Chapter 2

Shuji, who was reading the newspaper in the living room, caught up with his father and approached him.

“Papa, you’re not going to work today?” Shuji asked, sitting down next to their sofa.

“No, son. I’m waiting for my godchild to arrive from China. Her apartment burned down, and she’s also looking for a job,” Raiden replied, dropping the newspaper he was reading.

“Isn’t she living with her parents?” Shuji asked, turning to look at his father.

“Her mother and sister passed away after her father remarried. She didn’t want to live with her stepfamily, so he reached out to me for help,” Raiden explained to his son.

“Is she a girl or a boy?” Shuji asked, ordering the maid to bring him coffee.

“She’s a girl. You probably didn’t know her because she’s been moving around since her sister and mother died,” Raiden said thoughtfully.

“What do you think, Papa?” Shuji asked his father.

“If your agency is looking for a model, ask your manager if she can work as a freelance model and an employee at a mall in China. If her apartment caught fire and she was fired, don’t contact me. She can be proud of herself,” Raiden advised his son.

“When will she come here?” Shuji asked his father, after staring at him.

“She might come home at night. Why?” Raiden asked his son.

“It just so happens that my godchild is looking for a good job, or is she looking good?” Shuji thought to himself, smiling at the maid who approached him with a coffee.

“Is it urgent, Papa? If yes, I’ll ask my manager first and examine her. Of course, I’ve been a model in the agency for a long time, so I don’t want to embarrass myself,” Shuji said to his father, taking a sip of the coffee the maid had brought.

“Yes!” Raiden exclaimed, as his son looked at him.

“Are you saying something, Papa?” Shuji inquired, surprised by what he heard.

“Nothing,” Raiden replied to his son, perplexed by their father’s reaction.

“I’m about to head to work. I’ll text Miku to greet her in Japan later. I’ll check on your godchild or take a day off tomorrow,” Shuji said to his father, finishing his coffee before bidding farewell.

Meanwhile, when Shuji departed from their house, Lixue arrived at the residence of his godfather, Raiden.

“Nong!” Lixue greeted her godfather Raiden upon entering the house as a maid.

“Nin zhongyu laile, keyi xian zuo zai zheli.” Raiden warmly greeted her godchild.

(You’re finally here. Please sit here first.)

“Zhe shi wo de jianli zuo wan nin gaosu wo wo yao zhaogu nin de erzi, suoyi wo chidaole nin de fangzi,” Lixue said, presenting her resume.

(This is my resume, as you mentioned last night that I would be responsible for looking after your son. Therefore, I’m slightly late in arriving at your house.)

Leatrice Snow

Address: ___ __ ___ __ Executive Heights Subdivision, Edison Ave., Parañaque

Telephone Number: ___________

Email Address: [e-mail]

Date of Birth: August 20, 1987

Gender: Female

Country of Citizenship: Philippines

Citizenship: Chinese and Filipino

Objective:

I’m seeking a new career in the Philippines, working diligently and striving to achieve my desired goals in life.

Education:

Primary School:

Shanghai United International School

Year Graduate:

May 2003

Secondary School:

Shanghai United International School

Year Graduate:

June 2004

College School:

University of Manila

Year Graduate:

May 2008

Position Company:

Head Manager, Village Forest Cafe

Bartender

Freelance Model in Beijing, International Modeling

“What if they discover them at the company you mentioned?” Raiden inquired of her godchild.

“My job was legitimate before I became your agent,” Lixue explained to her godfather, Raiden.

Raiden’s gaze shifted to his godchild, having changed over the past year.

“Show it to him later if he returns home early,” Raiden advised her godchild.

Raiden accompanied his godchild to her new room.

“Come on, this is my son’s room,” Raiden said to her godchild.

“I found out you had adopted a child because you hadn’t mentioned it to me,” Lixue inquired of her godfather, Raiden, as he looked up.

“I adopted the child when I returned to Japan. Your ninang asked me to adopt her child because she’s in her thirties and unable to conceive due to our first child. She’ll have difficulty conceiving again,” Raiden said, sighing as he turned his gaze.

Lixue nodded to her godfather, Raiden, and entered the room, which he was carrying three suitcases in.

“I’m leaving, hija. You take care of it first,” Raiden said to his godchild, tapping her on the shoulder.

Raiden instructed the other maid and bodyguards.

Inside the studio, stylists were arranging models for the photoshoot.

“Guys, did you find them?” the manager asked the models as they approached after the photoshoot.

“My cousin, manager. I spoke to him next week,” Erika replied.

“I’ll only talk to those I know, manager,” the female model said.

“Papa had a visitor who came to another country. I’ll talk to her first. She can speak and understand Tagalog,” Shuji replied to the manager, as he noticed that everyone looked like top male models because he was at their job.

“On Monday, the person you’re going to talk to should come. I want to meet them,” the manager replied to the models before leaving.

After their photoshoot a few hours later, Shuji waits for his girlfriend in the dressing room and hands her the photos for the taping.

“Wait! Brad, you’re with us,” Akatsuki called out, joining his friend in the back and following.

“I can’t, I’ll take Erika to her taping and review the bar exam,” Shuji replied to his friend.

“Of course, you’ve been dreaming about it for a long time, but you failed at the beginning,” Akatsuki said, amused.

Shuji and Erika bid farewell to their fellow models and their friend and manager.

“Are you coming home right away?” Erika asked her boyfriend as he delivered her to the location.

“Yes, darling, your manager will pick you up,” Shuji replied, kissing her on the lips.

Shuji returned home and entered, hearing laughter coming from the kitchen.

“Manang?” he called their maids as he entered their mansion.

“Sir Shuji, you’re already here,” the maid said, approaching.

“Who are you?” Shuji asked Lixue, who was turning away.

“Sir, she’s Sir Raiden’s visitor. He left for an emergency,” the maid replied, pointing at Lixue.

Lixue turned around and saw the writhing man.

“Are you, Shuji? My godfather’s eldest son,” Lixue exclaimed, still staring at Shuji.

“It’s me, are you?” Shuji asked, standing in front of her.

“Leatrice Snow, your father, and my father are friends,” Lixue replied, smiling just right.

“I think I interrupted your happy conversation,” Shuji said, averting his eyes afterward.

“Of course not,” Lixue replied, staring at Shuji.

“Can I talk to you? I’d like to meet you,” Shuji asked, before walking to the stairs and going to his room.

“Sure,” Lixue replied.

A few minutes later, they went to the veranda and sat on the iron chair.

“I want to meet you,” Shuji began, standing face to face with Lixue.

“All right,” Lixue said, leaning back in the chair.

“How did you become my father’s godchild and only now have I seen you? I know all my father’s godchildren,” Shuji said immediately, looking into Lixue’s small eyes.

“Ninong Raiden, my father’s best friend in Hong Kong, was the one who introduced me to my godfather. Since we don’t attend the godfather’s parties, aunt’s birthday parties, or the godfather’s children’s events, Lixue wasn’t exactly being truthful when she said that.”

“Dad told me that the apartment you lived in was burned down,” Shuji replied after that.

Lixue nodded and just smiled at Shuji.

“That’s why I asked my godfather for help. I don’t have any money now. I only brought my belongings, which I suppose is what I have here,” Lixue said.

“I’ll ask for your resume. I’ll give it to my manager and let you know if you’ll be accepted,” Shuji replied. He extended his hand, but Lixue just looked at him.

Lixue said goodbye and promised to bring the resume to the temporary room she was using. She returned immediately and handed Shuji her resume after they had dinner. Shuji didn’t fall asleep right away because he was still talking to his girlfriend on his cellphone.