City M, Lims’ Mansion…
Inside the grand mansion, a spacious sauna exuded warmth. Steam filled the air, swirling around as two men relaxed on benches made of expensive oak, carved intricately.
One, in his seventies, showed the wear of time on his skin. The younger man, in his early thirties, exuded youthful vitality. In this quiet space, the silence lingered, until the old man opened his eyes.
“How do you feel now, Grandson? Do you find the warmth relaxing?”
For the past few weeks, this was the same question the old man would ask him after spending some time in the sauna. Not a day went by without his grandfather inviting him here.
Andrew opened his eyes. In a relaxed tone, he answered, “Grandfather is thoughtful. However, I feel the same, inside or outside here.”
“Has your sleep improved?” The Old man threw another question at him.
Andrew had seen it coming and he answered as usual. “I sleep well every night, Grandfather. Be rest assured, I am fit.”
The heavy steam compounding the room served as a silhouette between the men. Despite not being able to study the Old Man’s reaction, Andrew could feel his penetrating gaze on him.
Seconds passed by, and his grandfather chuckled. His laughter echoed in the walls and he waved one hand, clearing the steam between them so he could take a proper look at his grandson.
Andrew had a feeling that Doctor Fang had already told his grandfather everything. Otherwise, his grandfather rarely repeated a question. Yet, Andrew had lost count of the number of times the Old man had inquired about his health.
“So you canceled your engagement with that girl from Xin’s household.” In the Old man’s eyes was a small smile. “Didn’t you consider the implications?”
“It is my fault for not consulting you first, Grandfather. I acted rashly.”
The Old man stared at him again and shook his head. Finally, he let out a sigh. When had his grandson ever acted without thinking? He could feel something amiss. It appeared his prediction was right.
“I thought marrying Old Xin’s daughter would benefit us all. From now on, I won’t bother you. When your brother returns, I’ll do what is right.”
At the mention of his brother, Andrew’s expression changed. Without saying anything, he nodded to the Old Man’s words and let his eyes close.
.
Assistant Jiang was outside the sauna, engrossed in scrolling through his tablet. As he read the comments on the company’s forum, the assistant’s eyes would go wide, and he would let out a gasp now and then.
More than ever, the assistant was anxious for his boss to leave the sauna soon. Strangely, the Old Master was holding him longer than usual today. The assistant did not know why, but he had a feeling something was off with the way the Old Master wouldn’t let his Boss out of his sight nowadays.
There should be something more to why the Old Master summoned them back to this city. It wasn’t just because he missed his grandson.
The Assistant’s attention was dragged to the company’s forum again when another comment caught his eye. Moments later, he heard footsteps from his side and he sighed in relief.
With a towel wrapped around his waist, Andrew stepped out of the sauna, each muscle defined and accentuated by the lingering moisture on his glistening skin. His fair complexion, flushed by the sauna’s heat, showcased a healthy radiance. Barefoot on the sauna’s wooden floor, he moved with graceful confidence, the dewy steam fading behind him.
Assistant Jiang stood up and hurried to him with a clean towel. While Andrew wiped his face, the assistant’s eyes went from the tablet to his Boss.
“What is it?” Sensing the assistant’s odd behavior, Andrew asked, his brows furrowing.
Assistant Jiang cleared his throat. Hesitantly, his eyes strayed to the room where the Old Master was still relaxing. He lowered his voice and whispered, showing the tablet to his Boss. “M-Mr. Lim, it appears Mrs. Lim is in trouble. People are saying on the forum that she got demoted.”
Andrew took the tablet, the frown still on his face. When he was done skimming through the comments, his expression relaxed and he gave the assistant an impassive look. “How does it concern me, Assistant Jiang?”
“Eh?” The Assistant opened his mouth. ‘Isn’t she your wife?’ He wanted to ask. On second thought, however, Assistant Jiang kept his mouth shut. Considering his Boss’s relationship with Mrs. Lim, the assistant could only sigh.
Ah! If it was in the past, the man would have flared in rage. No one could even touch the air on his wife’s hair without getting reprimanded.
As the days went by, the assistant would sometimes find him staring at her through the TV screen in his room. One would think that the man was missing his wife. However, it was another way to calm the nerves in him. Somehow, the man was able to get some minutes of sleep just by seeing her.
“Assistant Jiang.”
The assistant halted in his thoughts and also stopped walking. They had left the sauna area and were on their way to his Boss’s quarters.
“In MystiArt Productions, who calls the shots?”
“It is you, Mr. Lim, “Assistant Jiang answered quickly despite finding his Boss’s question strange. “You own MystiArt Productions. Normally, everyone will listen to you.”
“Is that true?”
The assistant was beginning to find his Boss’s behavior strange. He nodded anyway. “That is true, Mr. Lim. You are the Big Boss.”
Andrew snatched the white robe from the assistant’s hands and draped it over his body. Without tying the straps, the man resumed walking.
Assistant Jiang caught the towel flying in the air before scurrying after him. Suddenly, he could feel a suppressing aura radiating from the man.
“If I call the shots, why do the employees do as they please?” Andrew scoffed.
Assistant Jiang stood rooted on the spot, trying to digest the man’s words. As puzzling as they sounded, he could sense the underlying meaning behind it.
Was his Boss mad because they had bullied an employee unjustly? Or was it because that employee was Mrs. Lim?
Assistant Jiang was truly confused.