Chapter 287 - Soft Opening Day (5)

Jing Jing's enthusiasm vanished in an instant. Her expression was replaced with sadness and disbelief. Of all the things that she could forget to bring! It was exactly the main tool that is used for the ceremony!

"I was too focused on picking the colors of flowers and balloons yesterday. Ahh... I can't believe I've forgotten it!" Jing Jing felt like crying after realizing she did not really prepare a scissor!

On the other side, the four teens do not know how to react to this too. It was their first time to do such kind of ceremony. They don't even have any knowledge of how it should be done!

Claire glanced at Clark and they exchanged a silent message in their look.

'Do you have a scissor?' 

Clark shook his head seemingly understanding the message even though Claire did not speak of it.

Joey and Stephen subconsciously scratched the back of their heads and stared at Sofia. 

Even though Jing Jing felt slightly horrified for forgetting the most important tool they need to complete the ceremony, Sofia appeared unaffected. She maintained a gentle curl on her lips and clasped both her palms.

'It can't be helped. Human, as we are, forgetting something, is mostly a natural occurrence,' Sofia wanted to say to comfort Jing Jing. Even she would also not be shy to admit that there were certain things that she could overlook. 

However, Sofia remained silent for a few seconds while watching Jing Jing fidget. She could not help but compare the proud and confident secretary that she had in her past life to the woman that was now anxious because of a simple scissor.

Jing Jing looked at Sofia in the eye and hinted an apologetic expression. "It's my fault. Sorry---"

"Sister Jing, we can do the ribbon-cutting ceremony later. We can still look for a scissor. Don't blame yourself over something like this," Sofia cut her off calmly before she could finish her apology. "What are you apologizing for? This is not your fault," she added after perceiving the dreary expression on Jing Jing's face.

"B-but if we do it later.... uhhmm... we have no time!" Jing Jing whispered. Among them, only she understood well how tight their schedule would be.  If not now, there would be no later for the ceremony! 

Derek who maintained his silence like the rest of the teens suddenly saw his brother exiting the kitchen area. He shifted his foot and pondered for a bit. "Maybe there is a scissor in the kitchen? Or a knife? It is to cut that ribbon right?" he immediately suggested. In his mind, he simply thought that as long as the ribbon would be cut, any tool could be used. "I will ask Danny," he added and quickly went in his brother's direction.

The four teens quickly nodded their heads, showing support for Derek's idea. Even Claire sighed in relief.

But, on the other hand, hearing the man's suggestion, Sofia and Jing Jing blinked a couple of times as they watched him walk away from them. Both have the same words in mind.

'Knife to use in the ribbon-cutting ceremony? That's rather unconventional!'

Derek walked swiftly that before Sofia or Jing Jing could react to his suggestion, he was already on the other corner of the hall and talked to his brother.

"Bro, do you have a scissor in the kitchen?" Derek immediately asked.

"Why are you looking for a scissor?" Danny looked visibly confused. But, he did not face his brother and just continue arranging the plates on the side of the table while casually ordering their other frat members how the table and chairs should be arranged.

"Our young boss needs to cut a ribbon. If there is no scissor then lend me a small knife?" Derek responded.

"Wait, I'll check..." Danny started and walked into the kitchen once more. Derek simply followed him and looked around the place. He noticed that their members there were preparing the pans, cauldron, and wok. 

"Boss!" the frat members called them with a big smile in their faces.

"Make sure you cook delicious food!" Derek spoke at them while Danny was pulling the drawers.

"Boss, don't worry... all the list of food on the menu are local dishes. We can cook them at best! Our customers will definitely love them!" the members quickly answered in chorus.

"Good!" Derek stated and finally switched his attention to his brother. "Did you find a scissor?" he asked.

"Yeah... there is," Danny stated but in fact, the scissor that he had seen were kitchen shears used in trimming meat and vegetables. "Here is the scissor," he said after grabbing it.

"Nice! There is indeed a scissor!" Derek chuckled after receiving the tool. He smiled and tapped Danny's shoulder before he left the kitchen. He excitedly sprinted back in Sofia's direction.

Watching Derek's figure approaching them, Jing Jing did not need to look closer to recognize what he was holding. It was indeed a scissor but she did not know whether to feel at ease about it.

"That's kitchen shear! It's---" Jing Jing spoke awkwardly and looked at Sofia's reaction. She was about to say that it's a different tool. But, then, she reminded herself that it was more reasonable rather than using a knife.

"Ms. Jing Jing, I have it! Here is the scissor," Derek said not sensing anything from her.

Jing Jing sighed and took the object. She stared at the serrated and smooth edges of the blade.

"Miss Sofia, I think this should be fine," Jing Jing spoke and slowly handed the object to Sofia.

"This kitchen shear is rather more meaningful than the usual scissor," Sofia stated and positioned her thumb and finger to its handle. She then traced every part with her left index finger and mentioned the purpose of it.

"That scissor looks weird," Joey voiced out his comment.

Having no idea why it looked different, the three teens beside him also nodded their heads. 

"What is that?" Claire asked while staring at Sofia's hand gripping the object.

"That is a scissor used in the kitchen and had many purposes," Jing Jing muttered.

"Ohh..." Claire mumbled.

"This tool is called kitchen shear," Sofia introduced and look at them in the eye. She had learned cooking in the past and was aware of the functions of this tool. "Here is the serrated edge blade... this area is used for removing fish scales. Opposite to this is the smooth-edged blade used as a peeler. The upper inner blade is for snipping herbs and trimming meat while the lower blade is for cutting bones. The handle has a nutcracker in the inner. Then there is a bottle opener on this side and a screwdriver on the other," Sofia explained all parts using her past memories not thinking too much of what she said.

However, Claire gaped at her for a few seconds feeling a slight sense of suspicion in her heart. She took a big gulp and contemplated whether she would say something. 

Yet, Claire could not help but whisper, "H-how?"

"Hmmn?" Clark hummed beside her. 

At the same time, Sofia's clear eyes made a contact with Claire's clouded vision and she suddenly realized something dire...

Of course, how could the original owner of her body know about kitchen shears? Let alone the name of the tool, she even explained every part and function of it! 

Even if Claire would only utter a single word, it was clear that she wanted to ask how did Sofia know all those details. They had never owned nor used this kind of tool!

Sofia tightened her grip o the object and mentally facepalmed while avoiding Claire's gaze. 

She cleared her throat and pretended to examine the object again.

Fortunately, only Sofia took notice of the meaning in Claire's sudden change of tone and facial expression.

"Woahh! There is actually such a thing!" Joey exclaimed before the atmosphere around them became awkward.

"Yes, Miss Sofia is right! Those... indeed those are the purposes of the tool!" Jing Jing confirmed. "Using that kitchen shear to cut the ribbon is indeed more meaningful! Good thing, you found one, Derek!"

"Hehe, no problem!" Derek simply replied. "So, this ceremony... we are doing this right now?" he asked while preparing the camera of his phone.

Sofia took a deep breath and shifted her gaze towards the balloons and flowers. "Yes, let's do it!"

"Yey! Derek, make sure that the video you take is clear," Jing Jing reminded Derek.

"Okay! It's recording now!" Derek told them while carefully adjusting the angle of the camera.

Sofia walked towards the center and smiled at them. She briefly thought of what would the appropriate speech she should deliver to them.

"By cutting this ribbon... I, Sofia Su, represent the entire members of the Chronos Corporation, marks this day as the day that all of us are ready to embark towards the corporate world! With our combined effort, teamwork, and cooperation, may all fortunes favor our business. I am confident that our business will grow and we as owners will continue to grow with it too!" Sofia's firm voice heeded before snapping the kitchen shear and successfully cutting the ribbon.

Soon after, Derek shifted the camera to Jing Jing and the four teens as they clapped their hands and exchanged high-fives.. Sofia scanned the entire place and gazed at them with tenderness in her eyes.