Getting to Know You

No matter how much he tried to pay attention at the meeting, after reading that message, a thousand thoughts were racing through his mind one after another. For one, he figured that if someone can make such an offer, then that person has the means to get his hands on such an important document. Of course, it is also possible that he is bluffing because he either can’t get it or that document doesn’t even exist. But if it does...

He has to at least try to find out which one is it because if there is such a document then they need it more than anything. The only problem is... How the hell can he even get the information required of him? He can’t just barge into their offices or hack their computers. And he also can’t outright go up to them and start interrogating them about their past. It would be weird beyond measure. Not to mention that they probably won’t open up to a stranger.

Well, I actually might have the pretext to start a conversation with the younger one, Fuyuki thought as he stood up just like everyone else as the meeting ended. They already had an encounter before, albeit unfortunate which could be an excuse to talk to him.

No way, I’m gonna do that! It would totally look like I’m apologizing because I feel like I’m in the wrong. And I’m not. But he must be kind of angry at me right now. If he still is then if he sees me, perhaps he will take the initiative to put me in my place. He seems like the type to do that. So, if I just casually walk by...

Fuyuki tried to walk normally across the room to a group of two people, whom he knew superficially while staying in the periphery vision of that infamous Feng Liwei. Major Feng Liwei, to be precise. All while pretending not to notice him, not even turning his head but still trying to check from the corner of his eye if he caught the attention of the other person.

Ugh, I feel like a peacock shaking its tail feathers to attract a mate. God, this feels ridiculous, he thought while trying to seem casual as he walked up to the people he knew.

Is he still looking at me? He must be looking at me. He was subtly doing so while talking to that old geezer from Nepal. And three, two, one... He is coming, act natural!

“Everyone, let me introduce you to Khadka Bahadur Ramesh, the new delegate from Nepal. He had some insightful comments you might be interested in,” said Feng Liwei in a more than welcoming manner after stopping at the group of three. He wasn’t directly looking at Fuyuki, almost as if he was even avoiding eye contact.

The Nepali delegate shook hands with them as they introduced themselves while looking at the nametag on their clothes which not only had their name on it in their own language and its English transcription but also a little flag representing the country they came from. It was extremely convenient, especially when addressing someone but this did not replace introductions out of politeness.

“Saito Fuyuki,” he said when it was his turn and couldn’t help noticing that suddenly a weird, inquiring look appeared on Feng Liwei’s face when he heard his name, and immediately looked down at his name tag. And weirdly enough, upon seeing his name written down his eyes narrowed.

“It is nice meeting you,” said the old delegate while shaking Fuyuki’s hand. “It has been a long time since the last time I have been to Japan. It must have changed a lot since then.”

“Definitely; everything and everyone changes. Even people like the Major,” he said jokingly while turning his head to the left and smiling at the person he absolutely doesn’t want to smile at. “I’m sure you also have at least one thing you changed in your life that made you become a different person than the one you would’ve been if you hadn’t changed that one thing.”

Feng Liwei looked him in the eye which made Fuyuki think that perhaps it wasn’t such a good idea to use him as an example. But he couldn’t let such a good opportunity to get to know more about him slip away.

“I have of course, just like everyone else. But sometimes it doesn’t matter how you change or what you change because your past will come back to haunt you until you surrender,” Feng Liwei replied sternly making the people around him shiver in silence.

“Major Feng, you’re so serious, you’re scaring us,” said a woman from Indonesia awkwardly.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to ruin the mood,” the Major replied in a surprisingly modest manner. “I’m sure you have a lot to catch up on, so if you’ll excuse me...,” he said, and without waiting for their answer, he left to talk with other people standing a few meters from them.

“What a formidable person!” exclaimed the Indonesian woman while looking at the back of the man, who just left them for another group.

“As I’ve heard he is also formidable in private if you know what I mean...,” said the young man from South Korea with a suggestive smile on his face. Fuyuki had known him for years since they often had to contact each other due to work, so he knew he was usually up-to-date on every trending gossip. So if he said he had heard it then he most surely did.

“Ahem...,” coughed the old Nepali man embarrassed, after which the conversation turned to a more professional topic than the private life of someone they are supposed to look up to.

Fuyuki tried to take part in the conversation but found his thoughts wandering, unable to really pay attention to what they were actually talking about, and just casually said a few things here and there when he felt like it.

He really didn’t know why but the more he thought about it the more he became interested in this person. Which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing since he also aroused the interest of Winter Breeze. Meaning that their interests are aligned. But still...

Why does it bother me that he just turned around and left?

He must have cursed me.

That’s what I would’ve done if I was him.

Now let’s see which one of us can curse better.