Lisa was brought to a conference room on the third floor.
Manager Song pushed open the door and gestured her to go in. Lisa felt that there was something odd about the whole situation but before she could make sense of what was going on, Manager Song suddenly gave her a gentle push. Just like that, she was pushed into the room.
"I just remembered that I still have something on. I'll head off first. You two have a good chat". On saying this Manager Song did not even give Lisa a chance to react before he closed the door with a thud.
"Hey...." Lisa was baffled.
She turned and swept her eyes across the conference room.
The room was square in shape and rather large. With its simple furnishing, the entire room felt extremely spacious. In the middle was a conference table and at the end of this table was a French window. Its grey curtains were drawn open and through the clear window panes, one could see an open space with trees and pedestrians.
In front of the French window was a black executive chair. A person was sitting on this chair.
Right now, this person sat facing the French window, leaving Lisa with back view of his head.
How pretentious. Lisa silently scoffed in her heart.
"Hi". Lisa called out.
The chair slowly, slowly turned before it finally faced her.
That person was wearing a white tracksuit and had short hair that did not reach past his ears. As he was back facing the sunlight shining in from the window, his face could not be seen that clearly. However, Lisa took one look and was lightly stunned for a moment. She thought, thus guy is really good looking!
His face was fair with well-defined and symmetric feature. He also had a piercing gaze and the way he held himself was clean, poised and confident.
He was sitting there quietly while basked in the sunlight, looking as if he was surrounded by a warm golden halo. The scene gave one the same feeling as viewing an oil painting gentle, refined and somewhat inexplicable.
Lisa repeated herself, "Hi".
He briefly acknowledged her greeting with an "Mm" in an unhurried tone, he asked, "You're my new assistant?" His voice was deep and resonant like the notes from the gently plucked strings of a qin, It was exceptionally pleasant to the ears.
Lisa puffed put her chest. "Uh huh".
He earnestly nodded before appraising her, "How dark".
Lisa: "...."
Lisa was a little embarrassed and hurriedly explained, "I just came back from military training. I'll be fairer in a while, really!"
Hid di not remark on this and instead rose and walked towards her.
When he stood up, Lisa realized that this person was extremely tall. He took slow and measured steps with his hands clasped behind his back. With every step towards her, the figure in the sun grew taller and taller. There was an almost imperceptible sense of being oppressed. It was just like a string with its two ends being pulled in opposite directions. With every tug, the string became tighter and tighter, till it was so taut that it would snap at any moment.
Lisa began to feel nervous. She straightened her shoulders, swallowed her saliva and gazed him.
That person walked closer and closer. Lisa could already see his features clearly.
Then, she was unexpectedly disconcerted: This person looked really familiar!
That slant of his eyebrows, that nose, and that particular set of eyes that was like large round almonds with a narrow double eyelid fold. It was an eye shape that looked suave without being flamboyant. This pair of eyes were framed by long and thick lashes so dark they seemed to have been dipped in ink. It was like the feathers that one could pluck from a black Silkie baby chick....ah, she once described someone this way before just who was it....
She was so, so close to recalling! Lisa was a little agitated. Her eyes darted and she spotted that on the right of his nose bridge, there was a teeny tiny light brown mole that was like star safeguarding his bright moon-like eyes.
Ah!
It immediately struck her and she blurted out, "Jeon Jungkook! You're Jungkook?"
Jungkook lightly tilted his head and purposely gazed at her with a puzzled look. "You're....?"
"I'm Lisa Manoban, Lisa! Have you forgotten?". Lisa completely did not expect to meet Jungkook here. She was astonished but also delighted. After all, he was an old classmate.
"Lisa" Jungkook's expression became somewhat preoccupied.
"Right, I'm Lisa Manoban. Don't you remember me?"
"I do. My childhood trauma".
"Eh...."
That was slightly awkward.
Jungkook: "Thanks to your care, I didn't get to spend a single penny of my allowance during the six years of primary school".
Lisa felt even more awkward. She waved her hands. "You think way too highly of me...."
Jungkook scrutinized Lisa again. He asked incredulously, "How the heck did you became so dark?"
"I've already said, I just came back from military training, why won't you believe me! Eh wait...." Lisa's face changed. "The two of us are in the same batch. You should've gone for military training too. Why didn't you become darker? This doesn't make sense".
"Oh, I skipped a grade, I'm in Year 2 this year".
Lisa was envious. So it was actually possible for a person to be outstanding from young and stay this way while growing up. Lisa was like a prized steed that would always be galloping faster than other mules and donkeys.
"Congratulations". Lisa bite her lips. Her tone was just that teeny weeny bit sour. She then probed, "You're still playing Ice Hockey? I heard Manager Song mentioned that you're the core player of the school team?"
"Mm. They were worried that I have much on my plate and thus hired an assistant. I didn't expect it to be you".
This sentence rudely reminded Lisa that she was here to be Jungkook's assistant.
Jungkook used to be her former lackey. When she pointed to the easy, he absolutely wouldn't dare to venture west. He was even more obedient than her currently lackey Park Jimin.
And now, it was her turn to be his lackey....
This was the downfall of her great dynasty!
How times have changed. Lisa felt a wave of sorrow and was deeply despondent. She was momentarily unable to accept this fact.
She pouted in frustration, her face clearly broadcasting her helplessness.
Jungkook admired her expression from the side. His lips quirked, revealing a faint smile before immediately reassuming his solemn countenance.
Lisa was willing to become anyone's assistant. The only exception was Jungkook. How could she wait on someone who was once her lackey? She faintly shifted her head and said, "I can't take up this job anymore. I just remembered that I have to study well. I'm aiming to go down the academic route in the future".
"Sure, just pay the termination fees".
"What termination fees?"
Jungkook pointed at the contract that she held. "See for yourself".
There were originally two copies of the contract. After signing, Manager Song passed her one. Lisa opened her copy of the contract and scanned the termination clause. It stated that if she wished to immediately leave, she would need to pay an early termination fee of 100,000 yuan. At the same time, she was also required to compensate for any inconvenience or losses arising from her departure. Alternatively, she could avoid paying the termination fees by giving one month's notice of her resignation.
This meant that If she raised the issue of termination now, she could only leave in a month.
Alright! A month it'll be. She'll just grin and bear it!
"Your duties officially start tomorrow" Jungkook said.
"What do I have to do?"
"You'll have to do whatever I ask you to do" Jungkook said, he silently continued this sentence in his heart, 'Just like how you treated me when we were young'.
Lisa felt that Jungkook's current manner of speaking was practically asking for a beating.
However, he was really tall now. It was a complete 180 from the small and squishy steamed bun that he was in the past. She won't be able to fight with him....
Jungkook picked up the backpack hanging off the chair, slung it over a shoulder and slipped his hands into his pockets. "I'm off".
"Where are you going?"
"Heading to class"
Lisa looked at the clock and it was indeed time for lessons. She trailed after him and sourly said, "You athletes have lessons to attend too?"
"I'm not solely an athlete".
"Oh? How much did you get for your university entrance exams?"
With one hand on the door, Jungkook glanced back at her, "Sure you want to know?"
The way his face hinted at a smile caused in Lisa yet another urge to give him a good whack. She quickly shook her head. "Nope nope nope nope I don't. Not going to give you a chance to show off".
The two exited the room. Jungkook stepped into the stairwell and Lisa followed behind closely just like his little tail. She walked and asked, "Why did you come to RCU then?"
Without turning his head, he answered, "RCU has an Ice hockey team".
This person he was not only good looking and smart, but also excelled in his studies while managing to accomplish the things he loved....To sum it all up, he was absolutely winning in life.
Lisa felt another surge of envy.
After they headed out from the ice rink, Jungkook scanned the row of bicycles for his own bike and wheeled it out. Lisa asked, "What are you majoring in?"
"Astronomy. You?"
"I'm in the school of Agricultural Science".
"School of Agricultural Science, what major?"
".... Veterinary science" Lisa raised her head to look at the sky and softly said. Her voice was very small, like that light buzz of a mosquito.
Unfortunately, Jungkook heard her words clearly and let out of soft chuckle. Even though the laughter was short, muffled and had long stopped, just like his voice, his laugh lingered in the air like the notes of a gently plucked qin.
Lisa could feel her ears heating up. She was a little embarrassed.
Jungkook mounted his bicycle. With one leg on the ground and another leg on the pedal, he asked, "Do you want a lift?"
"Sure" Lisa accepted his gesture of goodwill. She walked to the back seat of the bicycle and lightly bound up.
At this exact moment, Jungkook pushed against the ground. The bicycle was like a swift swordfish and instantly rolled off with a "swoosh". Lisa was caught off guard and her butt landed on the ground.
"In your dreams" Jungkook said.
Jungkook leisurely rode off on his bicycle. He thought of the rascal behind him and his eyes slightly crinkled. At the side, a girl saw him, clasped a hand to her cheek and softly exhaled, "Soo cute".
With indignation and a little grief, Lisa got up.
She watched his figure gradually disappeared into the distance and thought of the small, adorable and weak boy in her memories. It was tough to think that those two figures were actually the same person.
How did a perfectly fine kid grew up to be so crooked?
"Dog, you've changed" Lisa rubbed her butt, a look of melancholy on her face.
Extra Bonus.
Lisa: "Your acting is fantastic. The Oscars owe you a little yellow man".
Jungkook: "Little gold man, thanks".