In Dong Xian's PDA: Case reopened

Leo and I were talking about how to deal with Eric when our chauffeur said, "Sir, there is a girl waving on the road side, trying to catch a lift. Should I stop the car?"

"No", I said... none of my business...

"Is she young and beautiful?" Leo lighted up on the thought of a female companion to LA.

The chauffeur replied, "I supposed so."

"Why don't you stop the car then! Stop... stop!", Leo ordered in a hurry.

Apparently, our car went passed already and had to revert a little.

"Where are you going to?" Leo poked his head out of the window.

"LA." A somewhat familiar voice said.

Leo opened the door and someone got in.

Looking through my sunglasses, I saw you, with a suitcase and a torn dress. How come it was you again?... I kept penning away on my PDA... First time, it was at 300 roses... second time, it was in the lift...now, and in the middle of the desert...what are you doing here...

"Thank you so much... I was with my friend and he left me." You explained.

"You mean your friend just left you in the middle of the desert?" Leo asked the question, for me.

"Maybe, he was very busy..." Busy???? Is that a reason? What sort of reason is that?

"Really? How busy could he be to leave a beautiful girl like you in the middle of nowhere." Leo was at it again, as he always did. Somehow, this time, it annoyed me.

"Stop here," I ordered, "just keep talking about Eric."

Even though we continued our conservation was on Eric, my mind was somewhere else: how come it is you again? This is in the middle of a desert, how come you are here? How come I see you again here? Why do we keep on bumping into each other in strange locations? What does this all mean?

Leo kept talking in English about Eric's case and suddenly he switched back to Korean.

"Oh my god, you two are Korean!", you exclaimed.

"NO!" Leo and I said simultaneously. I am not Korean, I do not belong there.

At this point, a convertible passed by, and I noticed you looked back. I followed you, but couldn't see much. However, I saw a hint of happiness on your face. Must be your friend going back for you. Whoever he was, he must be important to you …

Over lunch at the mansion, you introduced yourself, "I am Zhen Yin, Xu Zhen Yin" Zhen Yin, a name with a nice ring to it...

Then, I asked you why you were in the desert alone, as I still did not understand why I could pick you up there...

"I went into a heated argument with my friend.... that is my weakness. If I see something that is wrong, I won't let it go." Yes, I've witnessed that delightful scene at 300 roses already... "Once I got angry, I will say anything that comes into my mind, then, I will regret about saying it immediately." Impulsive indeed, I have also found that out myself.

However, why are you volunteering me all these information? I only knew you for a few hours, why are you telling me your bad habits already? I must admit, I was a bit puzzled and you got me more curious about you, so I asked:"What do you do back in Korea?"

"I worked at an hotel..." I hunt hotels for a living whilst you work in one, interesting...

"Hotel Seoul, a very famous hotel in Korea..." Is that the Hotel Seoul Leo has been bugging me about??

Just wanted to confirm we are talking about the same place, I said,"I heard the business is not doing well there."

"Yes, but it will be fine soon.." Then, you gave me a smile. It was the first time you smile at me and there was something in it: comforting... reassuring...

Then, you adjusted my scarf, my room service. I did not notice you are wearing my scarf until now.

The simple scarf looked nice on you, much nicer than I imagined. Knowing that I made the right choice, I was pleased with myself and forgot to take my eyes off you. However, that seemed to embarrass you. So, I looked away, took a sip of my wine, and said casually "Are you happy with my room service?"

"What? ... Room service ... so... you are Frank." You seemed to be shocked.

Yes, I am the Frank. Frank Shin. Shin Dong Xian. The one who send you the room service...

The rest of the lunch was pleasant and after lunch, I offered to take you around. You were comfortable to be, smiled a lot and I liked listening to you talk. I asked you about your family, and you told me that you had a sister four years older than you, married with a 3 years old daughter, and how you enjoyed being called "aunty"... I asked you about work, and you told me about the tense time of having the guests outside the hall waiting, with no food inside the banquet hall... However, when I asked you why you came to US, the smile went off your face. All you said was:"... to find a friend..." and went quiet, so I changed topic...

Time went fast and by the time you have to go, I still have so many questions for you.

After I dropped you back at the hotel, I went back to the mansion alone.

For some reasons that are not obvious to me as yet, I wish to know more about you and find out more about you. How am I going to get my questions answered? I stood at the poolside for a while, thinking...

By choice, Korea was not the place I would like to be in but if it was something I have to do, I would...I decided to take up the M&A case of Hotel Seoul.

Zhen Yin's thoughts: Frank? ... You are Frank!

HAN TAI JUN! … He is too much! Stupid Tai Jun! Arghhhh …. I took a long flight to LV to look for him … I lent him money … and … and he really … actually left me … left me in the middle of desert! I am not going to forgive him! Stupid Tai Jun! 

What I can see are only never-ending roads on both ends, sand … no vehicles is in view … There I stood, with a piece of luggage, wearing a dress with some torn ends … feeling the heat under the scorching sun, feeling the burning sand under my scandals, feeling the fumes in my mind … sweat appeared on my forehead … started to get sticky … I am going to be cooked in no time at the rate I am going … I hopped, paced around … still angry … I am really HOT! … 

Soon, I got tired … seated on top of my luggage … I waited, not knowing what to do … what I see are still never-ending roads on both ends, sand and more sand … no cars in view, nothing is in view in fact … I am feeling desperate under the intense heat … What am I going to do? … I am on my way to be cooked … at that moment, something came into view … a car … it came nearer, it’s a limousine in fact … I waved and waved … I almost wanted to stand in the middle of the road! Finally, some help … stupid Tai Jun, he is not going to beat me … that vehicle went pass me … stopped and reversed. Luckily it did … 

"Where are you going to?" A plump man asked from inside the limousine. 

"LA!" I quickly replied. Actually, I’ll settle for anywhere other than getting cooked here. "Get in!" he said. I felt wonderful! I got in with my luggage. Oasis in the desert! My saviours! 

Other than that plump man, there is someone else in the limousine. He looks unapproachable behind those dark shades and formal attire. His hands have rarely left that PDA. While that plump man gave me some odd glances, the man with the dark shades ignored me. This is getting weird. I better think of something to say. I stroke my hair; smiled embarrassingly, "Thank you so much! … I was with my friend and he left me …"  

"You mean your friend just left you in the middle of the desert?" The plump man asked. Damn Tai Jun! You landed me into this. How shall I explain now … "Maybe, he was … " anything will do … yes, BUSY! "he was … very busy..." lame excuse but I really can’t think of a better reason now… 

The man with the dark shades interrupted. I am glad he did. At least I don’t need to come up with more excuses now. His English is really fluent! I kept my glance ahead. Please reach LA soon! Then, I heard the plump man using Korean … KOREAN! … "Goodness, you are Koreans!" a broad smile appeared on my face. 

"No!" they answered together. The plump man clarified, "American citizens from Korea". "Oh I see … "my head down, why are they denying? I thought I have finally found some travel mates, some people nearer to home … I quickly covered the torn ends of my dress when I noticed the man with the dark shades has noticed the torn ends. He is handsome, but certainly looked cool and unapproachable. 

I looked out of the window and saw a red convertible passed by. My eyes followed that convertible. Tai Jun has turned back … I smiled … too late, Tai Jun … who ask you to leave me in the desert alone … you are not going to find me …  

I accepted the cool-looking man’s invitation to lunch. Although there is a certain degree of authority in him, they have saved me from the hot oven. I happily agreed. I have a cooling bath and changed into something casual in my hotel room … and noticed that beautiful scarf lying on top of my luggage … ok, I shall bring you around LA today … I put on the scarf, took a second look at the mirror and headed outside … 

He picked me up punctually. He has also changed into more casual attire. He looks different now … ermmm, less cool and definitely more boyish and approachable. 

We sat down for lunch, in the mansion, by the poolside. He has changed into a normal pair of glasses now. Charming man, I thought to myself, with a smile.

"I am Zhen Yin … Xu Zhen Yin" I introduced, with a bright smile.

Why am I in the desert alone? … How shall I put it … ermmm, starting from my character … "That is my weakness, I would voice the injustice seen. Thus, I’ll run into trouble easily. I quarreled with my friend just now and …" I uttered on … "he said some upsetting stuff and we started quarrelling … not a while later, I regretted."

"What do you do back in Korea?" … I was busy eating … thanks for adding wine for me … "I worked at an hotel... Hotel Seoul, a very famous hotel in Korea. It’s really scenic there. Have you heard about the place?" I am proud to work in Hotel Seoul. 

"I heard the business is not doing well there," he said. Yes, I have to agree the situation is not too optimistic now. I am also worried about the well-being of Hotel Seoul … but things will work out … "Yes, but it will be fine soon …" I smiled and added "Although this is an era where money can be used to solve most problems, there are still many things in Hotel Seoul which you can’t get with money" I smiled at him … how to explain that to him … "If you go to Korea, do visit Hotel Seoul, I’ll let you experience what is premium service!"  

I adjusted my crooked scarf into place. "Excuse me …" I said when I noticed he is looking at me. I feel a little embarrass under that unwavering glance. 

"Are you happy with my room service?", he asked ... "Emmm …" I am still adjusting … and suddenly … I registered his statement … "What did you say?" I looked at my scarf and then at him … and at the scarf again … "... Room service ... ohhh … so Frank is ..." my eyes glowed. I was shocked to hear that. He is Frank! 

He looked into my eyes and said, "My name is Dong Xian, Shin Dong Xian."

We continued to talk a while more over lunch. He showed me around the mansion, the yacht club and some nearby places … he is knowledgeable about the places and well … in general too! I listened and smiled in agreement. I told him about my 3-year old niece, that funny little imp, I smiled … my family members, and work … about how nervous it can be to have a crowd of guests waiting outside the dinner venue when the food is still inside the kitchen; odd requests by hotel guests etc. He asked me did I come to the States for leisure … I … I came to the States to look for a friend … not exactly on holiday. Thus, I haven't tour much places. "What is in front? …", I asked. 

I have enjoyed the weather, company and scenery. I smiled. This feels like a holiday afternoon, touring around some strange places, accompanied by a new man. Later in the afternoon, I excused myself politely … as I need to catch some much-needed rest. After all, I didn’t sleep much last night. Fatigue is starting to get over me. He sent me back to the hotel. We parted outside the entrance … Thank you for the lunch, tour … and the scarf. I like it very much ...