons, somehow or other, they seemed to forget Junior was the father of the boys. They made their decisions without once seeking his opinion. Sometimes, they looked at him as an afterthought, not expecting any protest from him.

He didn’t want to be involved too. No matter what these godfathers decided, the one having the final word would eventually be Shan Mei.

Years flew by very quickly and on Xiang Jie’s 35th birthday, Shan Mei relinquished MBS presidency post to him. He was also the DoP. Shan Mei would have preferred it if Xiang Jie was married, so there would be a woman to take care of his needs. Sister knew of several girls, within and outside the ranks of MBS, wanting to develop friendship with him, but he just wasn’t interested. He kept telling Shan Mei, MBS was his wife, CTN his mistress, and the 4 children his everything.

Shan Mei left him to his own devices, since he was running MBS so well.

Anyway, Father hadn’t insisted that Xiang Jie get married. He was so proud of him and what he was doing for MBS and CTN, that he left matters alone.[

Chapter AW-105

The Yins prospered not just business-wise, but in family extensions. A few years after the opening of the pharmaceutical factory, in which a small share was given to Roh Bin, he married a sweet local girl from a Busan suburb.

Brother Ding from Yanji, China supplied best quality Chinese herbs required by the factory for the tablets they were manufacturing. In fact, Brother Ding and his family had visited the Busan factory several times already to see how he could assist as best as he could, especially with his advice on the correct handling and storage of the herbs.

Two years later, Roh Bin became father to a baby girl making Granny Roh the happiest great grandmother. He also bought his family a nice house. Wen Rong continued to pay him a housing allowance.

Philip and Polly, spending time between Busan and London, treated Roh Bin’s family as their extended family too.

BB soon went off to boarding school in London, later going on to Cambridge. BR soon followed the same path. Michael insisted the godsons stay with him and kept pestering Shan Mei to send the twins as well. Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei wouldn’t allow the twins to leave the roost so soon.

In fact when the twins were ready for university at Cambridge, Xiang Zhe wanted to move to London too, so they could keep an eye on their beautiful daughter. He wouldn’t let his daughter out of his sight longer than was necessary saying her mouth, her smile, her eyes and her charisma were so like her mother’s, they would attract too much uninvited attention to herself. The only things she had inherited from her daddy were his name, his height, and his brains, and part of his good looks, giving her a combination more lethal than her mother’s. In the end, it was only Shan Mei going off to London with the twins, Xiang Zhe remaining in Seoul and joining them whenever he could arrange for some time off.

By now, BB was back in Seoul and already working 2 years at Wen Rong. Xiang Zhe as Chairman was grooming his eldest son to take over the CEO post. Though young in years, BB was very well experienced and connected. During his school holidays, he had trained at CTN-UK, MBS and Bansung. Besides Wen Rong, his Godfather Sung wanted him to take over running of the construction arm of Bansung. Sung insisted this division would complement very well with Wen Rong Heavy Industries, and Uncle Jin, though long retired, and his deputy would lead him very well in that area.

BR after gaining a Masters from Cambridge was starting out at MBS under the tutelage of Xiang Jie and Jae Hoon. Xiang Jie together with Patrick was responsible for CTN-KE, Xiang Jie solely responsible for CTN Asia/Pacific.

Shan Mei had officially retired. Since her father’s demise 2 years ago, she had kept a very low profile. She was now spending most of her time in their London house since the twins started at Cambridge. If she was not in Cambridge and not back in Seoul, she was down south in Busan with her husband, either staying at the ancestral home or at the hillside bungalow that Brother Sung had built for them.

Brother Sung, after his first visit to the hillside site with Xiang Zhe, was so enchanted with the East Sea area, he wanted to buy a small plot from Xiang Zhe, so he could build a holiday bungalow for his parents too.

When Xiang Zhe insisted on gifting him the necessary land, Brother Sung had an alternative suggestion. He wouldn’t take the land, but he would build bungalows for the family, keeping 4 for his Sung family, so they could all holiday together, making paperwork with the land office hassle-free.

So, one bungalow each to Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei; Sung Seniors; Brother Sung; Elder Sung sister; Yin seniors; Pa and Ma; You Zhen’s family; Patrick’s family, BB; BR; BZ; and BA. The bungalows were very basic, just right for that kind of purpose.

Of course, Shan Mei’s bungalow was more spacious and better planned and equipped, since Xiang Zhe and her spent a lot of time there. They even had their own vegetable plot. The area marked out for bee keeping was very productive. The bee keepers, retired workers from the shipyard, took care of the property in good condition, and when the Yins visited, they assisted in any way possible. The Yins took a percentage of the honey, and packed, marketed and sold them as premium products in Seoul’s supermarkets. All profits from the sales of the honey were channeled into MBS Youth Club and Youth Drama training classes.

You Zhen was still with CTN-KE, now in charge of the entire production department. Since Alan started off at Cambridge together with the twins so Shan Mei could look after him too, Minnie had been helping out at the noodle shop. Sometimes, she would fly to London to help out so Shan Mei could fly back to Seoul to keep Xiang Zhe company.

Ma kept herself busy simply making her famous kimchi. Luckily for her, she had many fans from her PIR show. Their support kept her from dwelling too much on her late husband. Now that he was gone, she was missing him even more. Nanny was at the shop several afternoons a week to keep Ma company. They worked very well together with Nanny’s son and daughter-in-law. Nanny was still staying with the Yins, although she had been pensioned off, ever since the twins left for England.

At the start of the summer holidays, Shan Mei flew into Seoul together with the children. A grand party was planned for the Yins’ 25th wedding anniversary.

As usual, Xiang Zhe was at the airport early to meet the flight. He couldn’t wait to have his angel back in his arms. The last time he saw her was during the Easter break. Since Shan Mei went off to London with the twins, BB had been keeping his daddy company, but according to Xiang Zhe, he was no substitute for Shan Mei. Yin Senior insisted that his other grandson BR lived with him.

This trip, the twins decided to stay with their grandparents during the summer holidays. They had missed them too much. Yin Snr was now 83 years old, but still very strong and healthy. Patrick’s children spent time at the Senior Yins’ mansion too.

The twins were very close to Patrick’s children, their grandma indulged them hopelessly. Shan Mei had noticed her youngest son shared a special bonding with Patrick’s daughter Rose. They planned everything together, even the disciplines they wanted to study at university. Rose wanted to take up the disciplines that would complement BA’s. Shan Mei knew their youngest son, who most resembled his father in looks and disposition, had decided to go south, because he opted for industrial and financial management. He always maintained he was not into glamour. He would leave the television business to his elder brothers and glamorous sister.

The Yins’ daughter BZ was gorgeous. While at high school, she was approached by many fashion magazines and modeling agencies to model for top fashion houses. Xiang Zhe would have none of it. One model in the family, recalling Shan Mei’s stint for Mr. V, was enough. He didn’t relish the thought of men ogling at his beautiful daughter. During her 18th and 19th year, while back in Seoul for Summer holidays, she was invited to participate in Miss Korea contest. Xiang Zhe almost hit the roof, telling Shan Mei their daughter was not allowed to go anywhere except work at MBS. For work, she was only allowed to wear T-shirts and dungarees; none of her fancy clothes.

For her first day at work at MBS, when Xiang Zhe saw his daughter in dungarees at the breakfast table, he immediately insisted she changed into loose jeans and oversized T-shirts. BZ became frustrated and voiced her displeasure with her daddy.

“Daddy, what’s the matter with you? You told me I could only wear T-shirts and dungarees; I didn’t mind, because they ARE comfortable. Now, you tell I’ve got to wear baggy jeans and over sized t-shirts. What are the people at the Station going to think – that I’m a sloppy dresser?”

“Hey princess, I don’t care what they think! In that pair of dungarees you look too much like your mummy. The first time I actually met your mummy, she was in dungarees and T-shirt. That day when I offered her a lift home, she refused, and asked to have back her school bag that was in the rear of my car, then she ran off. I discovered later, that day, she not only ran off with her school bag, she had somehow quietly and secretly stolen my heart and ran off with it too! Understand? I don’t want the same thing to happen to you at MBS on your first day of work. I don’t want any of your colleagues to lose their hearts to you.”

BZ gave her daddy a pout, exclaiming, “You think every man is silly like you, so easily captivated?” then she walked away.

Folding the newspapers away, Xiang Zhe called her back. Pretending to be angry and offended, he reminded her, “Your daddy silly, huh? If I was that silly, how did I manage to find you such a super mum? And how many times have I told you not to use that pout on me? It is your mummy’s proprietary trademark.”

Turning her around, he gave his daughter a loving smack on her bottom, insisting she go back to her room and change and he didn’t want to hear any more arguments.

“Daddy, you’re such a tyrant! I don’t know how Mummy can tolerate you all these years.”

“Me a tyrant? I wonder who’s the young lady trying to tyrannise everybody in this household?” Xiang Zhe was mocking his daughter and smilingly shook his head at her as she turned around and flounced off in a huff.

Looking lovingly at her receding back, he again shook his head in amusement. So adorable, just like her mother!

Even though he would miss his wife dreadfully and was reluctant to let her spend that much time in London, he had to. He had no choice. It was too worrying to let their daughter loose on the London social scene.

Whenever he received their emails describing the social events Michael took them to, he reminded them they were there to study, not to socialise. They should try to complete their studies as quickly as possible, so he could have his wife back.

BA was very level-headed and well-behaved. He had promised his parents he could look after BZ, so mummy needn’t spend all that time in London with them, knowing how lost his daddy was without mummy. He had always secretly admired his parents. They were so true and devoted to one another. He hoped to have a marriage like theirs. He thought of Rose. She was so sweet and seemed to have inherited all the good points of her mother and grandma. In fact, she was so like grandma, and grandma had made grandpa so happy. He hoped in her heart, he was her choice for life partner too.

When Xiang Zhe was on the phone with Shan Mei a week ago and she confirmed their flight details from London, he was so excited. BB moved back to his apartment in the mansion, the one formerly occupied by Patrick. Xiang Zhe already told his son to manage on his own for the next few weeks. In case of any problems, he should simply consult with his Uncle Jie. This summer he wanted to spend a lot of romantic time with his wife. BB gave his daddy his customary ‘disgusting’ look, then laughingly went off, shaking his head, marveling at the deep love his parents shared.

In fact the four siblings when they were younger used to laugh at the way their daddy behaved whenever their mummy gave him that ‘special’ look. Their daddy became all flustered and began acting like a school boy around their mummy, and whatever she wanted, she got. They tried practicing that ‘special’ look on their daddy, but it never worked for them. To this day, they still never managed to fathom what secret signal their mummy gave off with that ‘special’ look. That connection was so powerful, their mummy didn’t even have to voice what she wanted, their daddy was able to read her mind and act accordingly.

Now sitting in his armchair, Xiang Zhe released a breath of relief and pinched himself in his arm. He shook his head – he could hardly believe that 25 years of married bliss had flown by so quickly. There just weren’t enough days and nights for him to fully appreciate his wife. Where had all the time gone to? When he first met Shan Mei in London, he was 25 years old, and he had complained at that time – it had taken a miserable, long, lonely time for him to reach his first 25 years.

For their 25th wedding anniversary, Shan Mei was wearing the beautiful silk organza and French lace gown she wore at her wedding banquet. Xiang Zhe had taken it out of storage and asked Madam Kim to make the necessary alterations so Shan Mei could wear it. That gown brought back much loving memories for the Yins, both recalling how on their wedding night, when Xiang Zhe was slowly undoing the pearl buttons along the back, Shan Mei’s skin had tingled at his warm and gentle touch, sending shivers dancing down her spine.

For Xiang Zhe, his hands were shaking and hot flushes were zipping through him. It was the first time he was undressing a woman. He wasn’t sure how to go about it, so he tried to remember from the movies he has seen, the next step to take as he progressed along – slowly, very slowly. He didn’t want to appear clumsy and nervous. Later, while Shan Mei was in the bathroom, he laughed at himself. It seemed, in the name of love, nature had its own laws – all loving feelings and actions simply rolled along instinctively and naturally. LOVE was the motivating force!

Tonight, he would relish unbuttoning those tiny ‘pearlies’ again, and he had already worked out in his mind how he was going to introduce to his beloved wife a new love game while he was at it.

Everyone of the guest at the 25th wedding anniversary party was a familiar face. It was hard to believe, in their long journey together, they had made so many wonderful friends who were present that evening to share in their happiness. Most wonderful of all were their four beautiful children, a testament of their love. Many well wishers toasted them with heart-felt speeches. Xiang Zhe couldn’t contain his tears; if he hadn’t met Shan Mei, tonight wouldn’t be happening. Apart from the total love, devotion and support she had given him all these years, she had brought many endearing, enduring friendships into his life.

At home, the boys helped their daddy up to his bedroom. He was so happy at the party, Shan Mei didn’t have the heart to slow down his drinking.

Shan Mei knew he was drunk when he began plying her with kisses almost non-stop as they moved among the tables and telling her how much he loved her, much to the delight of their guests.

To the guests, Yin Xiang Zhe was a man always in total control of himself, with an inscrutable face. When attending meetings where Shan Mei was also present, he would never look directly at her afraid his eyes would betray his obvious feelings for all to see, as if the others hadn’t noticed it already. Whenever he felt the others were looking at their notes, he would sneak a quick glance at his wife. If he happened to catch Shan Mei’s eyes, sweetness would rush through him; his wife was thinking of him too, and he would give her an impish wink.

Whenever Shan Mei made some relevant points at these meetings, or contributed some constructive ideas, he would look down at his notes and smiled softly to himself.

Now, with his chairman’s mask gone, he looked so different and appeared so human, his face radiating with such love for his wife. Holding his wife tightly in his arms, he further added he was not letting her return to London, he had missed her too much. “Leave the twins to Michael,” his voice boomed across the room, and his eyes strayed to Michael sitting at a table with Brother Sung, expecting him to second the proposal. Shan Mei’s face was now all red with embarrassment. Before he could say more, Xiang Jie and Jae Hoon came forward and helped him out to their car.

As the boys waited around the room to see what else their mummy wanted them to do, they suddenly noticed their daddy gasping, some blue green colour slowly creeping up his throat, as if having difficulty in breathing. Shan Mei at once attended to her husband, giving gentle strokes along his chest and unbuttoning his shirt at the same time.

BA immediately went to get Granny Roh who was in the kitchen about to brew some tea for his daddy. When Granny appeared she tried to ease Xiang Zhe’s chest, at the same time, saying they should send him to the hospital without delay.

Xiang Jie on being notified by BB, immediately phoned Dr. Kim and explained the situation to him. He asked Dr. Kim to get the most qualified specialists to stand by at Wen Rong Hospital – they were leaving for hospital right away.

Chapter AW-106

Shan Mei was in deep shock. She felt a cold lump of fear in her throat, threatening to cut off her supply of air. “Husband,” she whispered to herself, the sound of her frightened voice causing waves of pain in her head. The enormity of the situation hit her hard, and she covered her mouth with a fisted hand, sobbing softly. Xue Zhang wasn’t going to die, he wasn’t! He was so full of life at the anniversary party, all night throwing her seducing side long glances, and squeezing her hands with suggestive innuendoes. And just to make sure she got his messages, many times he tickled her palm with his forefinger when he was holding her hand. So alive, so playful, so mischievous! No, nothing was going to happen to Xue Zhang, nothing must happen to him! She shook her head violently, as if her denial would be true and keep him safe.

Moments later, she managed to take a firm grip of herself. “I must NOT cry – I must be brave for Xue Zhang’s sake. I cannot distress him further.”

BZ helped her mummy changed out of her gown, into some comfortable clothes. When Shan Mei recovered somewhat, she packed some nightwear for her husband.

Not wanting to worry her daddy unnecessarily, BZ changed into her baggiest pants and a borrowed loose T-shirt from BA. Mother and daughter, with Granny Roh, then went straight to the hospital, Shan Mei reminding her daughter not to let Grandpa know.

“What about Grandma?”

“Maybe later, after we know what’s wrong with Daddy!”

Xiang Zhe’s breathing problem had eased a bit. The specialist at the hospital said his breathing was most probably affected by the smoke from cigarettes in the function room that evening, plus the fact he was drinking a lot. Anyway, conclusive prognosis would only be available after all the necessary tests had been completed.

Granny Roh after feeling Xiang Zhe’s pulse very carefully concluded his right lung was having some kind of problem, due to congestion? Due to water retention? Granny Roh looked at Shan Mei and quietly said, “Shan Mei, luckily you have been giving Xiang Zhe the specially-brewed herbal soup regularly otherwise the problem would have surfaced much earlier and in more serious condition.”

Shan Mei immediately felt so guilty. She had been spending at least two months at a stretch with the twins in London for the past 2 years, therefore neglecting Xue Zhang somewhat. She only gave him the soup only when she was in Seoul or in Busan. She looked down at her husband’s tired face, and smoothed the hair away from his damp forehead with tender fingers. Something about his mournful eyes awakened a strong protective instinct in her. She bent her head to his and cradled his face within her palms and sobbed quietly into him, “Darling, as soon as we leave this hospital, I promise you I’d never leave your side ever again. Like you have said, let Michael take care of the twins.”

From the hospital bed, Xiang Zhe looked at his wife with such sadness in his eyes, begging her silently to forgive him for always causing her trouble. He had planned to spend the entire summer holidays with her in their cabin, after having left instructions with BB and Xiang Jie not to disturb them. From the glum looks now on everybody’s face in that hospital room, it would seem they would be spending the summer holidays at the hospital.

Apart from eating and sleeping, his wife would not let him do anything else, not even talking to her unnecessarily. Michael and S.D. Sung were only allowed to visit briefly. Xiang Zhe’s condition was kept very hush-hush.

Dr. Kim, though retired from active practice more than a decade ago, came out to personally supervise Xiang Zhe’s medical team. The test results were finally out. Together with the x-rays that showed a small part of Xiang Zhe’s right lung spotted with tiny faint blotches so the team cardiologists suspected obstruction of the pulmonary artery. Maybe some alveoli sacs were affected. There was no visible presence of tumor growth, so it wasn’t cancer. Because only a small part of the lung was affected, they recommended minor surgery to take a small sample for testing, to be on the safe side.

Shan Mei couldn’t accept this fact, and she was reluctant to let Xue Zhang go for surgery. She wanted to seek alternative solutions. Now, the family was split into 2 camps, one side agreed with the doctors, the other side agreed with Shan Mei. And the patient himself?

Xiang Zhe made it be known that he would go along with whatever his wife decided. He told the family, “If it was not for Shan Mei, most probably I would have died a long, long time ago with my heavy drinking and smoking. I already feel so blessed, my wife giving me 4 such beautiful children and such bliss these past 25 years. Whatever extra days we can spend together, I’ll consider them as bonuses.” He understood his wife’s feelings. In her mind, he was perfect – she didn’t want to see him with a missing part or another scar on him. She had always blamed herself for not being there with him when he went to the Busan shipyard that first time, and he ended up with a scar on his forehead.

Shan Mei had a long discussion with granny Roh. “Granny, what do you think? Do you think I’m stubborn and taking a big risk, not letting my husband go for surgery?”

“Shan Mei, I don’t understand much about western medicine. From the X-ray, I see that only a small part of the lung is affected. I’ve understood Xiang Zhe’s problems when I first met him. I suspect those blotches shown on his lung are toxic build-ups. I can help cleanse them up with some herbal brew and purify the blood system, getting to the root of the problem.”

Shan Mei trusted her, seeing Granny could conclude it was the right lung giving problems, when the doctors needed an x-ray before they would dare make a diagnosis. Granny further suggested, “Both of you should move permanently to the hillside bungalow, the air from the East Sea being so fresh and clean. Try a stress-free lifestyle with plenty of exercise and the correct diet for about 6 months. If Xiang Zhe’s condition does not improve, then I think you should accept the doctor’s recommendation.”

As soon as Brother Sung understood the Yins would be moving to the hillside bungalow in Busan, he immediately set about extending the place, and installing a water piping system that would carry clear mountain water from upstream directly to the Yin’s bungalow. BB asked Godfather Sung to also install a home video system, with cinema seating knowing how his parents liked to sneak off to the cinema once in a while, in the empty bungalow that Grandfather Zhen used to stay in. They could use this bungalow as their entertainment centre.

Bansung’s ID team set to work at once. Brother Sung wanted everything to be completed within 2 weeks.

Even though Dr. Kim was not happy with Shan Mei’s decision, he had to go along. Since an air purifier was installed in his hospital room, Xiang Zhe was breathing and sleeping better. He hoped the wonderful environment surrounding their hillside bungalow would maybe work for Xiang Zhe. Dr. Kim also believed love could work miracles. And there was no doubt Shan Mei loved her husband totally. As long as he was still alive to keep on eye on Xiang Zhe, he would pray daily to Sister Wen asking her to please bless her son. This couple really deserved their happiness and a long blessed life together.

Dawn was just breaking. The winter sun slowly creeping out behind some clouds – another lovely day!

After almost an hour’s walk, Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei reached their favourite spot, a shady outcrop halfway up the side of the hillside overlooking the sea. Shan Mei wiped Xiang Zhe’s face and dove under his winter jacket and T-shirt to wipe off the perspiration from his back. She handed him a bottle of fresh mountain water. After taking the bottle, he pushed it to his wife and simply said, “You take a sip first.” Shan Mei smilingly obliged knowing her husband’s habit and when she had taken a sip, she handed the bottle back to Xiang Zhe. After a few sips from the water bottle, he took out from his pocket a small, smooth river pebble that he had spent almost 30 minutes last night polishing to a perfect sheen, and which he now deposited with a whole collection of similar pebbles near the outcrop. He mused, there should be 150 such pebbles in the collection, this morning being the first day of the 6th month they had moved to their hillside bungalow.

Before they embarked on their first morning walk after moving to the bungalow, Shan Mei wanted to go for morning walk; Xiang Zhe didn’t seem at all keen. She tried to think up of something that would make him move.

“Darling, there’s a shady outcrop that makes a good resting spot. We can sit there and have a good view of the sea. Also, if you put a river pebble on the ground next to the outcrop, to me it’s your way of telling me every day you love me.”

“What about the times in bed I tell you every night how much I love you? Those don’t count?” he asked his wife. Shan Mei didn’t answer immediately, she only smiled at him.

A pout soon appeared together with her answer. “Only words! How about following up with some action?”

“I want to, so desperately, but you have been refusing my hints telling me I need my rest.”

Shan Mei laughed softly. “I mean this kind of action.”

And she then took out a smooth river pebble from her pocket. That time Xiang Zhe not only took the pebble but told her personally, there would be no end to his love for her. Standing there, holding her in his arms, he made her solemnly promise, “On my death bed, you must remember to give me an anklet so you will have no trouble finding me in our next life. Understand?”

She saw the tenderness in his expression as he looked at her while they were standing by the outcrop. Then, very softly, he added with the faintest smile on his lips, “Even after I’m gone, I’ll continue to visit the outcrop to deposit my pebbles. Don’t think just because I’m gone, the pebbles will stop coming. And I’ll still tickle you in bed. You can’t get rid of me so easily.”

Shan Mei laughed and gave her husband a deep kiss and her most dazzling smile, through misty eyes.

His arms instinctively tightened on her waist. “And you don’t have to worry a thing. I’ll always be by your side to protect you.” She felt so cosseted and infinitely so treasured by this man standing so close, with his lips hard on hers.

After that morning, Xiang Zhe never missed a morning walking up to the outcrop. This morning was no exception. At the outcrop, when he had taken his water, he would do some body-stretching exercises. Shan Mei, remembering she had some chores to take care of at home, suggested may be it was time for them to make their way home. “I want to wash out my clay water vessel where we store our pebbles. Roh Bin will be bringing with him another batch of pebbles this morning. Dr. Kim and his associate should be arriving at Wen Rong Specialist Hospital later this morning, for your physical check-up.”

Dr. Kim and his team had done 2 previous check ups. To their surprise, Xiang Zhe’s blotches had not increased; in fact, some small dots had cleared up.

Later that day, after seeing Dr. Kim and his associate, to pass the waiting time before test results were available, Shan Mei went shopping at the supermarket. They returned to the hospital to hear what Dr. Kim had to say. On seeing them, the doctors were highly excited. “Xiang Zhe, your condition has shown a marked improvement. We want to know everything about your daily diet and habits. We’re very excited about this.”

Shan Mei told them about granny’s tea and soup, plus the organic vegetables they grew themselves, wild honey from their bee keeping farm, and the daily 1-1/2 hour morning walks.

“Dr. Kim, if you and your associate can spare the time, you are invited to spend the day with us at our East Sea bungalow. You can leave by tomorrow morning’s first flight out of Busan for Seoul. I’m sure the hospital can arrange something.” The doctors agreed, wanting to know more about their lifestyle, and Dr. Kim was interested to meet Granny Roh.

Granny Roh declined, saying many of the western-trained doctors thought herbalists were quacks and traditional herbal medication had no, or very slim curative basis. Maybe, she would meet these esteemed doctors after their final investigations reveal that Chairman Yin had completely recovered.

The doctors couldn’t decide what was the main contributing factor to Xiang Zhe’s improved condition – the complete change in lifestyle or the diet or unpolluted environment?

Everything was a first for the Yins. Shan Mei looked even more beautiful, her skin was glowing, and more youthful looking. Xiang Zhe had an all- round healthy glow, so completely different from the first time the specialist saw him at Wen Rong Hospital 6 and a half months ago in Seoul. Dr. Kim was not so worried now, but they still would need to monitor his lung condition. Shan Mei suggested meeting up in Seoul in June. The twins would be back from London. BA didn’t want to continue with his Masters, he wanted to come down to Busan to work, so he could be near his parents. BZ might want to continue with another one or two years in London. Shan Mei wanted to clean up their house and decide which things to move down to Busan.

Easter break.

After an impromptu decision, the twins flew in with Grandma and Grandpa Park, not wanting to wait for summer. At Inchon airport, Xiang Jie met up with them. The twins went into the city to visit grandpa, while Xiang Jie, BB and BR continued the air section from Seoul to Busan with the Parks.

Mrs. Park was so emotional when she met up with her son Xiang Jie. She and her husband were getting on in years. The flight was long and tiring. They were afraid they might not be able to make another journey out to Korea, after this trip. While they were in Busan, Mr. Ang, the underworld elder for the area, acted as host even though the Parks were in Busan especially to visit Shan Mei and Xiang Zhe. It was happy reunion for all of them. The Parks treated BB, BR and the twins as their own grandchildren, while the kids were studying in England.

Brother Ang arranged a fishing trip for them all while Xiang Jie and the boys were still in Busan. Mr. Pei came along too. Shan Mei and Xiang Zhe really enjoyed the outing, the air being so clean and fresh. In fact, Xiang Zhe spent most of his time napping on deck. When he was hungry, Shan Mei had fish and baby abalone congee ready for him. Everything tasted so fresh. And he loved being so pampered by his wife.

When they were back on land, whatever excess fish they caught, they brought them to the shipyard for Roh Bin to distribute out. Even though Xiang Zhe wanted them to stay in the Yin’s ancestral home with Xiang Jie and the boys, Uncle Park decided to stay at Mr. Ang’s residence. This trip the Parks planned to stay on till the end of the Easter break and return to London on the same flight as the twins, giving time for Xiang Jie to fly down during the weekends to see them.

Another weekend, Xiang Jie flew down with the twins. Grandpa Park really doted on BZ while BA was Grandma Park’s favourite. Between the two of them, they really spoiled the kids rotten. Grandpa Park made sure Elder Ang and Mr. Pei understood BA’s future position in Busan and had them pledged their loyalty and support to BA no matter what. BZ was introduced to all around as their granddaughter. The Yins smiled secretly inside themselves. By silent mutual consent, Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei stayed in the background most of the time, letting Uncle Park take charge of the show, since Busan was his territory.

In fact, without letting Xiang Zhe know, Shan Mei had agreed that BZ could stay by herself in the Cambridge house, and not with Godpa Michael, after the summer holidays since BA would not be returning to London. But she had to report everyday to Michael, Grand auntie, and Grandma and Grandpa Park, without exception.

Grandpa Park had already bought her a small car. It was delivered just before she returned to Seoul for the Easter holidays. Shan Mei was apprehensive with this arrangement and made her daughter promised she would drive with great care and behave with discretion.

“Sweetheart, of course I trust you and want to encourage some kind of independence, but if anything should happen to you and your father finds out he has been kept in the dark with our maneuverings, he definitely will kill me.”

“Mummy, please stop worrying. I promise to be good and bring home top honours from Cambridge. Just you wait and see. I’ll make both of you so proud of me, when you attend my convocation.”

“Sweetheart, don’t worry about me. I’m always so proud of you. Think of your daddy and Michael, that’s good enough for me. Your daddy gets so paranoid where you’re concerned and if anything should happen, your godpa Michael is going to get it from him.”

BZ gave her mummy a lingering kiss, thanking her for being the most understanding mother in the whole world.

Soon the holidays came to an end. The Parks left with the twins. Xiang Jie promised to visit them before the summer holiday break, to check on BZ. When he saw them off at the airport, he made his mother promised not to indulge BZ too much. Elder brother was very strict with her. If anything went wrong, Michael and Sister and all of them would get into big trouble with Elder Brother. “You have no idea the rage he can fly into!”

“Don’t I know his temper?” his mother scoffed.

Chapter AW-107

During dinner, Xiang Zhe looked at BA across the dining table, then at his wife. Both of them had been acting strange. Ever since BA arrived last night at their private commune, both mother and son had been huddled up in BA’s bungalow for hours. By the time he felt Shan Mei getting into bed next to him, he knew it was very late, and he was too tired to really wake up and ask her for details of the mother-son secret meeting.

This morning, they set off early for their walk and early summer mushroom hunt, giving them no time to really talk. After lunch, BA kept himself busy, tackling several small repair jobs around the bungalows.

Xiang Zhe was thinking to himself – was the talk about MBS 50th anniversary, in a month’s time? Did Xiang Jie want Shan Mei to talk to him? He was talking to Xiang Jie only yesterday about the event. He had not decided whether they would attend. Xiang Jie was trying to get him to agree in order to prepare the press release. Xiang Zhe was so used to his present lifestyle, he was so reluctant to move from it even for 3 days to get on a plane to Seoul.

Mr. Ang had told him only last week that another small fishing vessel would be available for 2 days for fishing trip in May before it would be put on dry dock for paint job. Xiang Zhe was so looking forward to the fishing trip. He enjoyed the last one they had when Stepmother and Uncle Park visited.

“Okay, BA, you’ve got something you want to talk to daddy about?” Xiang Zhe asked his son. BA looked at his mummy from under his eye lashes, silently appealing with his mummy for assistance.

“Darling, actually..erh….,” Shan Mei began stammering when Xiang Zhe gave her his no-nonsense look, lifted up a hand to stop her in mid sentence, proclaiming, “I want to hear it from our son.”

BA went red in the face. He apologised to his parents, saying he needed to get a cold drink, and left the table. Instead of going to the kitchen, he stepped outside to the verandah for some fresh air.

On seeing that, Xiang Zhe fumed, asking his wife, “What happened? Where are the manners you have always instilled in our children? It is all your fault. I knew you always doted on this youngest child, and see how he has turned out! Didn’t I always remind you to take it easy and not to go overboard in spoiling him?”

He turned his face away, annoyed, to focus his attention on their son now standing out on the verandah. “I see. Now that he is working so well at the shipyard and the pharmaceutical factory, and is assured of his share at the factory, he thinks he can act like a big shot and can disregard his parents’ feelings?”

Shan Mei smiled sweetly and tried her best to soothe her husband’s ruffled feathers. “Actually, Darling, BA is much better-mannered than his daddy.” As Shan Mei said that, her eyes twinkled with mischief.

Xiang Zhe turned his big eyes back on his wife, asking her why she was always on their son’s side.

She laughed softly. “Please be understanding. Our son is only trying to get permission from his daddy to make a marriage contract. Not like his daddy who simply foisted his ‘supposed-to-be-fiancée’ without warning on his own father, if I remember correctly.”

Xiang Zhe smiled sheepishly and immediately became astounded. “BA wants to make a marriage contract? Why, he’s only a baby! I want to know who BA is suddenly so interested in that he cannot wait until he’s really grown up.”

“Patrick’s daughter,” answered Shan Mei happily, telling her husband, those two had been close since young. “BA has always been so protective of Rose. And in case you’ve forgotten, your son has grown up.”

Xiang Zhe didn’t want to hear further – his little baby was way too young to be thinking of getting married. “BB and BR should be the ones talking of marriage, not BA!”

“Darling, he is not talking of marriage. He is talking of engagement. Rose will be going to college soon, and he’s afraid he might lose her to someone else, knowing how grandma Sung is. She might contract a marriage for Rose with someone from their US branch of her family. In fact, Rose has heard her grandma talking to some of their relatives in America. Rose has tried to talk her father into letting her go to Cambridge, but he insisted she go to Radcliffe, seeing he himself and the Sungs were all U.S. educated. If Rose went to Cambridge, BA said he was sure Godpa could help him keep the boys away from her, but going to America…..”

Xiang Zhe gave his wife a long, tender indulgent look. “Does Rose feel the same about our BA, the same way he feels about her?”

Shan Mei nodded her head emphatically. “Rose has already selected her disciplines at college to complement BA’s. They have discussed it in depth. She applied for pharmaceutical science, and traditional Chinese Medicine, and the two of them are secretly taking Chinese Mandarin lessons. BA will feel at ease if they are engaged before Rose goes off to college. He says they will marry only after Rose graduates.”

“If this is the case, why is the silly boy so nervous to come to me with the proposal?”

“Because he knows his daddy will make some excuse about his elder brothers getting married first. He argued if they never marry, does that mean Rose and he will have to wait forever?”

Xiang Zhe laughed softly and shook his head in disbelief. “That quiet worker! Who would have thought our little baby will be the first one to leave the roost to set up his own little nest?”

Memories of his own worries, of so long ago, came to mind. Wasn’t he always worried Shan Mei would choose some one else and not him during their courting days? He was forever trying to find excuses to put his ring on her finger, except he didn’t have the nerve to put plan into action.

Looking at his wife, Xiang Zhe happily sighed, “Okay, decision made. We will attend MBS 50th anniversary. When we are in Seoul, I will have a talk with Patrick. In fact, I will insist BA and Rose get engaged before she leaves for the States. But first, my dearest wife, you have to work on Father and Aunt and Brother Sung, to get the necessary support.”

As Shan Mei began clearing the dining table, she pointed out to Xiang Zhe their son standing out on the verandah.

Xiang Zhe got the hint. After giving his wife a swift kiss on her cheek, he stepped out on to the verandah. He put his arm around BA’s shoulders. As both father and son looked out to the sea, they were deep in conversation.

Shan Mei brought out a platter of fresh fruits, and noticed BA was happy and all smiles. At that moment, Shan Mei’s heart went out to her youngest child. This son reminded her so much of Xue Zhang, who would become excited, happy and all smiles, as soon as he got his way. Only difference was BA seldom sulked, not like Xue Zhang did when he didn’t get his way. Telling his parents they needed their beauty sleep, and after giving his mummy a goodnight kiss, BA walked over back to his own bungalow.

Xiang Zhe laughed understandingly, and whispered to his wife that BA most probably wanted to rush back to his bungalow to call Rose with the good news. Shan Mei smiled knowingly too, passing some comment about Rose being the perfect wife for BA. “They are so alike. This girl isn’t into showy things. She is so well-mannered and likes to keep a low profile.”

Xiang Zhe nodded his head in agreement, suddenly trying to remember as much of Rose as possible in their growing up years. The children were always over at Father’s place with Auntie. No wonder he seldom noticed them.

That night in bed, Xiang Zhe wanted his wife’s opinion. “Should I ask BB whether he has a girlfriend he would like to bring home to show us?” His wife laughed softly, telling him to mind his own business.

Xiang Zhe shook his head unbelievingly. “It seemed like not so longer ago when we talked about grand children from our children. At that time, it seemed something so far into the future. Now, the boys are all grown up and ready for marriage. So, Mrs. Yin, if talking about the boys’ girlfriends is not my business, is talking about our grand children and the names they are to carry my business?”

Sitting up and leaning against the headboard, Xiang Zhe looked at his wife and mused. “I’ve given the matter much thought. I really want some of our grand children to carry the surname ‘Sung’ regardless of whether Brother Sung ask for it or not. Knowing Madam Sung, I know she won’t refuse. So darling, what do you think is fair to Father and to my mother?”

To discuss such serious issues, Shan Mei thought the bed was not the right venue. She suggested going out to the veranda, for some tea. The gentle chilly sea breeze would surely clear their minds.

While sipping their tea, Shan Mei began the discussion. “Maybe we should discuss things in an orderly manner. The Wen Rong shares. I recommend the 45% Wen Rong shares now in my name and which rightfully belong to you, be distributed as follows: 10/Xiang Jie, 10/BB, 10/BR, 10/BA and 05/BZ.

Since BB and BR have in their names a trust fund that Xue Zhang have set up for them with the money collected as management fees from Xiang Jie’s modeling assignments, maybe we should set up something for the twins too.

Brother Sung has been telling me about commercial space becoming available soon in two of Bansung’s upcoming commercial buildings in the most exclusive locations of Seoul’s CBD. He has recommended we buy up the entire two ground floors that would yield premium rent income.

Darling, do you want to pursue this with Brother Sung? There should be more than enough cash in my overseas bank account to cover the purchases.

BB, as the eldest, will inherit Father’s mansion. BR will inherit the house we presently have in Seoul. BA is only getting the ancestral home because he is based in Busan. And this son is always so soft, never comparing or asking for anything. I really want to give him and Rose something special for their own. Maybe we should buy one ground floor property in Bansung’s most prestigious building in the Busan CBD as a wedding present for the couple. The rental income from this property should be very good. What do you recommend, husband?”

Xiang Zhe nodded in agreement, advising he would investigate the best company formation to ensure they would pay minimum profit tax. “What about Mother’s place that we have left vacant all these years? We only go there very few times each year, to clean the place up.”

“We’ll leave the house as it is for the children as some kind of legacy from their grandmother. Husband, if you prefer, you can always will it to BZ.”

Xiang Zhe nodded his head slowly, thinking the suggestion was not a bad one – the one about leaving it to BZ. The boys each had been assured of a house.

“This way, we needn’t touch any of Xue Zhang’s trust funds, which will automatically pass on to the children anyway.”

Shan Mei paused waiting for her husband’s comments but since he continued to remain silent, she continued, “As far as choice of surnames is concerned, since BR carries the ‘Rong’ name and was born on Founding Day anniversary and being the second son, I feel as if Mother has already given us some clue. I suggest the first born son and the first born daughter from BR to carry the ‘Sung’ surname.

The second son from the other godson to carry the ‘Sung’ surname. BA on marrying Rose, would indirectly have children bearing ‘Sung’ as part of their name.

With this arrangement Father will not suspect a thing. He himself has declared many times how brother Sung dotes on his godsons, loving them as his own flesh and blood. Seeing Brother Sung has remained unmarried, it will be a nice idea to let him adopt one of the great-grand children as his own grand child. Didn’t Father once mention this as an afterthought?”

Another thought came to Shan Mei’s mind. She suggested Xue Zhang’s necklace and pendant should be handed to BR’s first son.

“As for names, for the grandsons, maybe their first or second stem character could be ‘Rong’, for the granddaughters their first or second stem character be ‘Wen’. What do you think?”

Xiang Zhe was sitting down in his seat, sipping his tea quietly, listening to Shan Mei’s thoughts about the whole thing. He realised his wife had given the matter plenty of serious thoughts too. His wife didn’t want to see Xiang Jie’s efforts all these years for the family business, for the children, go unappreciated. He should follow Shan Mei’s example by splitting the 40% shares he was holding for MBS into 5 ways and not 4 ways as he had originally planned. He smiled to himself when it suddenly dawned on him his wife was very shrewd, albeit not intentionally.

Xiang Jie’s shares would eventually go back to the children. At least BB was assured of big inheritance from Xiang Jie. His Uncle always treated him as his son. Father had bought a house in their area for Xiang Jie that he had presently rented out. This way Xiang Zhe and Father didn’t have to worry about Xiang Jie. When BB married, that family branch could be considered Xiang Jie’s family. BB also took very good care of nanny. His heart was so like his mother!

The way that Shan Mei suggested for naming the grand children was not a bad idea at all. It seemed as if she had been thinking of Mother all the time, wanting to perpetuate the memory of that mysterious benefactor who had wanted to ensure his heirs would enjoy a prosperous life. They had to do this during their lifetime because the family secret will die with them and Dr. Kim.

Chapter AW-108

This morning as Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei came back from their morning walk, they noticed BA’s car was no longer in his driveway; he must have gone back to the shipyard. Xiang Zhe smiled to himself – like mother, like son. Shan Mei had not only instilled good manners in their children, but honest, hard working ethics.

After washing up, Shan Mei had their daily simple breakfast ready on the table.

Just then Michael was on the phone. “Junior, I want you and Shan Mei to brace yourselves for a surprise.” Xiang Zhe looked with raised eyebrow and a nonplussed expression at his wife who was sitting across the dining table from him. “I will be flying into Seoul with BZ. BZ has invited a friend along to the 50th anniversary.”

Gauging from Michael’s subdued tone, Xiang Zhe suspected at once. “A boy?” he asked hesitantly.

Michael began to hedge around.

“Come on, Senior. Now is no time to play games. I want the truth right now!” Xiang Zhe sounded impatient and the tone of his voice was rising.

“Well, not just a boy, but a very special boy. He has told me he wants to meet BZ’s father, to get his permission to marry BZ.”

Xiang Zhe almost hit the roof, “What? How did this come about? How could you be so slack with your babysitting services? Aren’t you supposed to keep the boys away? Don’t you realise our baby girl is too young to talk of marriage? Has she been out flirting and dating instead of studying?”

“Hang on, old chap. BZ did nothing of that kind. She was studying hard and working at CTN whenever she could spare the time. Anyway, they met while BZ was working part time at CTN. And the boy too, working temporarily with our medical team. I’ve checked him out. The boy is currently in his final year at medical school. His father is a former Korean ambassador to U.K. They liked England so much, his father retired from the diplomatic corps and settled down in Cambridge. The family knows Shan Mei’s gugu rather well. Chris, that’s the boy’s name by the way, is a great chap.”

After pausing for a second so Junior could digest what he had told him, Michael continued.

“The boy wants to propose engagement first. After he graduates, they will marry. He has already received an offer to join one of the most exclusive practices along Harley Street. BZ wants to know whether Christopher can stay in her Grandpa’s house. He will only be in Seoul for 5 days.”

When Xiang Zhe asked Senior, “Why is BZ not asking me directly for permission and needs to go through you?” Michael laughed.

“Your daughter is afraid you will refuse and demand she returns to Seoul immediately. She understands you very well. You know, you have always maintained no man is good enough for her, so it is best for her to remain at home where daddy can protect his precious little girl.”

Michael suggested to Junior they should let the boy stay with Yin Senior. In this way, they could all get to know the boy better. “Let me remind you, BZ is serious about Christopher. When I pressed BZ for more answers, she told me Chris has all her daddy’s qualities. If she gives up on Chris now, she may never meet another guy with so many of daddy’s qualities. Especially, knowing how her daddy has made her mummy so happy and has loved them all in his own inimitable way. Junior, have a heart – when she presented her case so eloquently, what could I do except back her up 100%. Come on, Junior, give the kids a chance.”

“I’ll need time to think over the whole thing. I’ll talk to BZ later, after discussing the matter with Shan Mei. Don’t worry Michael. I promise I’ll think the matter over very seriously. I think I’ll talk with Father too. I’m sure he would be just as shocked as I am now.”

“Thanks Junior, but remember don’t be too hard on your baby girl when you talk over the matter with her.”

Xiang Zhe, on hanging up the phone, didn’t want his breakfast, suddenly having no taste for food. He told Shan Mei their precious baby girl said she had fallen in love with this boy Christopher because he had all the qualities of her daddy. “Huh, trying to sugar-sweet me with all this nonsensical talk about the boy having all my qualities! Can you imagine that?”

On hearing this, Shan Mei immediately asked Xiang Zhe to object to the engagement at once.

“Why?” he asked his wife, surprised. Usually, she was the one who was most supportive of any ideas from their children.

“You just said the boy has all your qualities. He must then be the very possessive and jealous type. I won’t let my precious daughter suffer any senseless, baseless jealous tantrums from this man. No, no, NO way!”

“Hey, that’s not fair. I know what you’re trying to imply. And if your daughter is anything like you, I am sure she’ll know how to hit back, and always below the belt, just like her mother! Like running away or simply ignoring me, making me endure endless sleepless nights. I was always the one who had to suffer and to surrender in the end. In fact, come to think of it, I’m now beginning to feel sorry for this Chris. He doesn’t know yet what a spitfire our daughter can be and how he’s going to suffer at the hands of our little Miss Tyrant!”

Realising that Shan Mei meant business and was not amused, Xiang Zhe then drew his wife tenderly into his arms, asking her, “Isn’t your husband the best husband in the world, isn’t he the most perfect, isn’t he the most loving, the most faithful?”

Shan Mei quickly added, “And the most possessive and the most jealous.”

“Darling, only because I love you so much. And You Zhen, Michael, Sung and Jae Hoon were constantly causing me sleepless nights.”

“And that gave you the right to throw jealous tantrums?”

“Dearest wife, I’m so sorry.” He deftly changed the subject. “As Michael suggested, we should invite the boy to stay at Father’s place, so we can all observe his character properly. If he is not up to standard in any way, you know Father will be the first one to send him packing, knowing how much Father dotes on his grand daughter.”

Xiang Zhe sighed. “Our twins will be leaving home soon.” Xiang Zhe wondered aloud, “What is wrong with our two older sons? Are they so busy with their work, they don’t have time for girlfriends, or are they waiting for us to arrange marriages for them? Shan Mei, you must try to find out from them what’s on their minds.”

Later that morning, while Shan Mei was hanging out the laundry in their backyard, Michael called her on her mobile phone. Very softly she told Michael, “Nothing to worry now. All has worked out as planned. Xue Zhang has agreed to let the boy stay at Father’s place, and not at a hotel. But you must remember to tell BZ she must remember to behave properly. This is Korea and not England.”

Michael assured Shan Mei, “Not to worry. The boy is very well brought up, and the two of them have behaved very well, even though BZ is living on her own. I always drop by her place to do spot checks.”

“Michael, I’m only worried about one thing. After they marry, I will prefer them to live in Seoul. I know this is very unfair to Chris. He can work at Wen Rong Hospital, can’t he? I’ll ask BB to show him around the facility, to get his reaction, when he visits. You see, even though Xue Zhang has fully recovered from his breathing problems and all traces of the blotchy spots have disappeared from his lung, he would actually love to have his family together in Korea. If BZ lives in London, Xue Zhang would worry needlessly, and this could bring on some kind of needless stress. I really don’t want any of that.”

Three years had gone by since MBS 50th anniversary. This year also marked the Yins’ 30th wedding anniversary. Shan Mei only wanted a small family gathering at their hillside bungalow, but the children had other plans!

BZ was preparing for her wedding, the date they had chosen was same as her parents, 7 July, hoping their marriage would be as blessed as theirs.

Her fiancé, Christopher Rhee, had been serving at Wen Rong Hospital for the past 6 months, after serving 18 months internship with an exclusive specialist clinic in London.

Grandpa was very happy. When Chris arrived Seoul to take up a position with Wen Rong, Grandpa insisted he stayed with him, although Chris’ parents had left him their family home in Seoul. Chris being the filial future grandson-in-law became unofficial doctor to Grandpa, giving him brief medical checkup before going off to work every morning.

Shan Mei had accepted her son-in-law with open arms. Xiang Zhe still needed time. He still couldn’t believe his precious daughter preferred this stranger to her daddy.

“Shan Mei, I’ve often wondered what did we do wrong, that our daughter wants to leave home so soon? She is still only a little girl.” Sometimes he forgets himself and asks his wife all over again.

He was worried whether Christopher really possessed a jealous streak like him. Now he realised his jealous outbursts were all so unreasonable. His wife never did anything wrong. It was all his own crazy thinking. He must have a heart to heart talk with his daughter, reminding her never to encourage other men’s attention in the slightest, otherwise …there was no telling what her husband was capable of doing. A man, in a fit of jealous rage, would be a frightful sight. Her mummy was the perfect model of decorum. No one could fault her behaviour.

Their daughter was just like her mummy, totally unaware of her captivating charm, always complaining she was way too tall for a girl, no man would want to be seen with her. Luckily, Chris was taller than her by a good 3 inches.

Jae Hoon and Xiang Zhe were enjoying some quiet time together, when he visited the Yins in Busan. He came specially to visit when Shan Mei asked him to please come and visit in order to ease Xue Zhang’s mind a bit about BZ and Chris.

“Hey, Big Brother, congratulations to you for having such a wonderful son-in-law. Now you don’t have to worry about BZ. I’ll keep both eyes on BZ at MBS, to make sure all the wolves stay away, now that BR has given his younger sister control of the entire sales, marketing and P. R. department. She is doing very well, in the process of giving the whole department a fresh revamp. She is very popular with the media, and getting a lot of press time. MBS is again in the glamour stakes with her new weekly programme, “Up Close and Personal with the Stars.”

Shan Mei walked in on them and sat down next to her husband. Letting off a sigh, she wondered aloud about BB and BR’s present predicament. “BZ will be marrying in 2 months’ time, BA next year, yet the two elder boys are still without girlfriends. They have told us not to arrange any marriages for them. They want to be like daddy, simply carrying on with their lives. When the right one comes along, they will know.”

When Shan Mei heard the boys telling her this, she became frustrated, reminding the boys to look at Uncle JJ and Uncle Jae Hoon. “They are still waiting for their right ones!”

The boys both answered, “But look at them, so happy and no headaches.”

Giving her husband an unhappy look, she blamed him for sending the boys to Michael at too early an age. Now they were so influenced by his thinking.

Xiang Zhe looked at his wife to deny any such wrong doing. “No such thing, I’m innocent. Michael actually found his right one. He complained he was not fast enough though, someone got there first in line and carried her off.”

The boys seeing how many of the girls were throwing themselves at their godfather, of course were not in a hurry to commit, realising marriage was a very risky game.

Anyway, Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei were hoping with so many of BZ’s university girlfriends and Chris’ many cousin sisters attending the wedding, the boys would be able to meet someone. Sigh.

This Saturday afternoon, the weather was beautiful. Xiang Jie, Jae Hoon, BB and BR were at the cabin, cleaning it up, clearing the garden and enjoying the brilliant sunshine. They had brought with them a small BBQ set and lots of food and drinks. The four of them also brought along some card games that they could play. Later, they had BBQ meat dinner with delicious kimchi and rice.

As they took in the vista, all four of them started laughing, especially the two younger boys, recalling the first time they set eyes on this place. They had often wondered where their parents disappeared to, come weekends. Xiang Jie had also wondered the same.

Though they disappeared early Saturday mornings and only reappeared Sunday evenings, yet when something needed their urgent attention, they could appear in a relatively short time. So this was where they escaped to! What a true romantic their daddy, his elder brother was? Planning such a paradise.

If he never became sick and moved to Busan, Xiang Jie would never come to know of this place. It was a 25-year secret, before Sister took Xiang Jie one afternoon to look the place over, before she moved to the East Sea with Elder Brother after he was discharged from hospital. His sister needed his help to occasionally clean up and air the place. Now that they were living almost permanently in Busan, they permitted Xiang Jie and their children to spend quiet times at this secret sanctuary. Shan Mei also reminded them to remember to leave some bread crumbs for the birds that might be nesting there, whenever they were there.

For BZ’s wedding, Xiang Zhe had confirmed they would stay 2 weeks in Seoul. “I want to make sure my daughter is alright after she returns from the honeymoon.” Because BZ and Chris would be busy, they could take only a week off, for honeymoon on Cheju Island.

At first, Xiang Zhe wanted to take Shan Mei to Cheju at the same time, until his wife told him to stop interfering in their daughter’s married life.

“People always warned of interfering mother-in-law. In Christopher’s case, it’s an interfering father-in-law. Darling, when I married you, my Pa told me I should always put the interest of my husband first, and should make myself the kind of wife Xiang Zhe would always be proud of. After we married, didn’t my Pa love you more than me? Did my Pa ever interfere in our lives or in the way we brought up the children? Whenever we had tiffs and I ran home to Pa, didn’t Pa always inform you and chase us home to make up? Always reminding me I have to be an obedient wife. Husband, you should think how my Pa trusted you when he handed his most precious daughter to you in marriage. In spite of the fact that Xue Zhang had knocked me down with your car the first time we met. Poor Chris hasn’t done anything wrong, yet, you’re already trying to make his life hell.”

After that, Shan Mei walked away to their backyard, to work at their vegetable patch.

Xiang Zhe didn’t move, but remained rooted in his seat, feeling quite upset by Shan Mei’s attitude. Shouldn’t she be on his side? Did their daughter mean less to her than Chris? Didn’t they need to protect their daughter? Didn’t they need to stand behind BZ to let Chris know she was their precious baby, he’d better treat her well? After a while, he decided to take an afternoon nap, he was getting tired, just worrying about their children.

That night at dinner, Shan Mei made delicious baked cream of vegetable and spaghetti for her husband. One look at the spread on the table, Xiang Zhe smiled to himself, suspecting his wife was up to her cajoling tricks. But Shan Mei didn’t utter a word throughout dinner, except telling her husband to enjoy the cherry tomatoes. They were the first harvest of the season.

When she served tea later on their verandah, she sighed blissfully at the soft sea breeze blowing their direction, and the sky full of stars. Looking up at the sky dreamily, she asked her husband very softly, “Darling, do you still remember that night in Sydney when we enjoyed a sky full of southern stars and later a very romantic 3-course meal concocted by you? Weren’t the twins conceived that night?”

Xiang Zhe grew soft and tender as he vividly recalled that night and how pliant and responsive Shan Mei was in his arms to his loving overtures. He drew his wife gently into his arms, trailing light kisses along her cheek and neck. He realised he was being too overprotective of their daughter. His own father-in-law never gave him any problems. In fact whenever husband and wife had any disagreement, Pa always apologised for his spoilt daughter, asking him to be patient with her.

Xiang Zhe became lost in his own thoughts. After a while, he asked Shan Mei what thoughts went through her mind when they exchanged rings at their own wedding.

She gave Xiang Zhe a very sweet smile, saying, “I felt very emotional not at the ring exchanging ceremony, but when I was walking up the aisle on my Pa’s arm. At that moment I recalled Xue Zhang’s words if I wanted to be by your side, all I had to do was walk straight towards you, not looking any where else, but straight ahead at you.”

She paused when her voice wobbled slightly. “When Pa put my hand into Xue Zhang’s hand, I felt so cherished and safe, my Pa relinquishing his role as the most important man in my life, putting me under the protection of my new love. From that moment on, I realised Xue Zhang would be the most important person in my life, my everything.” Her voice slightly shook as memories came rushing through her mind.

“Do you think our daughter will consider Chris her everything?”

“Well, we’ve got to give BZ and Chris the chance to find their own way. We, as her parents, should only be providing emotional support from behind, assuring her of our love always. She should come to us whenever she needs advice.”

Xiang Zhe whispered softly into his wife’s ear. “I will stop being an interfering father-in-law, and concentrate 100% on being a loving husband. Happy?” Shan Mei nodded her head, at the same time kissed her husband tenderly, then rested her head contentedly in the crook of his shoulder. A faint smile showed on his face when he hugged his wife tightly against his chest. “Haven’t I been saying time and again that you always could wrap me around your little finger?” he declared indulgently. Then he took hold of Shan Mei’s little finger and looked intently at it. “Just a little finger,” he mused tenderly, “But what persuasive power.” He put it in his mouth and gave it a few slow, soft, loving sucks.

Moments later, rising from their seats, Xiang Zhe gently drew Shan Mei into his arms. Holding her close against him, they danced slowly around the verandah. He bent to caress Shan Mei softly on her lips, and lovingly whispered against her ear, “My dearest wife, thank you for the most blissful 30 years of married life. I hope to be able to spend every day of the next 1, 2, 10, 20 years and every year thereafter by your side. I love you, love you so very much.” And he brushed his lips ever so tenderly and lovingly against her cheeks.

Tears of joy and thankfulness rolled down Shan Mei’s cheeks, as she held on tightly to her darling husband, her hands gently stroking his back.

“Darling, are you tired?” Shan Mei asked her husband tenderly with deep concern in her voice, seeing they had been moving around the verandah for almost an hour.

Xiang Zhe shook his head, drawing his wife closer to him. “How about some loving cuddles tonight?” he asked his wife with an unmistakable tinge of longing.

Chapter AW-109

Shan Mei wanted them to clear up their closets before they returned to Busan. Together they sorted through the articles, setting aside the ones they could use, and repacking the others.

Xue Zhang had more than 100 suits and plenty more shirts in the cupboards, he wouldn’t need all these in their hillside bungalow, may be one or two suits only.

“Darling, I want to keep some of my special clothes, like this set of beige-coloured linen shirt jacket and pants I had on when we knocked each other down in London.”

“Knocked each other? When did I ever knock you down?” Shan Mei asked nonplus.

With a sheepish look and grin, he said, “Well, let’s say I knocked you down with my car; you knocked me out with your smile. Fair?” Ha-ha.

Xiang Zhe picked up another set of garments. “Ah, this mid-length jacket, white knit top and black pair of pants. I wore them when I sent you off the first time at Heathrow airport and you gifted me my most precious Peter Rabbit.” Holding up the jacket and pants, he recalled, “I had these same ones on when you treated me to a café latte, later we met at your Gugu’s restaurant.”

“And I had on this pair of blue denim jeans, grey knit top and light beige sports jacket when I took you to the amusement park, and later that night after sending you home, you gave me an English style peck on my cheek. When I proposed to you after your mini concert, I was also wearing this same outfit. Come, darling, how about giving me an English style kiss on the mouth, for remembrance’s sake?”

“Is there such a style?”

“You can bet your last Won there is! I’ll show you. Come here!”

“Not now please, when we have work to do. Later okay? When we’re not so rushed, okay darling?”

“You promise?”

Shan Mei nodded her head.

“Ah, I call this my First Korean black sports jacket, matched with off-white shirt and grey pants,” Xiang Zhe reminisced holding up the black jacket.

“Is that the brand name of the jacket?”

“No. The first time I met up with you in the park when I returned from London, I had this jacket on. For our first real date, also at the park, I wore this jacket, too. Later, when the sun was about to set, you bade your farewell to You Zhen, I also decided to accept Father’s suggestion that I work at MBS, my first real job. So, it’s First Korean to me.”

Holding up a very dark grey suit, Xiang Zhe looked at Shan Mei and smiled tenderly. “When I first declared I had feelings for you, I had on this suit. In fact, after that time, I wore the same complete outfit – the suit with the light grey shirt and purplish maroon tie – quite frequently to work hoping to remind you of my declaration because you had told me not to bother you while you needed time to mull over what I had said. Darling, it was really the first time I had ever confessed such feelings for someone, let alone that someone happened to be a girl. I want to take this suit back with me to our East Coast bungalow.” Then, he placed the suit aside.

“This was the suit I wore for MBS 20th anniversary when I introduced you as my fiancée to my father. The occasion is too important for the suit to be worn a second time.

“Darling, do you remember this suit?” Xiang Zhe asked.

Shan Mei shook her head.

“Heartless. I wore this to your 26th birthday dinner where I put the anklet on you, and declared my intention. Too special to be worn a second time.”

“Now, this is another special. This is the suit I wore when you told me you liked me, and no one else. Too important to be worn a second time.”

“This was the suit I wore to the birthday dinner you gave me, and later put on my shirt cuffs the pair of cufflinks.”

“My wedding and banquet suits go to BA. He’s to wear these for his wedding. I want to pass my blessings on to him.”

“Xue Zhang, please keep 2 suits in Seoul in case you need them whenever we visit Seoul.”

Shan Mei went through the rest and chose about 50 suits she thought BA would look good in. The remainder they would ask BB, BR and Xiang Jie to choose the clothing among themselves. “If they like, they can always get the styles updated.”

Shan Mei suddenly asked him where was the off-white beige suit he wore the day she fainted in the recording studio.

Xiang Zhe became uneasy, afraid his wife would soon recall the events before she fainted. He told her he threw that suit away as soon as he returned from seeing her in London. “I can’t blame you for getting angry whenever you recall that last MOE production meeting or the exchange in my office.”

In fact, the morning after he returned from London, when he was dressing for work, as soon as he saw that pale beige suit, he pulled it off its hanger and began taking his frustration out of it by stomping on it several times, then flinging it out of sight. He then went to his wardrobe to dig out the shirt, tie, undergarments, socks, shoes he wore that same day with the suit, and flushed suit and all down the garbage chute in the kitchen. He didn’t want to have anything in his possession that would remind him of his stupidity and senseless jealous rage.

Xiang Zhe was so relieved and thankful he made such a wise decision. . “Just as well” Shan Mei commented. “That suit didn’t do anything for you. In fact in that suit you looked like an insipid ogre.”

Not expecting any further retort from her husband, she simply continued separating the shirts into piles, the suits on their hangers were placed at one end of Xue Zhang’s wardrobe.

“Whew!” Xiang Zhe breathed softly, rubbing at the frown on his forehead, giving his wife a furtive look, hoping this was: “finally, the end of MOE saga.”

Xiang Zhe wanted to know how his wife would dispose of hers. “I would ask Rose to choose what she wants from this collection, then only will I decide.”

Husband stole a glance at his wife. She had already accepted Rose as her daughter, and had showered her generously with her love, even though she realised Rose would soon replace her as the most important woman in BA’s life. She didn’t feel even a tinge of sadness. Instead, was eagerly planning for their wedding, always talking with Patrick and Susie whenever some thoughts came to mind.

When Xiang Zhe asked his wife wouldn’t she miss their baby letting him leave home so early, Shan Mei told her husband to look at it from another angle. “Instead of leaving home, our baby will be bringing another one home. Something like a family tree; together, we make up this strong, beautiful tree, with 4 strong branches. Very soon the tree will grow big and fruitful, spreading out giving shade to 4 other smaller fruit trees that grow around the main family tree.”

Xiang Zhe looked at her asking, “What other smaller trees?”

“Our confirmed bachelors: Xiang Jie, Michael, Brother Sung and Jae Hoon; all of them helping us to protect our family.”

Suddenly, Shan Mei was inspired. Main tree to be apple, surrounded by peach, plum, tangerine and persimmon trees, grown in a small orchard. “Oh, darling, do you think it’s a good idea to have the orchard here?” Seeing his wife so happy, Xiang Zhe agreed immediately. They could have fresh fruits all year round, instead of simply the seasonal strawberries and melons that grew in a small plot in their backyard.

Shan Mei asked her husband to get BA to organize that for them. Not just near their bungalow, but also another orchard in the ancestral home’s garden. Shan Mei hugged her husband, dreamily murmuring to him, “This family tree will signify the beginning of a new line in Busan to carry on the dreams of you great-grandfather. And it will be Xiang Zhe’s responsibility to tend the orchard here.”

As soon as BA arrived at his parent’s bungalow, he bounded up the steps with the fruit, vegetable and river pebble supplies he had brought with him. Shan Mei asked him to sit down and catch his breath before doing anything else.

His eyes were bright with excitement. He hugged his mummy tightly in his arms, gave her kisses all over and twirled her round the room a few times. Shan Mei was laughing away deliriously. Xiang Zhe wanted to know what all the excitement was about.

“This morning, sister confirmed to me over the phone, elder brothers BB and BR have been secretly double-dating since her wedding. BB dated sister’s university mate, now based in Seoul for 2 years on teaching assignment at Seoul University. BR dated Brother Chris’ cousin sister who is in Seoul to prepare the groundwork for an UN Development program, directing some China/Korean project. Two weeks ago, they began dating separately.”

Shan Mei was so happy she ran at once into her husband’s arms, tears streaming down her face.

Xiang Zhe appeared calm and happy, but so excited and relieved inside. His eldest child had always been his most favourite of their 4 children.

But BA cautioned his parents not to mention this to his brothers. “If they are serious, Mummy and daddy will know soon enough. Sister is afraid to pry too but she has high hopes for success.”

After lunch, BA went with his parents to the bee-keeping farm. He took a few bottles of honey back with him for Roh family and McKenzie family.

“Auntie Polly just arrived in Busan last night. They should be visiting mummy and daddy next week, after they have settled down. I won’t be staying the night at the bungalow. There is too much work to follow through at the shipyard. Too many repair jobs, and too many leasing contracts for our freighters. In fact, I want to ask brother BB whether we can purchase another freighter. Uncle Philip has informed me there is an almost new freighter available on their bank’s books. The owners owed their bank too much on their entire fleet. He could write off that one freighter at a very reasonable price.”

Xiang Zhe walked his son to his vehicle and assured him, “Not to worry. I’ll talk to your brother tomorrow telling him to approve the purchase.”

That evening, before dinner, Xiang Zhe sorted through their record and CD collection, trying to locate the most romantic ballads that he could play. His wife was in very good mood, with the news that their two elder boys were finally dating. The parents had high hopes. The two boys did everything together; BR always followed BB’s advice. While growing up, the elder boys stuck together, because the younger ones formed another close group, You Zhen’s son Alan with the twins, then later Patrick’s two children.

He could smell the aroma of ginseng chicken porridge wafting through the dining room. Shan Mei only cooked meat dishes once a month and he considered this a treat. They also found some late summer wild mushrooms when they were walking up the hill earlier this morning. During dinner, he suggested, “Darling, maybe we should visit Seoul sometime next month, to see how Father is doing.”

Shan Mei looked at him, knowing what was in his mind, the same as what she was having in hers. She agreed immediately, thanking him for his understanding. He knew whatever he asked from his wife tonight, she would not refuse him.

As Xiang Zhe arose from his afternoon nap, he called out to his wife, but there was no answer. The cup of special tea that Shan Mei always had ready for him after his nap was not on the dining table. He looked into the bathroom, out to the flower beds, around the back in the laundry room, in the back toilet and the vegetable plots, out towards the orchard beyond, but there was no sign of her. Where could she have gone? He called her on her mobile, there was no response. Her house slippers were out at the front porch. He became frantic, quickly changed and stepped out of their bungalow, calling out for Shan Mei. He wandered around their area, not knowing where to actually start looking for his wife. She didn’t walk to their usual spot up the hill, because her walking shoes were on the shoe rack. He sat on the steps, his head clasped within the palms of his hands, trying to concentrate on everything Shan Mei had said earlier in the day. Maybe it would give him a clue as to where she might be.

From the time he woke up till now, it was more than an hour. He was getting desperate and silently angry at the same time. Just then, as he raised his head to scan around the area, he saw his wife walking down the slope towards their bungalow. He immediately ran up towards her and was about to give her a super scolding for giving him such a fright, when he noticed her face hot with perspiration and her clothes all wet. He became so concerned, he drew her into his arms and wanted to know what happened, at the same time wiping the perspiration off her forehead.

“BA had called in earlier this afternoon, saying he would be arriving at night, to help us search for wild mushrooms tomorrow morning. He is rushing through his work, so he can spend the next 3 days with us, knowing we want to collect as much mushrooms as possible to bring to Seoul for grandpa. I was at his bungalow, cleaning and spreading out clean sheets. I didn’t realise I took so long. I still need to put some bottled water in his fridge.”

Seeing her husband’s frantic look, she apologised. Xiang Zhe insisted she took a shower, then rest. “No need to go to his bungalow with the bottled water. Just remember to ask him to collect them on his way to his place when he arrives later tonight.”

While she showered, Xiang Zhe went into the kitchen to see how he could help. He noticed several flowerets of broccoli and cauliflower all washed and ready for cooking. He brewed some tea and took the teapot out to the verandah.

When Shan Mei finished her shower, he helped dry her, but he wouldn’t let her dress. She had given him such a scare this afternoon, disappearing again without a word, he wanted to have the anklet that she promised to give him a long, long time ago, then only could she dress. If she didn’t have the anklet, they must go to town tomorrow to get one. If anything should happen, just in case, he didn’t want to risk her not knowing where to look for him in their next life. “Understand?” his eyes appealing to her softly.

Shan Mei laughed softly at his tame blackmailing tactic. She wanted to know which movie he saw, regarding the anklet story before she would give it to him. For all she knew, he might have made it all up, she smirked.

It was a movie he saw when he began renting videos shortly after he arrived in London, thinking that was a fast way to improve his English. He couldn’t remember the name of the movie, but the belief was imbedded very deeply in his memory. If there was such a girl, he would tie her to him with his anklet on their wedding night. Luckily for him, he managed to tie her to him since her 26th birthday. Otherwise, he might have lost her to You Zhen, or Michael, Jae Hoon or Brother Sung.

From a beautiful jewelry box in the top drawer of an antique chest standing against one wall of their bedroom, she took out a simple platinum link chain, one end was hung a small platinum round disc, with engraving “I Love U Forever.” When Xiang Zhe saw it, he was lost for words. He had thought she had said it in jest, not knowing she really meant it. He was ecstatic. He sat down on their bed, kissed the chain before handing it back to Shan Mei. She too kissed the chain, before clasping it to his left ankle. Xiang Zhe could only sit there staring at the chain, smiling satisfactorily to himself. When he caught Shan Mei staring so lovingly at him, he pulled her down to him and kissed her deeply, murmuring hoarsely into her ear that they were now tied together for eternity. No one could ever come between them. He must never lose her, he loved her too much. Very slowly, he loosened the towel that was wrapped around his wife and began giving her feathery kisses all over until Shan Mei told him to stop, otherwise he would not be getting his dinner tonight. He laughed making his wife promise to give him something else after dinner.

The Yins had arrived in Seoul and went right away over to the mansion bringing the freshly-picked wild pine mushrooms for the Seniors. Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei were discussing with Father the medicinal benefits of wild mushrooms, especially pine mushrooms. Shan Mei was telling Auntie, it would be best to have them raw, or blanched only very slightly. They went very well with kimchi and rice noodles. This was what she gave Xue Zhang, during the mushroom season, which lasted only 3 weeks.

Soon BB and BR arrived with their girl friends. Xiang Zhe was taken aback by their choices. At a quick glance, the girls could have passed off as Shan Mei’s daughters, or younger sisters. It was in their occasional shrug of their shoulders, their shy smiles, and their expressive eyes sometimes growing round and big, like Shan Mei’s.

Shan Mei was thinking along similar lines. The girls could pass off as Xue Zhang’s daughters, both the girls possessing shy smiles and expressive eyes very similar to his.

Grandpa was captivated by the girls’ charming and natural manners, they reminded him so much of his son and daughter-in-law. He kept nodding his head in approval. His 2 grandsons had chosen well.

Sharon Cho was 2 years younger than BB. After she graduated from Cambridge and London School of Economics, she worked 2 years for one of England’s largest banks as an actuary. She was sent by the bank to lecture on Actuarial Studies at Seoul University on a two year contract. Her father was the personal investment advisor to a group with Middle Eastern interests. During BZ’s wedding, BZ had told BB to help entertain Sharon while BZ and Chris were away on honeymoon in Cheju Island.

Suzanne Rhee, a cousin of Christopher and a year younger than BR, graduated from Carnegie Mellon University USA. She did a lot of voluntary work for UNDP. Her father had behind him trust fund money, so he never actually worked, unless one considered golfing as his job. Naturally, it was not necessary for Suzanne to hold down a regular job, but she had already supervised 2 large projects for UNDP, one in Mexico resettling the inhabitants of several shanty towns; another in Nepal helping the natives grow profitable cash crops. The current project, to take 5 years to complete, would help alleviate the poor living conditions of Koreans living along the Chinese and North Korean border towns. The UN had allocated a lot of funds to ensure this project would be successful. She was passionate about humanitarianism.

Xiang Zhe, on hearing this, smiled secretly inside himself: right up Shan Mei’s alley except on a much, much larger scale. She could easily become his wife’s favourite daughter.

Shan Mei sounded concerned when she asked whether Suzanne would have to be based in China for the 5 years while the UNDP project was in progress.

Suzanne laughed softly, saying, “I will only need to be there for the first 6 months to get a reliable team going, after which, I’ll be based in Seoul. Anyway, from my base in Seoul, I am expected to fly back and forth between northeast China and Seoul. UN has provided me with a beautiful apartment in the city.”

That evening, the buffet style dinner progressed very well. Brother Sung seemed to be beaming all night when he arrived later to meet Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei. “I have missed having you people in Seoul. I felt as if I had lost two of my best friends, with you two so isolated in Busan. Maybe next year, when BR can spare time to help take over another division of the Bansung Group, I’ll spend some time at the hillside bungalow. Luckily for me, BB is helping with BanCon very well.

When Xiang Jie returned later that evening, his elder brother teasingly asked him, “What do you think of your future daughters-in-law?”

Xiang Jie smiled shyly and told his brother to stop teasing him. “Well, besides being uncle, didn’t BB and BR always treat you as some kind of 2nd father?”

Actually, Shan Mei and he really appreciated the love and caring Xiang Jie had so generously and unselfishly showered on all their children. He had always been there for elder brother, sister and the children. He was a real blessing to the Yin family!

When the children were in England studying, and whenever Xiang Jie visited them in London, he would bring them along to see his mother and his step father. Stepmother and Uncle Park treated the children as their grand children, and always delivered the best fruits to Michael’s London home so they never ran out of fruits. When Shan Mei was in London with the twins, they met up with the Parks and Gugu every Saturday for lunch. Michael joined them whenever he was in London, after which he would take them shopping. He always complained why they had to live in their own house and not with him. BB and BR, when they were studying in London, used to share happy household with him.

The Parks were never openly discussed in the Yin household, but Xiang Zhe was sure Father knew what went on in London, knowing the kind of person his daughter-in-law was. She would want everyone to be happy!

It was almost 10. Xiang Zhe was getting really tired. Father was relieved. He and Auntie were getting tired too, but he didn’t want to make a fuss. They told the kids not to worry about the oldies, to carry on with their chatting. When BB drove his parents back to the cabin, Xiang Zhe told his son, “If you guys are really serious, maybe the girls’ parents should be invited to visit Seoul during Christmas for parents’ meeting. I would like you 3 brothers to be married by next summer so your mother can stop worrying.”

After BB drove off and the couple entered their cabin, Shan Mei looked at her husband with astonished eyes. Breathing a soft, bewildered laugh, she murmured, nuzzling his chin, “Ha, me worried? Why don’t you admit to your son that you are the one actually always grumbling about their single status and eager for them to get married as soon as possible?”

Xiang Zhe grinned sheepishly at his wife. “Aiya, why be so picky all of a sudden about who’s worried? You know your boys always want to make you happy, so if I mention your name, it only means I want them to take faster action. As if they don’t already know it’s their grandfather who’s anxious for them to get married.”

Shan Mei tried to suppress the smile that tugged at the corners of her mouth as she looked at her husband. She again laughed softly and threw an arm up in the air, ready to give up on the argument. “So now it’s Father who’s getting the blame. I’m surprised you didn’t throw in Xiang Jie’s name, or Michael or Brother Sung for more effect,” she stated.

Xiang Zhe countered, “I was going to, if your name didn’t do the trick. But seeing the happy grin on BB’s face when I mentioned about inviting the girls’ parents to visit Seoul for discussion, I knew he and BR were just as ready and anxious to have this wedding issue over with as we are.”

She didn’t want to continue that conversation any more so she got ready her night clothes and headed for the shower room.

Xiang Zhe, grabbing a large towel, quickly followed suit, ready with more words. Just as he was about to say more, he paused when Shan Mei’s lips made a tantalizing brush with his mouth and she put an arm around him and hugged him in a cajoling fashion. Unconsciously, he dropped the towel, grabbed a tighter hold of his wife, pushed her into the shower room and gently pressed her against the wall and rained hot, fiery kisses on her mouth. “Darling,” he began, his fingers busy unbuttoning her blouse and …………..

Chapter AW-110

Posting final chapter of ASIB Part 2, to get you back into the groove. Maybe with this bit of background information, the events of SOLID GOLD which continued 8 years after the final chapter of AW-110, would make more sense. Enjoy.

A STAR IS BORN
Author: Cynthia Muak

Chapter AW-110 (Final)

Shan Mei woke up very early this morning, and was extremely happy to see it was going to be a beautiful day.

The boys went the same way as their sister. They chose to marry on their parents’ wedding anniversary day. Xiang Zhe had been grumbling at every opportunity ever since he was told of their decision. He looked at his wife, complaining their children were bent on spoiling their parents’ fun time together.

An entire floor of Westin Chosun was booked out for the wedding ceremony in the morning and the wedding banquet that evening. Bansung sent in their engineers to assist the hotel in dismantling function rooms, partitions, to ensure the floor was completely suitable for open floor planning. Air purifiers were installed throughout, to ensure comfort for the father of the grooms. Of course, No Smoking light boxes and signs were prominently displayed throughout. The grand and wide marbled-paved semi-circular staircase leading from the ground level of the hotel up one storey to the ceremonial floor would be decorated with rose garlands in the morning, and orchid garlands in the evening.

Invitations were controlled; only 3,000 guests invited, many flying in from all corners of the world. Westin was having headaches already with rooms and security. 60% of the hotel rooms were taken up by the wedding guests.

At home, Shan Mei was having big headache too. Xiang Zhe was beginning to regret having the boys marry at one time.

“How are we going to manage?” “Where are we going to sit?”

They could only be at one place at one time, but the marriages were being officiated at 3 different areas in the big function hall.

Shan Mei had to remind her husband, “Don’t be such a grouse, darling. We don’t have to do anything except show up at the ceremony looking decent. Have you forgotten? You already have your three representatives standing in for you. Xiang Jie will represent you in BB’s area, Brother Sung will represent you in BR’s area, and Michael Dutton supported by Jae Hoon will represent you in BA’s area.”

She then went up to Xiang Zhe and planted a kiss on his cheek. Then she continued, “There’s nothing to be nervous about. All you have to do is dress up and look your most handsome and distinguished self. Please do not forget the butterfly lapel pin. I’ve put it out on your dresser. The boys have been told to wear theirs.”

When reminded of this, Xiang Zhe drew his wife into his arms, and looked deeply into her eyes. She was really the most wonderful wife in the whole world, thinking of everything.

He silently said a prayer of thanks to his mother, asking her to please bless the boys, hoping their unions would turn out as blissful and blessed as his.

After breakfast and much coaxing from his wife, Xiang Zhe began dressing.

As he dressed, he voiced aloud some of his doubts. Since they intended to leave their house to BR, shouldn’t he and Suzanne be spending their wedding night in the house, instead of all three pairs of newly-weds opting for honeymoon suites in the hotel?

And after the honeymoon, why couldn’t BR and Suzanne live in the house, but go to live in Suzanne’s apartment? Shan Mei had to softly remind him because the apartment was in the city and served as Suzanne’s office as well. “Let the young people decide what they want to do, okay, dearest husband?”

And why were the boys bent on taking over their cabin? They didn’t want to go anywhere, but decided to take turns to spend their honeymoon week at the cabin.

Shan Mei slowly shook her head in understanding. Xue Zhang was finding fault with almost everything, simply because he didn’t feel comfortable anymore in crowded places, and was hoping he could avoid going to the wedding function.

“Xue Zhang, you’re the best husband and father ever. Your sons understood the magic of our cabin. They hoped by spending their honeymoon there with their wives, they would receive blessings to become loving and faithful husbands like their father, their wives become loving and obedient like their mother, and their marriages fruitful like their parents’.”

Xiang Zhe looked at his wife, surprised. “When were you ever obedient?” he laughed indulgently, then continued softly, “when we first moved to our East Sea hillside bungalow, whenever I ask you for some hot cuddles, you always tell me I need my rest.”

“I was planning on giving you more than just hot cuddles tonight, seeing it’s our wedding anniversary, but since you’re complaining I’m not obedient, well, ……” When Xiang Zhe heard that, he immediately stopped his wife from saying more with a swift kiss, laughingly telling her she must keep her promise that night.

Soon he finished dressing, then checked whether his wife was done. When they were both ready, he held Shan Mei at her waist and told her she looked so beautiful.

These past 6 years living so isolated at the hillside bungalow, with no house help, she had to do everything herself, as well as look after their vegetable and garden plots.

It was only these past 2 years she allowed her husband to help around a bit in the bungalow, seeing he had fully recovered from his breathing problem. Yet, she didn’t look as if she had aged much. She looked like an elegant, beautiful woman in her mid 40’s although she had just turned 59.

Shan Mei herself was all excited too. These past 6 years staying at their hillside bungalow, they only dressed up for their special once-a-month dinner dates, when they dined by dimmed soft light in their private dining room. Seeing herself, and seeing her husband now all dressed up, she thought he looked so handsome, still able to make her heart flutter.

When they entered the wedding hall, their sons were already there. Looking at them, Xiang Zhe became overwrought with emotion. The 3 boys really bore a strong resemblance to him.

The scene brought back to him many loving memories of his own wedding. Recalling Shan Mei walking so slowly up the aisle on her father’s arms, he was impatient and began to question who was the slow one: was it Uncle Zhen, reluctant to part with daughter, or was it Shan Mei, having last minute doubts and jitters? As soon as Uncle Zhen placed Shan Mei’s hand in his, he lifted it to his lips, then he kissed each of her finger in turn, slowly.

Still holding on to her hand, they turned together to face the wedding celebrant. He endeavoured to focus on the celebrant’s solemn voice even though his mind was hurrying the man along. Finally, the celebrant pronounced them Man and Wife after the exchanging of rings and happily declared, “You may now kiss the bride.” He lifted his bride’s fine bridal veil with infinite care, then his hands slid to cup her face, and his head descended on her and took possession of her mouth with a thorough kiss. He couldn’t help himself. He had not seen her for 3 days, the longest period ever they had not seen each other, since she agreed to marry him. How he wished the kiss could go on forever!

Shan Mei, sitting quietly next to Xiang Zhe, felt as if time had stood still for her. She was walking up the aisle, in the arms of her father. As she drew close, her eyes met Xue Zhang’s. In the vicinity of her vision, there was only Xue Zhang, no one else, only him. The expression in his soft, dark liquid eyes held a heat that threatened to melt her bones. There was a wealth of emotion apparent as he smiled and her step almost faltered as she reached his side. After they were declared Man and Wife, Xue Zhang had caught her up in such a pleasurable and thorough kiss, her skin tinged a delicate pink at the blatant promise so apparent.

Now, sitting side by side watching the proceedings before them, both husband and wife suddenly turned at the same time to gaze warmly into one another’s eyes, each keenly aware of what the other was thinking and feeling. Their hands met, their fingers entwined. Their vivid memories of their joining exactly this day, 31 years ago!

Xiang Zhe appeared to be concentrating on the 3 weddings being conducted in front of them but somewhere along the way, he had lost concentration; in actual fact, his mind had again wandered back to his and Shan Mei’s wedding.

The night before their wedding, he was too excited to sleep, in his own apartment at Father’s house. He thought of their master bedroom in their new house, wondering whether he had prepared everything right for their wedding night. By 2 a.m., he couldn’t help himself. He was almost withering away with impatience; he had not seen Shan Mei for 3 days. He phoned Shan Mei, just wanting to hear her voice, telling her again how much he loved her, and asking her whether she remembered what time she had to be at the wedding venue! Then he began shyly telling her some of his insecurities and his fears, his doubts and many more things he had never told anyone. Shan Mei was surprised and deeply touched. She had always felt he was the strong one, how could he now be claiming to be so vulnerable?

Shan Mei then thanked Xue Zhang for his unwavering support, caring and encouragement throughout the years. She promised for the future they would face all adversities together, and there would be no secrets between them ever. She then slowly soothed him lovingly to sleep over the phone, reminding him they had a big day ahead of them.

The Sung family was just as excited. In fact, Brother Sung had asked Xiang Zhe for special understanding to issue their private invitations. They wanted to share with some of their relatives and closest friends the joyous occasion of the marriages of his godsons, as well as the marriage of his niece to BA.

During a private meeting between the two families several months before the wedding date, Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei had agreed the second son from BB’s union to carry the ‘Sung’ surname, and the first son and daughter from BR’s union to carry the ‘Sung’ surname. If no sons eventuated from BB’s and BR’s unions, the second son from BA’s union would carry the ‘Sung’ surname. The senior Sungs were so grateful to Xiang Zhe and Shan Mei, that they immediately concluded legal documents pertinent to the gift of 3 apartments to the 3 Yin boys in a luxurious yet-to-be completed apartment block in an exclusive part of Seoul’s inner CBD.

At last, the official ceremony came to an end, and all guests relaxed. Shan Mei hooked her arm to her husband’s, then gave him a shy kiss on his cheek, congratulating him on being new father-in-law. Xiang Zhe looked at his wife with a wide grin on his face, congratulating her on being not only the most beautiful mother-in-law but also the most beautiful woman in the entire room. The kiss he planted right smack on her lips was anything but shy.

They held each other’s gaze steadily, then they laughed softly to themselves, thinking of their next job? ‘Grandfather and grandmother’! With that thought, Xiang Zhe began rubbing at the anxious frowns now appearing on his forehead. Oh, no! If one of the grandchildren should turn out to be a mixture of Shan Mei’s playfulness and hot temper and his demanding nature and impatience, they would have a handful on their hands. When his eyes fell on Grandma Sung, they twinkled mischievously…she would be more than happy to mind her great grandchildren, he-he!

The tea buffet was laid out lavishly with the most enticing spread of food, but he must not be greedy, otherwise Shan Mei’s good work all these years keeping him on a healthy diet would go to waste. He selected the ones that he knew Shan Mei would approve of, then with two forks, went up to his wife sharing his food platter with her. He took another plateful of food for Father, seeing Auntie was busy with some of her relatives from America, Rose being her granddaughter.

Many of the overseas guests, on the brides’ sides, were confused at some stage because they didn’t understand who the representatives were and why they were needed, at the officiating ceremony. Only very closely related kinsfolk were introduced to the Grandparents and the parents of the grooms.

After all the tiring hand shaking and exchange of small, polite conversation, they were ready to go home. Thank goodness, Xiang Zhe sighed with relief, after tonight’s banquet, they could return to their little world of simplicity, peace and serenity in the East Sea.

Life was back to normal in their East Sea bungalow. Shan Mei was now out in the verandah talking with her eldest son, BB, on her hand phone. After she disconnected the line, she went in search of Xue Zhang. She found her husband in the TV room and informed him their boys would be arriving at their hillside commune during the Harvest Moon festival. BZ couldn’t get off, with so many special TV programmes being arranged for the holiday period. That time too, Chris would be also busy at the hospital standing by.

Xiang Zhe drew his wife down to the sofa next to him, and said, “Darling, don’t tire yourself cleaning up the boys’ bungalows. Let their wives do the cleaning for them.”

Shan Mei laughed softly, saying, “Your sons are not that stupid. They are bringing their maids along, to do cleaning for all the bungalows. During their time here, the boys plan to excavate some spot, filled it with water for your river pebbles, then route some water flow to the orchard, vegetable and garden plots, while their wives will be responsible for preparing all the meals. They seemed to have everything planned.”

On hearing this, Xiang Zhe became alert. He arched a brow at his wife. “They have babies planned too?” he teased. Then his mind went to food, wondering whether his daughters-in-law could prepare food as delicious as the food prepared by his wife. He would email the boys a list of his and Shan Mei’s favourite dishes, so their wives would come prepared.

Luckily they had an extendable dining table. They never expected to have so many at one sitting, but Xiang Zhe was very happy having his three sons and their wives at home spending time and sharing meals together. On the 2nd day of their stay, when all of them sat down for lunch, the daughters-in-law served several of his favourites food. Shan Mei handed him his portion on a separate plate. After tasting the food, he praised their daughters-in-law for their culinary skills.

When he had finished, he sipped the special tea that Shan Mei had prepared for him. He looked at the boys quietly, then he turned to BA asking him whether the branches of their family tree were bearing fruit. BA gave an embarrassed laugh, then looked at his elder brothers for their follow-up.

BB returned his father’s stare, “Daddy, please give us a break. We’ve been married only 2 months!”

“You boys already have all the breaks necessary. You got engaged to your wives 6 months after you first met, while I only managed to get to kiss your mummy on her forehead SIX YEARS after we first met, and that was possible only because it was her birthday. You wanted to marry on our wedding anniversary day. Then you wanted to honeymoon at our magical cabin claiming that would bring blessings,” and he looked at the boys with his serious Director Yin look, his eyes telling them he was expecting news of ‘blessings.’ He fixed his eyes on his eldest son, and continued, “And you were conceived during our 4th month of marriage. And don’t forget, we have to share our grandchildren with your godfather. If BR fathers a baby first before any of you, and Grandpa Sung becomes great grandfather, your grandpa will never forgive me!”

Mother and sons looked at one another then suddenly broke out in laughter.

Xiang Zhe arched his brow at his wife. His wife teasingly told her husband “You look so like Director Yin chairing one of his production meetings, I thought for one moment I was back at MBS.”

The boys got up in unison from their chairs, all three managed to pull their daddy off his, claiming they wanted his tips on how to run smooth planning and production, at a private meeting out on the verandah without the women present. Xiang Zhe looked towards his wife, silently seeking rescue. Shan Mei smiled at him, her eyes telling him “serves you right for opening your big mouth.”

For the next two days, they enjoyed the warm family environment. It was the first time Sharon and Suzanne saw how much their parents-in-law loved each other. Their father-in-law truly placed their mother-in-law on the highest of the highest pedestal. And they were such understanding parents.

This morning at brunch, the parents told the children to return home to spend the remainder of the harvest festival holiday on their own, not keeping two old people company. And BA should be taking Rose to visit her parents in Seoul. The boys confirmed they would leave tomorrow morning, after breakfast. BB insisted on leaving their maid to help mummy with the cleaning. “Mummy, BZ will be coming down with Chris in 2 weeks’ time to spend a couple of days with you. The maid can then fly back with them to Seoul.” So it was thus arranged. When Xiang Zhe heard this, he was pleased. BB’s thoughtfulness again confirmed to him their children really had inherited their mother’s generous and understanding nature.

Taking Shan Mei’s hand in his, Xiang Zhe looked fleetingly at her, then told the boys they had decided to spend the first weekend of each month in Seoul, beginning next month. BA and Rose would go with them so they could visit her family too.

Shan Mei was so pleasantly surprised, she squeezed her husband’s hand gently with silent approval giving him her special smile at the same time. Their sons exchanged knowing glances seeing their daddy becoming distracted for a brief moment, after which he turned to BB reminding him to let the family and his sister know of the arrangement.

That night in bed, Shan Mei voiced her concern to her husband about his plan of spending monthly weekends in Seoul. “Xue Zhang, I’m worried the polluted air in Seoul will affect your bronchial system. Do you really think it’s wise to visit Seoul every month, though it’s only for a weekend?”

“Darling, don’t worry. We’ll stay in our cabin whenever we visit Seoul. To be honest, I’m beginning to miss our cabin very much.”

And, also he wanted Shan Mei to have nice private chat with BZ when she visits. “Shouldn’t we be receiving good news from them by now? They have been married more than a year now, right darling?”

Shan Mei again reminded her husband not to interfere.

“What do you mean, not interfere? As soon as I informed Pa we were getting married, he made me promised to give him a grandchild as soon as possible, since he was giving me his precious daughter.” Shan Mei laughed, then told Xiang Zhe to use the same line on Chris if he was so desperate to be grandfather.

“No, no. It’s not me. It’s Father, wanting to know why he isn’t made great grandfather yet. When he knew the children were coming down for visit, he called, wanting me to give them pep talk.”

“So, did you give them good advice on how to run smooth production, seeing you won Best Producer award so many years running?”

Xiang Zhe smiled slyly at his wife saying he told the boys he was made producer in name only. Their mummy was the one actually calling all the shots. They should be harassing their mother, and not him. He cowered playfully in defense as Shan Mei was about to hit him in his arms. Laughing happily, he caught his wife within his arms for a bear hug.

Husband and wife arose early the next morning and went to their orchard, to pick late ripening apples, tangerines and peaches for the boys to take back to Seoul. After breakfast, the children were ready to leave.

Xiang Zhe with his arm draped around Shan Mei’s shoulders stood at their verandah, and waved the children off. They were so reluctant to see them leave. They stood there a long, long time, until the back of the van had long disappeared from view.

Looking out towards the East Sea, he thought back to the conversation he had with the boys during lunch 3 days ago when he asked them about their ‘baby’ plans. At that time, he had mentioned about giving their mother her first kiss after 6 years of knowing her.

It was her 26th birthday. He remembered, when he sent her home, before she let herself out of the car, how enchantingly beautiful and innocent she looked when she thanked him sincerely and happily for the lovely evening and extended her tiny hand for a handshake. He clasped her tiny hand between his big strong ones, wanting to hold on to her forever, never wanting to let go of her ever.

Before he lost his courage, he cupped the back of her head with one hand and leant forward to plant a kiss on her forehead. The kiss although tender, soft and brief carried with it a wealth of warm, loving feelings. She looked shy and surprised and confused. Her eyes went big and reflected a fleeting, sudden realization at the intensity of his emotions she had vaguely felt through his kiss. Looking at her with his whole heart in his big, clear eyes, he wanted to rip off his heart, if it was humanly possible, and lay bare his soul before her, so she could see the honesty and sincerity within. He couldn’t restrain himself as he continued to hold on to her hand. He declared: “I’m so glad to have you. You bring me so much hope and I hope to bring you happiness”.

Xiang Zhe smiled at the memory of that night when he was so bold as to make such a declaration and sealed it with a tender kiss on her forehead. Because, ever since the moment he clasped the peridot and pearl anklet onto her right ankle, he had wanted her to know he had officially given his heart to her for her safe-keeping. Finally, he managed to find the courage and the opportune occasion after waiting 6 long years! Didn’t he tell her he wanted to spend his entire lifetime with her? The next 1, 2, 10, 20 years and every year thereafter, standing by her side? The events of that day, although happened so long ago, were still very fresh in his mind.

Earlier that day of her 26th birthday, he had made Shan Mei very happy. He had, through anonymity, paid for the entire medical and hospitalisation expenses for an operation on a boy whose sister had sought Shan Mei’s help in making pleas through her Musical Postcard radio programme.

After Shan Mei was informed of the benevolent gesture from one of her listeners, she phoned to let Xue Zhang know that it was her best birthday present and she was so happy. Hearing her voice overflowing with such happy rapture, he felt so sweet in his heart. In giving, his whole self was imbued with such a feeling of indefinable happiness. No wonder Shan Mei was always so happy and so free with her generosity.

Xiang Zhe turned to draw his wife into his arms, his lips lingered tenderly and lovingly on her forehead, softly asking her whether she was happy?

“Blissfully so” came her contented reply as she rested her head against his chest, her arms going round his waist. He felt so blessed to have her. He thanked her for giving him everything he thought he never had, and never dared hope he would have. They looked deeply into each other’s eyes reflecting the fulfillment, contentment and blessedness of their love and happiness. Asking himself how he could love her so much, much more than anyone or anything, even his own life, in this world. He bent his head to let his lips slowly and gently mould against hers. His kisses became deeper and more insistent forcing her mouth open, he then slowly delved his tongue in.

Blissful in being so treasured, so loved and so adored, his wife was soon kissing him back….. “Oh, darling husband, I love you, I really love you so much. You’re the best.” Xiang Zhe, with eyes shut, his joyous face shining with love and happiness, savoured the magic of the moment as he locked his wife tighter in his arms.

***And They Lived Happily Ever After***

||||So Much In love||||

Xiang Zhe + Shan Mei

Chapter 1 Solid Gold on Tuesday, Jan 23, 2007