Chapter 375 - I Like the Shade of Your Hair

Andrea and Lu Fang arrived an hour before lunch to the office. They went straight to work, especially since the development of Global China's projects required reviewing by Andrea. Pie Wang also sent a proposal from one rising company, suggesting a partnership. 

Every time she passed by the assistants' desks, she noticed how Chi Lanying was constantly watching her that before handing Bolin the approved documents, she had to ask, "Anything wrong with me Lanying?"

"Oh, no. No, Mrs. Lu. I just think you are so beautiful. How I wish I was as beautiful as you. The shade of your eyes is so light and I like how light brown your hair is and your nose is so slender - I just really envy you," Lanying said with full admiration. 

Andrea internalized her words before responding, "Trust me. There is a downside to it… I prefer that you do not stare at me. It's rather uncomfortable."

"I'm so sorry, Mrs. Lu. That won't happen again," Lanying said while bowing her head. 

Although Andrea still found it odd that Lanying chose to be an assistant, she could not deny her excellent contributions within just a week of working for the company. Bolin only had praises for her. He said that Lanying was helpful to both him and Ho Ghozi, who was still learning to be efficient in the use of their software.

On the other hand, Ghozi proved to be helpful in being the runner. Having grown in Beijing, he knew the ins and out of the city and had connections with Beijing's government offices. It would seem like he had a relative at every department. It expedited many of their permits and reports, even HR and the administration office was asking for his help. 

Arti especially liked Ghozi. She kept saying that he was sweet and kind. Unfortunately, her recognition towards him made Bolin favor Lanying instead, jealous over his wife giving another man her praises. 

Andrea figured she will observe Lanying some more and find out if she has other reasons for applying as an assistant. Usually, mathematicians pursue further studies for a more complicated job, but not to be an assistant. 

After Lanying's unusual stares, Andrea had doubts, but sometimes she was wrong. For now, she gave her the benefit of a doubt. 'Besides', she thought, 'What could a twenty-year-old girl do?'

Andrea had another vomiting incident after lunch, that she took a rest inside the man's private room. When she came back out, Gao Rou was there, discussing matters of his mysterious caller. 

"He called again, but this time he used a different location, still in Shanxi. It's either he is smart or he is just randomly using a public phone, base on convenience," said Gao Rou. 

They had earlier found surveillance from the bank where he had last contacted Gao Rou, but he had no idea who he was nor did Lu Wei. Luis did not have any access to facial recognition and thus, they sent it to Li Wen. 

"On his last call, I challenged him, asking him to see me face to face, but he said, he does not want to put his life in danger - then - he then said that he would not bother him if not for the fact that he did not have any money to live through," explained Gao Rou. 

"Let's just give him a little then," Andrea suggested, having heard most of their conversation. 

"Babe? Do you feel better?" Asked Lu Fang. 

Andrea nodded, "I think I need more avocado shake to feel better."

The man sneered before calling Bolin, "Bolin have Ghozi buy the Mrs. her regular avocado shake."

Lu Fang turned to Andrea and then to Gao Rou, saying, "Maybe Andy is right.  We should give him a little. If he is scared for his life, we can offer protection. However, giving his trend of calling you, we may find out the truth before his next call."

"Did father call you to tell you his findings?" Asked Lu Fang. "His previous bodyguard mentioned that your father kept asking for dad's return. He seemed to have important information to tell. Even mom confirmed this. She also recalled your father mention he had something to report to dad."

They both ended the conversation from there and agreed to reconcile when Li Wen had reported back. 

Andrea went back to sleeping late in the afternoon when Lu Fang received a call from Li Wen. He wondered why she did not call Gao Rou direct but he answered anyway, "Wen? Are you calling about facial recognition?"

It took Li Wen some time to respond. She said, "Yes, but Lu Fang. There is more to this than meets the eye. You see, the image matched a file that was recorded by the military. His name is Kang Liang, male, single and in his late fifties. He - he was one of the prisoners of Rou Yanlin's asylum… but - Lu Fang, the military also took his fingerprints and the prints came back with two matches. One of Kang Liang's and the other - the other of Gao Rou's father."

Lu Fang felt a lump on this throat with what Li Wen seemingly implied. "What are you saying Wen?"

"I was not comfortable with it, Lu Fang so I dug deeper. The strange thing is, Kang Liang had been reported missing since he was eight years old. He was never found and his parents assumed him dead."

"What the - "

"I know, I know… I already asked Lei Dong about this. You see, they made his profile base on the data in the asylum's records. Unfortunately, all of Kang Liang's direct relatives have died. We don't have a way of confirming if the files on the asylum are true."

"Lei Dong did not personally attend to all entries of the asylum's victims. His men may have overlooked this. Besides, he did not know about Gao Rou's father."

"This man was put into several recovery treatments, but they recognized, he could not remember much of his past. All he knew was his name and his birth town. He knew the names of his parents but could not describe their faces."

"When his recent treatments showed normal responses, he was released from the facility upon his request. It was just last year that he was allowed to leave. I can imagine he is trying to find himself in the place of his… How do I say this… supposed birth?"

"I - I'll speak to General Lei about this. Please let me be the one to tell Gao Rou. I don't ever want him to feel this was our fault, having connected this to Yanlin," requested Lu Fang. "Wen, please send me all the information you have about this man."

Lu Fang was dismayed. Even after Rou Yanlin's death, he still left them with trouble. He asked himself, 'Just what happened to this Kang Liang and why do his prints matched Gao Rou's father? Or is he Kang Liang? I - I need to take care of this myself. '

Just very timely, Gao Rou came inside his office without knocking. He asked, "Have you heard from Li Wen?"

The man sensed his heart raced for what he was about to say. "Yes, she said, she needed more time. Don't worry, I'll personally attend to this. I promise."

"You don't have to, bro - "

"I want to... Gao Rou. I want to."

Gao Rou was about to leave before him when Lu Fang said, "By the way… I like the shade of your hair."

"What?" Gao Rou asked, utterly puzzled.

"I'm thinking of coloring my hair. Can you give me a few strands… just to compare color?" The man lied, trying to hide his true intentions. 

"Bro, are you crazy? I'm pure Asian with black hair. There is no other shade  -"

"It looks burgundy to me, Gao Rou!"

"What the f! Dude? Are you suggesting I have purple hair?"

"Just freaking give me a few strands of your hair, Bro. What's the big deal. I'll give you a hundred dollars per strand!" Demanded Lu Fang.