After Lena came back to the private room, Tyler followed in a few minutes later. Everyone finished their meal and then they all head back to the Shen Company. Shen Mao and Lena both sent the new investors away.
Lena head back to his father"s office with him. He sat at his desk and Lena sat down too.
"I am very proud of you, Lena." Shen Mao spoke.
"Thank you, father. I will keep trying my best to be a good daughter."
"You will always be my good daughter no matter what." Shen Mao smiled. "So... you know Tyler Huang?"
"I only met him once, at the party where he got into an accident."
"Party? I have thought that you have forgotten how to have fun. You are either working or out helping others."
"Really? I was thinking that I don"t work to often." Lena replied.
Shen Mao laughed. "You"re still young. People your age should just be starting their career, dating, and traveling the world a bit before they settle down and work for the rest of their lives. Look at your mom and me, I didn"t take over the company until you were older."
"Dad... Why did Uncle Mo not want to be CEO?"
"Being a CEO is not an easy job. Being a leader is not an easy thing. You have to take care of everyone and everything, making sure that every decision made is correct. And if you make a wrong move, you are risking the lives of many employees and income of investments."
Shen Mao stood up and looked out the window. "Everyone works hard so they can go home to their family. Some people can take the pressure, the workload, and enjoy the power that comes with the position. Others, they can"t. My brother, your uncle... although he has the brains, he does not have the mental capacity to take in all the hards.h.i.+p that came with the job. Being a CEO can be a very stressful job."
Shen Mao turned around and walked to Lena. "After a stressful day, I can home to my wife and daughter. But for Shen Mo, he"s alone. We are the only family for him, so next time you see him, make sure to give him a lot of love too. Our family carries each other burdens so that we can all be happy together. No one should have to carry the pain alone."
He kissed Lena on the head and patted her back. "You should go now. You have a few things to work on for the LUX project. Just don"t work too much."
Lena stood up and hugged her dad before she left. Uncle Mo had a fiance, but she died. After that, he never looked for another and stayed single. He spent a good time being the temporary CEO for the Shen Company while Shen Mao spent a good few years with Lena. Afterward, Shen Mao become the official CEO and Uncle moved back to City Z. He took care of the farm and the production side of the business.
There was the youngest of the brothers too, Shen Ma. Shen Ma and his family also live in City Z. For him, he and his family were more into the real estate business so he travels a lot.
If Lena remembered correctly, the oldest son of Uncle Ma should be attending university in City A the following year. She did not get a chance to visit her uncles last time. She should get a chance to go a see them too. Most likely she would see everyone at the annual Shen Company party though.
Lena got out and James was already outside to pick her up. She went back to SHYNE for the rest of the afternoon. Lena was not the head designer at SHYNE. She did not study designing. Lena had a talent and learned a lot through her grandmother and mom, but that was just a skill everyone woman in the Shen Family should possess.
A skill and tradition that should be pa.s.sed on, like playing the Erhu and embroidery. Of course, Lena has been designing more since she worked at SHYNE because of her natural talent and Shen Qian"s skill in designing. The program she created also made it very easy for her to design.
The program was already used throughout the company for other designers, that"s why their progress for the LUX partners.h.i.+p project launch and SHYNE"s next season launch was more efficient.
Lena would design about 1-2 designs. She would also be taking in more VIP and special projects from clients. But most of her time was spent maintaining the productivity and efficiency of the company. She checked and comfirm all the work and projects. She attended meetings from all department and make business meetings with clients.
About twice a month, she would go check out their warehouses and workshops. Lena was also in charge of the production business with Project Crystal.
Lena had several meetings with the design team. She gave them her card for tonight, telling the Head Designer that she should take her team out for lunch. They have all been working hard, even in her absence.
They all thanked Lena. It was late and it was time for Lena to go home. As James drove, Lena thought back to Kris and his work. If her own workload was decent, and her dad"s work was hard already... she wondered how more difficult it is for Kris. He was also not a person who overworks too often too, just like her.
"I would need to cook him more nutritious meals.." Lena pondered and smiled. After she disconnected the call with him before, she texted them afterward and he just said "Ok."
Lena will call him later. She thanked James for the ride and went inside the Shen mansion. She went and got changed before heading to the kitchen to help Aunt Mary cook dinner. Apparently, Henry will be joining them tonight too.
Shen Mao picked up Shen Milli at work and they came home together. Henry arrived before them. Lena hugged everyone and they went to the dining room to eat.
During dinner, Shen Mao said that he will be announcing Henry as Vice President at the annual party. Lena congratulated him.
Henry also told them about his relations.h.i.+p with Elizabeth, his girlfriend, that he had been with for several months now. Lena"s parents were very supportive of him. She smiled... she wondered if they would like Kris too? Kris.. was... hmm... not very family-likable.
Lena and Shen Milli cleaned up while Shen Mao and Henry went up to talk more about work. After that, Lena heads up to go take a shower. She took a quick shower. It was already dark outside when she was done. As she dried her hair, she noticed that they were getting longer and she was deciding if she wanted to cut it or leave it longer.
Her phone dings and she looked at it. It was a text from Kris. She smiled and texted back.
Lena: So.. how was your research?
Kris: Would you be mad if I met str*ppers at a party?
Lena: Not as long as I am the one stripping
Kris: No str*ppers... got it
Of crouse, Kris would not want to have Lena be stripping at the bachelor"s party. He would kill every single person there!
Kris: How about pole dancers?
Lena: I can dance on poles too *wink*
Kris: I don"t think my research is going well -.-
Lena: Y?
Kris: Cuz... all the internet said these stuff
Kris: But you said no
Lena called him and he quickly picked up. She lied on her bed and talked to him.
"Kris... a bachelor"s party is to celebrate the man getting married, not engage."
"I know. I am a busy person, I need to plan ahead."
"And you know he"s getting married right? He"s not getting a divorce... why all the women? Just have a bunch of you guys and drink. Go skinny dipping or something." Lena turned her body. "I seriously think if you do any of the others, the party would turn into a ma.s.sacre rather than a party."
Lena was referring to Kris. .h.i.tting.. as in physically hitting all the women. They are paid to "entertain" people but they don"t know the bunch of weirdos they would be entertaining...
"I miss you." Kris spoke, changing the topic.
"I miss you too..." Lena grabbed her blanket and covered herself. "Have you made up with your mom yet?"
"No. We are not arguing, I am just... being stubborn."
"Well then, you should go home and make sure to buy her some flowers. It always works if you really mean it."
"I bought flowers... but I can"t go home... uh.. cuz I"m here?"
"Here?"
Lena heard a soft knock on her window. She removed the blanket from her and hopped off her bed. "OH MY GOSH, he better had not done what I think he did..."
Lena opened her curtains, and there he was, on the balcony... with some flowers.
Lena quickly opened her door and drag the man inside. "Kris! How did you-- I was just joking!" She silently scolded him.
"I got you flowers. It always works, right?" Kris smiled.
"You---" Lean shooked her head at how ridiculous and cute Kris was right now.
Kris placed the flowers on the bed and pulled Lena in for a light kiss. He had been on the balcony for a while now. His cold lips brushed lightly against her warm lips. He could smell her sweet refres.h.i.+ng fragrance.
"I missed you." He whispered and hugged her tightly.