Chapter 214: Winter Wonderland
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As she stepped into the hall, the first impression was "magical".
All she could see was white smoke covering her feet to her ankle. The committee had rented a machine to create this smoke illusion. As she entered, the first scent that she smelled was of peppermint candy and hot chocolate.
Shao Yan turned her head to the right, and saw that Feifei had set up what she called a "Sweet Station". The stall provided hot chocolate with candy cane stick to stir.
She noticed some of the guests were holding golden mugs in their hands; sometimes they would stir the candy stick idly as they chatted with one another.
In one of the corners of the room, a man in his forties was playing a saxophone while serenading the guests with "White Christmas" tune along with another woman who was playing the piano with him.
"Do you want one?"
Li Xiqing saw that Shao Yan was looking at the hot chocolate table, and he wondered if Yan Yan actually wanted to taste it.
She glanced up at him. With a small smile, she shook her head, "They are too sweet for me, you can have it if you want."
Li Xiqing also shook his head, before he signaled a woman who was walking around with a tray with tall glasses of champagne.
He took two glasses before he said, "Thank you," and then handed one glass to Shao Yan.
"Cheers for the last day of the year."
Shao Yan touched her glass lightly against his. A soft 'clink' sound tinkled.
"Cheers!"
.....
She gently touched her lips to the rim of the glass before starting to sip a little as she glanced around the room.
All four walls of the halls were covered in sheer white cloths. Behind the sheer materials, were small lights that were hung from the top of the ceiling down to almost touching the floor; creating an illusion of waterfall of lights all over the room.
Plastic trees with white petals and white flowers were placed all over the room. The central lighting in the room was dimmed. Shao Yan and her team had decided to put up soft blue lights all over the room to create a sense of winter wonderland.
"Shall we walk around?"
Before Li Xiqing answered her, Shao Yan continued, "Feifei had prepared three tables to welcome the guests. You saw the first one," she pointed to the end of the hall, "the second one is what she called Rainbow Bridge."
Li Xiqing turned his head towards the direction that Yan Yan had pointed at. He saw a table filled with colorful cupcakes, cookies and biscuits that were placed on the top of the table for the guests to enjoy while waiting for the main hall to open.
Shao Yan linked her hand around Li Xiqing's arm, and started to walk.
"The third one is placed near the entrance to the main hall. It is what she called Hello New Year. It is basically a cocktail table that serves white and red sangria drinks."
"Hm," Li Xiqing hummed along her words, "so what are the plans for tonight?"
He glanced at his wrist, "There are about five more hours to burn."
Shao Yan giggled, "There are a lot of things that have been lined up, don't worry."
Li Xiqing finished the drink before he handed the empty crystal glass to one of the servers who was walking around.
"I am not worried about myself," he said as he patted her hand, "I am worried that you will be tired. You have spent the whole day working."
She nodded a little as she laughed, "Don't worry. I have you here with me. I will be fine," she said as she tilted her head and flashed a sweet, comforting smile at Li Xiqing.
.....
Around 7.30 PM, the main hall was opened. From inside, around ten people in white uniforms started to walk out and formed two rows of lines in front of the door to welcome the guests into the dining hall.
One by one, the guests were ushered in and they started to look for their assigned seat.
Unlike the anniversary party a few months ago, this time, the event was only for internal people and their family members.
Employees from all Gold Crane subsidiaries were invited, totaling around thirty to forty tables. Each table could sit eight to ten people. So, overall, the crowd size for tonight was still decent and easy to manage.
Every now and then, Shao Yan would say hello and chat with some people that she recognized. Li Xiqing would also talk to the people that he knows from his few months working in their building.
Shao Yan and Li Xiqing were lining up behind some people as they strode into the main hall.
"Feifei is only in charge for all the dessert for tonight. We actually cooperated with Hotel W to invite their chefs for the main courses. You will love their food selections."
Li Xiqing walked slowly along with her, "En, I know them. That place is one of Mandy's favorite places to eat whenever she is visiting Shanghai. She especially loves their honey glazed barbecue pork chop."
Shao Yan slowly grinned at him, "And of course, I selected that as one of the menus for tonight!"
.....
As they entered the main hall, Li Xiqing noticed that the decor here was similar to the one in the reception hall. Same 'winter wonderland' feeling was spread around the room. Selections of happy, jazz instrumental songs were played in the background as the guests were walking around to find their table.
When they finally found their allocated seat, they would also find a welcoming gift placed on top of their plate. White and gold paper bags were placed on top of the table for each guest.
Shao Yan slowly unwrapped the small paper bag in front of her to see what the gifts were. This was one of the items that she had let Risa be in charge of as she wanted to be surprised by the gifts.
The first item she saw was a couple of champagne glasses. They were two clear crystal glasses with a gold crane symbol embossed on the bottom of the glasses.
The next item she found was a small tube in gold color. She picked it up and saw that it was a small bottle of bubble wand. The guests could open the tube and start to blow bubbles after the New Year countdown.
The third item inside the paper bag was gold rimmed glasses with 'Happy New Year' words on top of it. The guests would be able to put them on before the countdown if they wanted to.
Shao Yan also found a small box with dark chocolate and milk chocolate inside it.
And the final gift inside the paper bag was a shopping voucher for the mall next to their office. Each bag had a $100 voucher card inside for them to spend after the New Year.
Shao Yan nodded with approval before she leaned in to the side and whispered, "Xiqing, Risa really knows how to have fun. She even included a bubble wand inside the bag!"
She peeked at his bag, and asked, "Did you also get that and the glasses?"
Li Xiqing looked at her, before he opened his bag and peeked inside.
"I have the bubble wand, but no glasses," he paused, before his fingers started to look around inside "I do have some glow in the dark bracelets to put on."
Shao Yan was surprised at his words, she leaned over and started to rummage around the bag before she chuckled, "Ha ha! She really knows how to have fun!"
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As she stepped into the hall, the first impression was "magical".
All she could see was white smoke covering her feet to her ankle. The committee had rented a machine to create this smoke illusion. As she entered, the first scent that she smelled was of peppermint candy and hot chocolate.
Shao Yan turned her head to the right, and saw that Feifei had set up what she called a "Sweet Station". The stall provided hot chocolate with candy cane stick to stir.
She noticed some of the guests were holding golden mugs in their hands; sometimes they would stir the candy stick idly as they chatted with one another.
In one of the corners of the room, a man in his forties was playing a saxophone while serenading the guests with "White Christmas" tune along with another woman who was playing the piano with him.
"Do you want one?"
Li Xiqing saw that Shao Yan was looking at the hot chocolate table, and he wondered if Yan Yan actually wanted to taste it.
She glanced up at him. With a small smile, she shook her head, "They are too sweet for me, you can have it if you want."
Li Xiqing also shook his head, before he signaled a woman who was walking around with a tray with tall glasses of champagne.
He took two glasses before he said, "Thank you," and then handed one glass to Shao Yan.
"Cheers for the last day of the year."
Shao Yan touched her glass lightly against his. A soft 'clink' sound tinkled.
"Cheers!"
.....
She gently touched her lips to the rim of the glass before starting to sip a little as she glanced around the room.
All four walls of the halls were covered in sheer white cloths. Behind the sheer materials, were small lights that were hung from the top of the ceiling down to almost touching the floor; creating an illusion of waterfall of lights all over the room.
Plastic trees with white petals and white flowers were placed all over the room. The central lighting in the room was dimmed. Shao Yan and her team had decided to put up soft blue lights all over the room to create a sense of winter wonderland.
"Shall we walk around?"
Before Li Xiqing answered her, Shao Yan continued, "Feifei had prepared three tables to welcome the guests. You saw the first one," she pointed to the end of the hall, "the second one is what she called Rainbow Bridge."
Li Xiqing turned his head towards the direction that Yan Yan had pointed at. He saw a table filled with colorful cupcakes, cookies and biscuits that were placed on the top of the table for the guests to enjoy while waiting for the main hall to open.
Shao Yan linked her hand around Li Xiqing's arm, and started to walk.
"The third one is placed near the entrance to the main hall. It is what she called Hello New Year. It is basically a cocktail table that serves white and red sangria drinks."
"Hm," Li Xiqing hummed along her words, "so what are the plans for tonight?"
He glanced at his wrist, "There are about five more hours to burn."
Shao Yan giggled, "There are a lot of things that have been lined up, don't worry."
Li Xiqing finished the drink before he handed the empty crystal glass to one of the servers who was walking around.
"I am not worried about myself," he said as he patted her hand, "I am worried that you will be tired. You have spent the whole day working."
She nodded a little as she laughed, "Don't worry. I have you here with me. I will be fine," she said as she tilted her head and flashed a sweet, comforting smile at Li Xiqing.
.....
Around 7.30 PM, the main hall was opened. From inside, around ten people in white uniforms started to walk out and formed two rows of lines in front of the door to welcome the guests into the dining hall.
One by one, the guests were ushered in and they started to look for their assigned seat.
Unlike the anniversary party a few months ago, this time, the event was only for internal people and their family members.
Employees from all Gold Crane subsidiaries were invited, totaling around thirty to forty tables. Each table could sit eight to ten people. So, overall, the crowd size for tonight was still decent and easy to manage.
Every now and then, Shao Yan would say hello and chat with some people that she recognized. Li Xiqing would also talk to the people that he knows from his few months working in their building.
Shao Yan and Li Xiqing were lining up behind some people as they strode into the main hall.
"Feifei is only in charge for all the dessert for tonight. We actually cooperated with Hotel W to invite their chefs for the main courses. You will love their food selections."
Li Xiqing walked slowly along with her, "En, I know them. That place is one of Mandy's favorite places to eat whenever she is visiting Shanghai. She especially loves their honey glazed barbecue pork chop."
Shao Yan slowly grinned at him, "And of course, I selected that as one of the menus for tonight!"
.....
As they entered the main hall, Li Xiqing noticed that the decor here was similar to the one in the reception hall. Same 'winter wonderland' feeling was spread around the room. Selections of happy, jazz instrumental songs were played in the background as the guests were walking around to find their table.
When they finally found their allocated seat, they would also find a welcoming gift placed on top of their plate. White and gold paper bags were placed on top of the table for each guest.
Shao Yan slowly unwrapped the small paper bag in front of her to see what the gifts were. This was one of the items that she had let Risa be in charge of as she wanted to be surprised by the gifts.
The first item she saw was a couple of champagne glasses. They were two clear crystal glasses with a gold crane symbol embossed on the bottom of the glasses.
The next item she found was a small tube in gold color. She picked it up and saw that it was a small bottle of bubble wand. The guests could open the tube and start to blow bubbles after the New Year countdown.
The third item inside the paper bag was gold rimmed glasses with 'Happy New Year' words on top of it. The guests would be able to put them on before the countdown if they wanted to.
Shao Yan also found a small box with dark chocolate and milk chocolate inside it.
And the final gift inside the paper bag was a shopping voucher for the mall next to their office. Each bag had a $100 voucher card inside for them to spend after the New Year.
Shao Yan nodded with approval before she leaned in to the side and whispered, "Xiqing, Risa really knows how to have fun. She even included a bubble wand inside the bag!"
She peeked at his bag, and asked, "Did you also get that and the glasses?"
Li Xiqing looked at her, before he opened his bag and peeked inside.
"I have the bubble wand, but no glasses," he paused, before his fingers started to look around inside "I do have some glow in the dark bracelets to put on."
Shao Yan was surprised at his words, she leaned over and started to rummage around the bag before she chuckled, "Ha ha! She really knows how to have fun!"
As she stepped into the hall, the first impression was "magical".All she could see was white smoke covering her feet to her ankle. The committee had rented a machine to create this smoke illusion. As she entered, the first scent that she smelled was of peppermint candy and hot chocolate.Shao Yan turned her head to the right, and saw that Feifei had set up what she called a "Sweet Station". The stall provided hot chocolate with candy cane stick to stir.She noticed some of the guests were holding golden mugs in their hands; sometimes they would stir the candy stick idly as they chatted with one another.In one of the corners of the room, a man in his forties was playing a saxophone while serenading the guests with "White Christmas" tune along with another woman who was playing the piano with him."Do you want one?"Li Xiqing saw that Shao Yan was looking at the hot chocolate table, and he wondered if Yan Yan actually wanted to taste it.She glanced up at him. With a small smile, she shook her head, "They are too sweet for me, you can have it if you want."Li Xiqing also shook his head, before he signaled a woman who was walking around with a tray with tall glasses of champagne.He took two glasses before he said, "Thank you," and then handed one glass to Shao Yan."Cheers for the last day of the year."Shao Yan touched her glass lightly against his. A soft 'clink' sound tinkled."Cheers!".....She gently touched her lips to the rim of the glass before starting to sip a little as she glanced around the room.All four walls of the halls were covered in sheer white cloths. Behind the sheer materials, were small lights that were hung from the top of the ceiling down to almost touching the floor; creating an illusion of waterfall of lights all over the room.Plastic trees with white petals and white flowers were placed all over the room. The central lighting in the room was dimmed. Shao Yan and her team had decided to put up soft blue lights all over the room to create a sense of winter wonderland."Shall we walk around?"Before Li Xiqing answered her, Shao Yan continued, "Feifei had prepared three tables to welcome the guests. You saw the first one," she pointed to the end of the hall, "the second one is what she called Rainbow Bridge."Li Xiqing turned his head towards the direction that Yan Yan had pointed at. He saw a table filled with colorful cupcakes, cookies and biscuits that were placed on the top of the table for the guests to enjoy while waiting for the main hall to open.Shao Yan linked her hand around Li Xiqing's arm, and started to walk."The third one is placed near the entrance to the main hall. It is what she called Hello New Year. It is basically a cocktail table that serves white and red sangria drinks.""Hm," Li Xiqing hummed along her words, "so what are the plans for tonight?"He glanced at his wrist, "There are about five more hours to burn."Shao Yan giggled, "There are a lot of things that have been lined up, don't worry."Li Xiqing finished the drink before he handed the empty crystal glass to one of the servers who was walking around."I am not worried about myself," he said as he patted her hand, "I am worried that you will be tired. You have spent the whole day working."She nodded a little as she laughed, "Don't worry. I have you here with me. I will be fine," she said as she tilted her head and flashed a sweet, comforting smile at Li Xiqing......Around 7.30 PM, the main hall was opened. From inside, around ten people in white uniforms started to walk out and formed two rows of lines in front of the door to welcome the guests into the dining hall.One by one, the guests were ushered in and they started to look for their assigned seat.Unlike the anniversary party a few months ago, this time, the event was only for internal people and their family members.Employees from all Gold Crane subsidiaries were invited, totaling around thirty to forty tables. Each table could sit eight to ten people. So, overall, the crowd size for tonight was still decent and easy to manage.Every now and then, Shao Yan would say hello and chat with some people that she recognized. Li Xiqing would also talk to the people that he knows from his few months working in their building.Shao Yan and Li Xiqing were lining up behind some people as they strode into the main hall."Feifei is only in charge for all the dessert for tonight. We actually cooperated with Hotel W to invite their chefs for the main courses. You will love their food selections."Li Xiqing walked slowly along with her, "En, I know them. That place is one of Mandy's favorite places to eat whenever she is visiting Shanghai. She especially loves their honey glazed barbecue pork chop."Shao Yan slowly grinned at him, "And of course, I selected that as one of the menus for tonight!".....As they entered the main hall, Li Xiqing noticed that the decor here was similar to the one in the reception hall. Same 'winter wonderland' feeling was spread around the room. Selections of happy, jazz instrumental songs were played in the background as the guests were walking around to find their table.When they finally found their allocated seat, they would also find a welcoming gift placed on top of their plate. White and gold paper bags were placed on top of the table for each guest.Shao Yan slowly unwrapped the small paper bag in front of her to see what the gifts were. This was one of the items that she had let Risa be in charge of as she wanted to be surprised by the gifts.The first item she saw was a couple of champagne glasses. They were two clear crystal glasses with a gold crane symbol embossed on the bottom of the glasses.The next item she found was a small tube in gold color. She picked it up and saw that it was a small bottle of bubble wand. The guests could open the tube and start to blow bubbles after the New Year countdown.The third item inside the paper bag was gold rimmed glasses with 'Happy New Year' words on top of it. The guests would be able to put them on before the countdown if they wanted to.Shao Yan also found a small box with dark chocolate and milk chocolate inside it.And the final gift inside the paper bag was a shopping voucher for the mall next to their office. Each bag had a $100 voucher card inside for them to spend after the New Year.Shao Yan nodded with approval before she leaned in to the side and whispered, "Xiqing, Risa really knows how to have fun. She even included a bubble wand inside the bag!"She peeked at his bag, and asked, "Did you also get that and the glasses?"Li Xiqing looked at her, before he opened his bag and peeked inside."I have the bubble wand, but no glasses," he paused, before his fingers started to look around inside "I do have some glow in the dark bracelets to put on."Shao Yan was surprised at his words, she leaned over and started to rummage around the bag before she chuckled, "Ha ha! She really knows how to have fun!"
