A City Business District, 2021

Jiang Xing Xing rushed into the traffic, trying to get into the first bus, hoping that she was not late on her first day. Her damp hair hung limply over her shoulders as she brushed past her fringe from her sweat-covered face. 

Sighing as she squeezed her tiny frame into the group of rush hour manic, the pungent smell of sweat and smoke hung in the air. She reeled her mind from the onslaught of nausea; the odor was too overwhelming.

Getting off the bus, she walked for a few minutes, hurling the heavy bag she was carrying. She politely showed her ID to the security guard and got on to the elevator for the fourteenth floor. Shuffling as she tried to make do with her laughable attire of bland white-collar blouse, charcoal trousers, and sneakers, she got off the elevator.

The day has not even started, she thought, and I look like I ran a marathon.

Pasting a smile on her face, she tried to fit into the modern vibe of the architecture of the office, as befit of a small but well-known design and build company. The company has been in the industry for more than ten years; all the projects they have undertaken took the prize on the up-and-coming international design competitions.

The lobby looked chic, cold, and modern; the only thing that brought warmth into the view was the handful of white peonies on the coffee table. The pitiful flowers will not even make up for the cold atmosphere that hung in the air from the AC. 

From the double glass doors comes a woman in her early thirties, waist-length wavy hair, perfectly made-up face, in tan pantsuit and stilettos. Her alluring eyes scanned Summer, a blossoming smile from her scarlet lips.

Wow, what a goddess! Nicki would girl crush her the second she saw her, she thought, lost in her imagination. The elegance, poise, and grace that mother always wished I had, this woman had it all. No wonder none was left for me. Oh, look at her go--

“Are you Mr. Han’s new hire?”, her melodious voice echoed through the empty lobby.

Awestruck, Jiang Xing Xing could only bob her head in the affirmative. Mr. Han’s supposed to be her supervisor as the new intern. 

“Okay, follow me.”

She followed Ms. Goddess into the hallway with floor-to-ceiling glass walls on either side. The people inside, busy with their jobs, their buzz of chatter silenced by the hum of the AC. Ms. Goddess’s stilettos’ click-clack on the wooden floor echoes through the hallway; Jiang Xing Xing trails behind her like a duckling.

“You were transferred to Gamma Team this morning, and your new supervisor is here to interview you.” Ms. Goddess flips through the folder she's holding while telling her of the situation. Mr. Han slipped in the bathroom this morning and hurt his back in the process. Mr. Han was sent to the hospital due to minor injuries. 

Jiang Xing Xing was confused but nodded along. She has had an uneasy introduction with Mr. Han. He looks sleazy -- the way he stared her down makes her want to cover herself up. 

Ms. Goddess guided her inside a spacious office with glass windows and warm lighting.

Ah, this place looks neat, she thought, liking the way it. It did not confine the aesthetic with too modernized minimalism but focused instead on the practicality and efficiency of space. 

I Architecture’s Project Supervisor, it read on the double glass door. 

She saw a man in his mid-twenties sitting in the middle of the room, busy rummaging through the pile of blueprints and folders on his desk. He lifted his face at her with eyes smirked at their arrival. His dark hair falls effortlessly on his forehead; his thick sword-like eyebrows playfully danced as his eyes scanned Summer up and down. Confidently strutting towards the two women, his smile widened, straight white teeth behind pink lips, he bowed gallantly.

“Ah, the ladies have arrived.” The mole under his left eye swayed playfully at this attempt at light conversation.

 “Nice to meet you, I’m Lu Jing, your supervisor.” 

He extended his hand for a shake, so Jiang Xing Xing hesitantly took it. After sitting down, Xing Xing observed this man, the youngest project supervisor in I Architecture.

The top three buttons of his navy-blue dress shirt were open; the tie discarded. Xing Xing thought that being a supervisor, he must look more respectable than this, or his credibility is on the line. She decided she must not judge his sloppiness; he must be good at his work to let the company’s reputation rely on this man’s image.

“Did Ms. Cathy discuss the situation to you, um, Ms. Jiang Xing Xing?” Lu Jing asked, acting like he was a host of a late-night show with his hands open. 

Cathy smiled and handed Xing Xing the new files she must fill up first.

“Now, offering her first a drink would be polite, Mr. Lu.” Cathy admonished Lu Jing good-humoredly. 

Wow, to talk to your boss like that, I applaud you, Ms. Cathy-the-Goddess, Xing Xing thought inwardly; she was about to decline as Lu Jing stood up and promptly made coffee.

He offered the coffee he made, smiling. Xing Xing sheepishly took it, wondering if she should drink it. She took a sip and almost saw stars, wincing at the bitter beverage.

How could anyone make coffee taste like dirty rag water? Ugh. Xing Xing tried to smile while swallowing, almost gagging.

“I’ll leave you two then.”

Ms. Cathy stood up promptly before Lu Jing could offer his concoction to her. She escaped hastily with a smirk on her pretty face.

“Ah, she fled again!” Lu Jing grumbled with an evil glint in his eyes, knowing he would pay her back for that.

He smiled cheekily at Xing Xin. He was watching and waiting for her to finish the coffee. She could only smile sheepishly, knowing the consequences of drinking it. She just knew she would not be able to leave the toilet afterward.

Smiling awkwardly, she waited for Lu Jing to start the conversation as they stared at each other like predator and prey. Xing Xing wondered inwardly if the man had any grudge towards her, making her drink that radioactive liquid.

He smiled bewitchingly at her, confidently brandishing his face at her. His eyebrow cocked confidently, lips pursed, eyes twinkling with mischief. Jiang Xing Xing watched him in fascination, so this is what narcissism does to a person. He looks like a peacock parading his fine feathers at her. His handsome face is not up for debate, but he looked like he was waiting for compliments by lifting his face at her.

After a while, Lu Jing finally concludes, she is clueless about his identity and gasps, “You don’t remember me?”

Bewildered, Xing Xing stared at his face and had zero recollection of ever meeting this person. She shook her head smiled awkwardly. She would have remembered meeting anyone like him; to have that much confidence is a sin.

Lu Jing sat stunned, mortified at how she had genuinely no idea who he was.

In the seven years that he has worked in the industry, being a social butterfly has immensely helped in his career. It has also boosted his popularity with the ladies. He’s not saying he was a ladies’ man, far from it, women adored him. He was charming, always tried to be a gentleman, but everyone knew him. Since he was a child, he has charmed his way through every mischief, even his mother had a hard time admonishing him. 

That shocked him so much, he had a hard time recovering for a couple of minutes and stared incredulously at the person before him.

“Um…if it makes you feel better, I’m not good with names.” She amended. Which is the truth, her memory is impeccable, but she has a hard time with names.

She must have ruffled his feathers too much. Jiang Xing Xing felt guilty.

He shook his head, even if she has that bad of memory, she should have some recollection of who I was.

“What high school did you attend?”

“A City No. 3 High School.”

“What class were you in?”

“3-2.”

“”

“….Did we go to the same class?” 

But no, she cannot remember knowing this person and being in the same class for three years, must have some memory of him. 

There was none.

“Were you in the next class?”

But that was Jing Jing’s class. She would often swing by next door to meet her cousin, she would have met him, but she has not.

Lu Jing sighed resignedly, “You remember Xiao Zhu (Piggy)?”

She opened her mouth slightly, trying to remember memories of more than ten years before. She remembers the nickname Piggy. She had a faint memory of Piggy -- the good-natured classmate that was friends with almost everyone.

But did Piggy look as good-looking as the guy before her? Piggy had a common-looking face, but it always had a smile. Was he this tall? No. Piggy was chubby-- with rounded cheeks, small slit eyes.

But maybe he glowed up or something; that be something.

“Are you Piggy?” she asked excitedly, hoping it was the answer.

Shock and frustration etched on Lu Jing’s face. “Do I look like a Piggy?”

“…No?” No, he’s right. Piggy didn't look like this. “If not Piggy, then…?”

“Piggy introduced me to you on the first term of your senior year.” He explained.

Lu Jing watched in fascination as Jiang Xing Xing’s face twisted into realization, confusion, and doubt. Xing Xing has to comb through the hazy memory of ten years ago; Piggy did introduce a bunch of people. But was there someone like him?

Struck by the sight of the little mole under his left eye and the way his eyes sparkled with mischief when he talked animatedly, she came to a realization.

 “You are Little Potato?” she gasped.

No. That is not right. Did Little Potato look like this? She scanned Lu Jing from head to toe, doubting her memories. 

She remembered meeting Little Potato on the first term of her senior year. A small, chubby child with straight hair cut into a bowl shape. His cheeky smile would always hang on his dumpling face. You would have thought he will be bullied with his appearance, but his friendly and friendly nature belies his intelligence which always wins over potential bullies.

He could insult someone, and they would thank him unknowingly. He was cunning, playful, and mischievous. But he was adored by everyone.

Xing Xing cannot describe their relationship as close, but she regarded Little Potato as a younger sibling. She did not have that many friends, timid that she is. But Little Potato was approachable and followed her around like a little duckling. Sometimes he was more like a bodyguard, oftentimes a younger brother.

She watched Lu Jing closely, trying to find the resemblance.

“You’re Little Potato.”

The realization came from watching his eyes sparkle with mischief, which would always happen right before he smirks.

“I never thought your memory was this rusty, XingXing” He grins.