Chapter 383 A Light Bulb Moment


    Charles rang the buzzer then heard Le''s voice calling out, "Coming!"


    He did not tell Le beforehand that he would being to visit. So when Le opened the door and


    saw Charles in her doorstep, she was surprised.


    "I thought you were the electrician who ising to change a broken light bulb. What brings you


    here?"


    While confused as to why he came, Le could hardly contain her excitement. His arrival was certainly


    a pleasant surprise because she never expected Charles to visit her at home.


    "Change your broken light bulb?" a slightly confused Charles inquired.


    Frowning, he added, "You have a broken light bulb?"


    Le sighed, "Yes, the bathroom light gave out a few days ago. I have been calling the building


    manager to send someone over to fix it but so far, no one hase." Le pouted in frustration.


    Charles quickly volunteered.


    "I can change it for you, " he offered.


    "Oh, no. I can''t ask you to do that, " she replied.


    "I will wait for the repairman that the building manager will send over. It is too much hassle for you."


    Charles assured her, "Look, it''s no big deal."


    He scanned Le''s home from the doorway and confirmed that she lived alone. Charles was aware


    how inconvenient a dark bathroom could be for ady. And it was this concern that prompted him to


    volunteer fixing the problem.


    Before she could refuse again, he took off his suit jacket, draped it on the sofa, and asked for directions


    to the bathroom. "Can you show me where it is?"


    Le saw how determined Charles was to help so she gave up refusing his offer. The truth was she


    was thrilled that he volunteered to help out with a domestic problem. It would allow her a chance to ask


    him to stay longer. Le led him to the bathroom then handed him a stool to stand on.


    "Please be care, Mr. Lu, " she said.


    Charles gave her a confident smile. "Don''t worry, " he assured Le. Changing a light bulb was a piece


    of cake. As he climbed the stool, he requested, "Please hold the stool steady."


    Le nodded and did as he asked.


    Pleased with the situation, she imagined they were a real couple, doing normal things that couples did.


    She would take care of domestic chores while Charles would handle repairs. Le thought, ''If only I can


    freeze this moment!''


    It took Charles less than three minutes toplete the task. After recing the broken light bulb, he


    dered, "Done! Please try switching it on."


    Light flooded the bathroom the moment Le flipped the switch. She cried out in glee, "It''s working now.


    Thank you very much!"


    Le could not contain her ecstatic feeling over something so simple.


    As Charles stepped down from the stool, he told Le, "Next time you need help for minor repairs, don''t


    hesitate to call me."


    She blushed at the offer and said, "But it''s not proper."


    She lowered her head, hoping to conceal her blushing. "If Autumn finds out about this, she will not like


    it. She may even misunderstand our rtionship." Le thought she was ying coy, but Charles was


    oblivious and thought there was nothing wrong helping a female employee with small repairs.


    But he quickly realized what Le was saying and changed his tune. "Well then, David cane and


    help you next time. I know how inconvenient it can be for a woman to live alone."


    Le''s face fell. "I''ll be fine, " she quickly said. The two became silent, then let the awkwardness pass.


    Just then, Le heard a knock on her door. And Charles went back to the bathroom. The faces of her


    co-workers greeted her when she opened the door and she waspletely surprised.


    "What are you guys doing here?" she cried out. She felt even more disappointed.


    Hiding her annoyance over the unannounced visit, she muttered, "I rarely get to have time alone with


    Charles. Now, everyone is here to disturb us."


    One of her co-workers spoke up, "Hey, what''s wrong? Are we not wee here?"


    She looked at the eager and concerned faces, still unable to speak.


    Le heard one of them say, "When we heard you were injured, we came as soon as we can. We just


    wanted to know how you are doing now."


    Another co-worker inquired, "What happened to your face?"


    Carol managed to scratch Le''s face leaving her with two extensive injuries. The doctor said she


    would have permanent scars even after they healed. However, Le felt her injuries were a small price


    to pay for a huge contract she bagged. If necessary, she was willing to do anything to help Charles with


    the business.


    Le schooled herself to be polite. "I''m fine, " she told her visitors. "Pleasee in and have a seat."


    The invitation was issued with a forced smile. When everyone was seated, she inquired, "Have you all


    eaten?" Hospitality won over annoyance. "I can cook for you, if you have not had dinner." Still, it was a


    struggle to be polite. She was thinking, ''If they didn''t arrive to disturb my moment with Charles,


    something really exciting might have happened.''


    But David was quick to show concern and prevented Le from walking to the kitchen.


    "No, no! We came because we''re concerned about you. How can we ask someone injured to cook


    dinner for us? Besides, we won''t be staying long. We just want to know how you are then we''ll leave, "


    David said.


    David was surprised to spot Charles'' suit jacket draped on the sofa. He was not expecting his boss to


    visit Le at home.


    "Ah, Le…" he began as their friend went to get water for her guests.


    "Is Mr. Lu here? Where is he?"


    Just then Charles dered, "I''m here!"


    He emerged from the hallway. Charles had just finishing washing his hands inside the bathroom. He


    had heard the group arrive but was in no hurry to make his presence known.


    Le stered a broad grin on her face then dered, "Mr. Lu, I really appreciate what you''ve done."


    However, she refrained from telling the others that Charles had only changed a broken light bulb in her


    bathroom. Le was hoping her co-workers would think she was having an affair with Charles. The


    vagueness of her words would fuel more spection at work. Then she threw in, "If you hadn''te


    here, I would have felt depressed and helpless."


    "It''s no big deal, really, " Charles replied. "Don''t mention it."


    As he talked, Charles picked up his suit jacket and put it on. To Le''s guests, he said, "Since you''re all


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    here anyway, why not stay longer to keep Lepany? I need to handle some business and will go


    ahead."


    Le needed to think quickly. "Wait Mr. Lu…"


    When he stopped and turned to her, she made a gracious suggestion.


    "Since you and my co-workers are already here, why don''t you all stay and I cook for all of you. I''m a


    good cook, you know, " She was disappointed that Charles only stayed for a while.


    But Charles shook his head to refuse the offer. "I''m sorry, but I have something that I need to take care


    of."


    Then showing concern for Le''s health, he added, "Besides, you''re injured and not feeling well. Why


    not just rest and forget cooking?"


    "Are you sure you don''t want to stay for dinner?" Le pushed.


    In her mind she was thinking, ''If Charles has dinner with me, he would likely be surprised to discover I


    am a very good cook.'' But her attempts to get him to stay were again refused. Charles exined, "I


    learned your co-workers wereing to visit you today. That''s why I came, too. And since I''ve seen


    how you are, I will now leave. Autumn is waiting for me at home."


    Le angrily thought, ''Autumn… it''s always Autumn! That disgusting woman!''


    David quickly stood up and said, "Mr. Lu, can I leave with you?"


    He added, "Would you mind giving me a ride? I will get off somewhere along the way."


    "Okay. Let''s go then."


    Charles agreed but his expression was unreadable.


    Charles and David''s departure depressed Le, and she was no longer in the mood to cook. She and


    her co-workers then decided to have dinner out.


    David struggled with difort as he got into Charles'' car. He was taken aback when Charles


    dered, "Go ahead. Say whatever it is on your mind. I noticed you''ve been struggling the whole day.


    Rather than to let it worry the hell out of you, it would be better to just to say it."


    David cleared his throat. "You know I have something to say?"


    It was scary to learn Charles could read him clearly even when he tried to hide his true thoughts. ''How


    can my boss know about my intentions?'' he mused.


    "Of course, I do, " Charlesughed.


    "While still in the office, you were about to say something. A while ago, you lied to me and asked me for


    a ride. So, I''m thinking you have something to tell me, right? And please say it before I get home."


    David took a deep breath. "Mr. Lu, I mean no offense. But…


    Is there anything going on between you and Le?"


    There, he''d said it. He was quite nervous, but was more curious than afraid.


    Charles froze at the question. Getting over the shock, he thought the question was funny. He answered


    with a smile, "I am her boss, she is my secretary. What other rtions would there be between us?"