A Love Letter from Lhasa 31

Chapter 30: Shanghai Branch and Reunion with Mengying

01
Seeing Huaimin’s car at the door, Aiyu asked Anne suspiciously: “Big brother, sister-in-law, why are you back now?”

Anne, holding the baby, smiled: “It must be good news! Your brother might be getting promoted.”

“Oh? Really?” Aiyu said and went to the door.

Huaimin instructed: “There are two boxes of stationery in the trunk. Help me carry one.”

“Brother, you really got promoted?” Aiyu still doubted.

Huaimin beamed: “Did your sister-in-law tell you?”

Aiyu nodded: “Just now, when your car came back.”

Huaimin happily said: “Your sister-in-law is prophetic! Yes, I’ve been promoted. The company is sending me to Shanghai.”

The two siblings carried the stationery boxes into the living room. Anne had already learned from their conversation that Huaimin was being sent to Shanghai.

Anne asked: “When do you have to go?”

“Beginning of next month,” Huaimin replied. “And you’re coming with me.”

Anne was surprised: “I’m still working on my PhD thesis. How can I follow you to Shanghai?”

Huaimin beamed: “Hall specifically designated you as my special assistant. I’m the general manager of the Shanghai branch.”

Aiyu stuck out her tongue in surprise and stammered: “R-really? Is it true?”

“Of course it’s true!” Huaimin said. “Anne, these days, meet your advisor and finalize the thesis title change.”

Anne smiled: “Alright! I’ll organize my notes today and meet the professor and Uncle tomorrow.”

Aiyu complained: “Yesterday you said we wouldn’t go so soon. Today you say early next month to Shanghai.”

Huaimin patted Aiyu’s head: “It’s the bosses’ decision. I’ll need you to look after the house, Aiyu.”

02
Huaimin, Anne, their baby, and Director Eisenhower flew to Shanghai Hongqiao Airport.

After leaving the arrivals hall, they took a chauffeured car.

Eisenhower reported: “General Manager, Old Hall sent me here two months ago to select the site and prepare. He always emphasizes SOP.”

Huaimin was surprised: “Oh? So the boss… two months ago?”

“Yes, over two months ago. The temporary board approved establishing the Shanghai branch. Only first-level managers knew at the time. As for the person he preferred, my manager Thomas informed me recently.”

Anne smiled: “Hall really keeps secrets well.”

Eisenhower continued: “Before this, I only knew you and Director Suliman took over the Greater China A3 project. You left little impression on me.”

Huaimin suddenly remembered: “Why wasn’t Director Suliman sent to Shanghai?”

“I only know that the higher-ups told her to hand over the Greater China A3 project. She was also reassigned and no longer served as the animator assessor for the HR Training Department.”

Huaimin asked: “Oh? So she was demoted? For what reason?”

“Consider it a demotion,” Eisenhower said. “Even my little boss Thomas doesn’t know the reason.”

Huaimin thought of the story outline and email he sent Old Hall, but he still couldn’t figure out exactly what happened.

He looked at Anne, who cradled the baby with a mysterious smile: “I think I know the reason. I’ll tell you later.”

“From today on, you’re my little boss,” Eisenhower said. “Hall instructed me to discuss all matters with both of you. If the three of us disagree, Special Assistant Anne makes the final call.”

Huaimin bitterly smiled: “So in the boss’s mind, my wife is the ultimate decision-maker.”

03
Before Huaimin’s appointment was officially announced, Suliman learned from the chatty Emily that Huaimin would become GM of the Shanghai branch. Suliman immediately emailed Mengying, who was in Paris.

Mengying decided to give up her upcoming PhD offer from Paris Art University and returned to Taiwan.

In the Tang family mansion at Sun Moon Lake, Mengying tried to persuade her parents to let her go to Shanghai to apply to Disney as an animator.

Tang Yunfei tried to reason: “Mengying, your father understands your heart. Why are you making things so difficult for yourself?”

Mengying complained: “Dad, I originally wanted to go to Tibet with Huaimin, but I had to consider your career…”

Tang Yunfei, upset: “Huaimin, is he the only person you care about? Even if I misjudged him, daughter, don’t sacrifice a whole forest for a single tree! You have plenty of talented young men to choose from…”

Mengying interrupted: “Dad! Besides Huaimin, no other boy has accompanied me my whole life. My feelings for him cannot be replaced.”

Tang Yayun comforted: “Mengying, your father and I never opposed you being with Huaimin. No one wronged you. Just because he went to Tibet, doesn’t mean he’d forget his old love and move on.”

Tang Yunfei said irritably: “You gave up graduate school for him. Meanwhile, he married another woman, had a child, and climbed the corporate ladder to Shanghai. And you still want to follow him? Are you out of your mind?”

Mengying, eyes red, said firmly: “I refuse to accept this. I never wronged Huaimin. He shouldn’t treat me this way. I won’t accept it!”

Tang parents exchanged glances.

Tang Yayun sighed: “I don’t know what our Tang family owed the Tang family’s next generation to repay this way. Mengying, I’ll let you go to Shanghai, but you must promise to take care of yourself.”

Tang Yunfei asked: “Wife, are you really letting her go to Shanghai?”

Tang Yayun said: “Old man, you don’t understand her heart. Even if she can’t win back Huaimin, she insists on going. Can we really bind her to us?”

04
In Anne’s assistant office, there was a crib next to her desk. She watched the baby at all times.

The branch’s structure mirrored the head office but was much smaller. Department heads, all appointed by Hall, arrived three days later. This was a small, vibrant new company.

Emily was the animation department head and clicked well with Huaimin. She organized the animator candidates’ portfolios from the initial selection and presented them to Huaimin for screening and interviews.

Among the portfolios, Huaimin unexpectedly saw a familiar face: Tang Mengying, causing him great distress. He showed the file to Anne, frowning.

Anne teased with a smile: “Mengying still doesn’t want to give up on you. You must be charming!”

“Don’t tease me, Anne,” Huaimin said, scratching his head. “What should I do?”

Anne analyzed: “If you don’t want to get involved, you can eliminate her in the interview. But I hope you face her, be upright, and make her back off.”

Huaimin muttered: “I need to calm down and think clearly… think clearly.”

05
At the interview, Huaimin was uneasy, sipping water and dabbing his forehead.

Emily noticed and whispered: “GM, are you okay? Any discomfort?”

Huaimin straightened: “Didn’t sleep well last night. It’s nothing.”

When Tang Mengying’s turn came, she had her hair up, light makeup, and wore a pale yellow long skirt suit—elegant and dignified. Huaimin recognized it from a shopping trip the year before for her birthday.

Mengying sat for the interview, answering in English.

Eisenhower, reviewing her file, asked: “Miss Tang, your credentials show you were admitted to Paris Art University for a PhD. Why give up that chance to apply for this animator role?”

Mengying, looking sorrowful: “This question struck me like lightning, hitting an old wound.”

Her answer piqued Eisenhower and Emily’s curiosity. Huaimin frowned, expression icy.

Mengying recounted her heartbreak with her ex: “My fiancé grew up with me. To accompany him, I gave up music for art. He was a romantic-minded artist. We planned to study in Paris together… but he went to Tibet, then moved on with someone else.”

She paused, staring at Huaimin with sorrowful eyes.

Eisenhower and Emily, hearing “Tibet,” immediately connected the dots—Tang’s story seemed to reference GM Tang. Both glanced at Huaimin, who remained expressionless, frozen.

Mengying continued: “My ex married quickly and returned to California. I was in Paris, kept in the dark. Later, he joined your company and was quickly promoted…”

She dabbed her tears with a handkerchief, moving both Eisenhower and Emily.

Emily said: “Miss Tang, maybe you need a moment to compose yourself. We’ll continue shortly.”

Two assistants escorted Mengying to the lounge.

Eisenhower and Emily were certain: this was Huaimin’s ex-girlfriend. They whispered in a corner:

“Emmy, what should we do with her?”

Emily smiled: “It depends on the GM’s decision. We’re not going to oppose him deliberately, right?”

Eisenhower fretted: “But he’s been like a statue this whole time. I can’t read his mind!”

Emily said: “The evaluation form says: GM decides.”

Eisenhower shrugged: “Fine, I don’t want to step on a landmine.”

Huaimin sat like a statue until the two interviewers returned. Then he asked: “Do you think Miss Tang is capable for this position?”

They exchanged glances. Emily cautiously said: “Please decide, GM.”

Huaimin stamped “PASS” on her evaluation form, muttering awkwardly: “She passes; we can skip the second half.”

They nodded, understanding he wanted to keep the peace.

Huaimin stood, saying: “Ten-minute break.” He went to the balcony, lit a cigarette, ran his hand through his hair, exhaling smoke.

Emily, passing by to the restroom, noticed him smoking and thought: “GM smokes? I’ve never seen that before…”