Author's Note: We're back to Ju, Jing, and Yao again. I decided to give Ju a breather. I can't have her being scared all of the time. So, I decided to show her still living her life while raising her son. I am trying to keep this story going but it's so hard and stay focused when your Durarara fic is getting hot in its storyline. I will still keep going. There is going to be a Christmas special coming up this. I will just be between my Durarara and -Man fics. Right now, I have a vague idea of what I plan to do next week. For now, enjoy this week's match.


Match Twenty-Two: Daily Life, Cats, and Dinner:

-Ju-

I still have a life to live. I am not going to let some creepy ass stalkers keep me from running my clan and rising my son. I finished changing Jing's diaper.

"There," I said. Jing's chubby little legs kicked about. I smiled booped him on the nose. Jing is doing good, thank you. We took him to his check-up last week. Everything is good.

I picked up my son and put him in his crib. Jing sleeps easily. The cameras in his room puts me at ease. They have let me be able to work peacefully when I am home.

Speaking of which…

I pulled out my laptop and booted it up. Today would be a video call. I adjusted my headset. Yao went out grocery shopping for dinner tonight. I wanted some meat and tofu.

"Hey, Yao," I said this morning.

"Uh-huh?" he asked.

"I want some meat and tofu tonight," I said. He set down the TV guide and looked up at me.

"What kind of meat?" Yao asked. I took moment to think.

"I want beef," I said. I paused. "Is that okay with you?" My husband shrugged.

"That's up to you," he said.

So, he's out getting me beef for dinner.

I logged into the Skype-like program and connected with my client. I was to be meeting with a man from Taiwan. This was an old ally of my father's. I don't think I have seen him in years. He did send a condolence when my father died.

I saw the screen in the chat box pop up. A man in his forties appeared. His face was close up to the camera. I tried not to look up his nose.

"Can you hear me?" I asked. I strained for a listen.

"Hello? Hello?" I asked.

"Liao?" he asked. I tried to stay professional as I cleared my throat.

"It's Wang now," I said.

"Oh, right, right," my client said. "You gave married a couple of years ago."

"That's right," I said. "Could you back up some? I can see up your nose."

"Oh. Sorry about that. I'm not used to technology. Hang on." He pulled back and I got a better look at his face.

"Is that better?" he asked.

"Yes," I said. "And you can hear me just fine?"

"Yes, madam," the client said.

"Good," I said. "Are you ready to begin?"

"Yes."

The meeting goes swimmingly. He wants to add in some new items into our trade. Two of them are really good. One was tempting but I didn't think that it was going to be as profitable in the long run. I had to convince the client likewise.

"Trust me on this," I said. "I took the liberty of looking into the company's history. It looks like an MLM to me."

"MLM?" he asked. "What does that mean?"

"Multilevel marketing," I said. "It's a scam basically."

"Ah," the client said.

"Would you like me to go over the rest?" I asked.

"Would it be too much of a hassle for you?" he asked. I giggled and shook my head.

"No, not at all," I said. I was just working to have some normalcy in my life. Sometimes, I would glance over at my son. He was sound asleep in the basinet near the window. I couldn't help but smile.

But then I paused.

"Is something wrong?" my client asked.

"Can you hang on for a minute?" I asked. I stood up and walked over to the window. I was sure that the client was trying to talk to me. How long has that black cat been sitting there, watching me? I waved my hand in front of the cat. That furry little bastard didn't move.

"Go away! Get out of here!" I shouted. This wasn't the first time either. For the past three days, there have been cats watching the house. I have no idea what they want. At first, I thought I was going crazy. It wasn't until Yao asked about it yesterday morning. To be honest, I felt vindicated.

"What do they want from us?" I asked. Yao couldn't answer that.

"Shoo! Shoo!" I yelled back in modern day. The cat just sat there. Do cats even blink? I picked up a pillow and threw it at the window. The cat finally turned and left. I breathed out and dropped my shoulders. I heard cooing from the basinet. I shook my head. Damn it, I woke him up, didn't I? I sighed and walked over to the basinet.

"Shhh," I whispered over Jing as I picked him up. He's not crying at least. I might as well humor the child for now. I bounced my son up and down as I walked back to my laptop.

"I apologize for that," I said, putting my headset back on. "I had to deal with a strange cat staring at me in the window." My client spotted my son.

"Is that your son?" he asked. I looked down at the baby in my arms.

"Why yes," I said. I playfully waved Jing's little hand back and forth.

"Say hi," I whispered. "Say hi." The client giggled. I lowered my son's hand.

"I won't have him up here the whole time," I said. "I am just going to hold him here a little bit long."

"It's fine," he said. "You are a parent after all." Turns out, the call didn't last too long. When the client hung up, I felt better. Anything to feel normal. I won't live in fear all day.


"I'm home," Yao said hours later.

"I'm here," I said. I waited in the kitchen for my husband. He poked his head in the doorway.

"How was your meeting?" Yao asked.

"Good," I said. "We are getting somewhere. I managed to save him from a scam."

"I see," he said. My husband walked into the kitchen with bags of groceries. I looked up at him with my apron on. Yao noticed my knives in my hands.

"What's all this?" he asked.

"Oh, I was wondering if we can cook dinner together tonight," I said. Yao raised an eyebrow at me.

"What for?" he asked. I shrugged and shook my head.

"Just felt like it," I said. Yao set down the food and washed his hands. I couldn't help but smile as he whipped on his apron. You know something, guys who cook are pretty hot! I walked over and took out the food from the bags. Jing sat in his highchair as he watched me watch them in the sink. This dinner is going to be great.