Panic overwhelmed Xiu Ling and she replied with a hurried, "What?! Why?!"
Horror stories that she had heard from the news filled her minds. Visitors, often women, were halted at the airport by the security and brought to the quarantine room to be intimidated and locked up for hours simply because the workers wanted some extra cash.
This happened far more often than it should have and Xiu Ling did not expect it would happen on her first trip overseas. The pressure was on because she believed they would hold her until the boarding time unless she paid up. This was a tactic of theirs so either you paid them the bribe or risk missing your flight altogether.
'Why does this happen to me? But I have no cash on me, I only have this credit card given to me by Lin Kang. Does these people accept bribes via credit card?' thought Xiu Ling with absolute dismay.
Joann heard Xiu Ling's earlier yelp and she saw how flustered her best friend was acting. She immediately leaned forward to ask what was wrong. Xiu Ling explained in a hurry and Joann stepped forward to shield Xiu Ling behind her. "What is the meaning of this? She is not going to go anywhere with you. What kind of barbaric behavior is this? I demand to speak with the team manager!"
The man was stunned but he recovered quickly.
"Miss, I am the team manager." The man added with an apologetic smile, "But I believe there is a misunderstanding here. I simply wish for Miss Xiu Ling to follow me to the VIP boarding lounge because according to my system, she is one of our company's esteemed diamond card member."
"Huh?!" Joann turned back to look at Xiu Ling who looked as confused as she was.
Xiu Ling nudged out from behind Joann and explained, "How can that be? I have never taken any flight with your company or done any membership that I can remember. How can I be your member much less a diamond card member? Could it be possible that there's a mistake with your system?"
"Is that so…" The man said to himself. Then he lowered himself back to his seat and typed something on his computer. "I am so sorry, misses. Do you mind giving me five minutes to double-check the system? I am so sorry for the inconvenience."
Xiu Ling stood where she was and shared a confused look with Joann. Neither of them knew what was going on, one was as clueless as the other.
Several minutes later, the man raised his head from the computer to address Xiu Ling, "Miss Xiu Ling, I've checked the system and it was right. You are the owner of a limitless credit card from XX Bank and that entails you to many privileges with our company because our company is a close partner of XX Bank. It states here on my computer that the card is also co-owned by a Mr. Lin Kang. Perhaps this is an enquiry that you can bring it up with him?"
While the man was going through his explanation, it finally dawned on Xiu Ling. She reached into her purse and pulled out the card Lin Kang gave her yesterday. She showed it to the man. "You mean this card?"
"Yes, Miss Xiu Ling. With this card, you are entitled to enjoy privileges provided by our company including the usage of the VIP boarding lounge, a special security pathway and many more." The man realized Xiu Ling was probably just given the card and did not know about its usages so he went through the whole practiced spiel.
After she recovered from the surprise, Xiu Ling remembered something important. "Then, where did you take my luggage?"
The man replied, "Miss Xiu Ling, we'll help you check-in your luggage. We'll take good care of it, don't worry." He added with a smile, "Now, would you please follow me? You can wait for the boarding time to arrive in our VIP lounge."
"Okay…" Xiu Ling was about to be led away when she remembered her friend. She called for the man's attention and asked, "Erm, I'm sorry but are the privileges extended to my friend?" Xiu Ling waved at Joann. "Because we're travelling together and if she's not going, then I'm not going."
The man's eyes scanned Joann but not in an intrusive way. After a second or two, the man's face broke into a professional smile and he said, "Of course, Miss. Please come this way as well."
Naturally, the man had recognized Joann but thanks to his professional training, he did not make a huge fuss out of it.
Normally, the request Xiu Ling asked for would not be approved because the privilege provided by the membership was limited to the cardholder alone. However, since Joann was an influential celebrity, the man decided to let this slide for once.
Being famous sometimes did come with its perks.
The man called for another one of his colleagues to take Joann's suitcase away from her and the man similarly disappeared down the same corner the man who took Xiu Ling's suitcase did.
Then, the man smiled at the both ladies. "Please."
As Joann walked beside Xiu Ling, she said, "Xiu Ling, you know that, I think I'm starting to enjoy this trip of ours."
Xiu Ling and Joann enjoyed themselves in the VIP boarding lounge and when the time arrived, they were shepherded into the plane.
Lin Kang had booked for them first class tickets so the plane ride was comfortable. When it came time for the flight meal to be served, both women asked for alcoholic beverages. They decided to let loose and join the mile-high club because screw it, they were on a holiday.
The trip was really shaping up to be a good one. Xiu Ling was glad that her friend was relaxing and Joann was glad that she accepted the invitation.
They closed their eyes for a rest and when they woke up, they were already landing at Japan, the Land of the Rising Sun.
Panic overwhelmed Xiu Ling and she replied with a hurried, "What?! Why?!"
Horror stories that she had heard from the news filled her minds. Visitors, often women, were halted at the airport by the security and brought to the quarantine room to be intimidated and locked up for hours simply because the workers wanted some extra cash.
This happened far more often than it should have and Xiu Ling did not expect it would happen on her first trip overseas. The pressure was on because she believed they would hold her until the boarding time unless she paid up. This was a tactic of theirs so either you paid them the bribe or risk missing your flight altogether.
'Why does this happen to me? But I have no cash on me, I only have this credit card given to me by Lin Kang. Does these people accept bribes via credit card?' thought Xiu Ling with absolute dismay.
Joann heard Xiu Ling's earlier yelp and she saw how flustered her best friend was acting. She immediately leaned forward to ask what was wrong. Xiu Ling explained in a hurry and Joann stepped forward to shield Xiu Ling behind her. "What is the meaning of this? She is not going to go anywhere with you. What kind of barbaric behavior is this? I demand to speak with the team manager!"
The man was stunned but he recovered quickly.
"Miss, I am the team manager." The man added with an apologetic smile, "But I believe there is a misunderstanding here. I simply wish for Miss Xiu Ling to follow me to the VIP boarding lounge because according to my system, she is one of our company's esteemed diamond card member."
"Huh?!" Joann turned back to look at Xiu Ling who looked as confused as she was.
Xiu Ling nudged out from behind Joann and explained, "How can that be? I have never taken any flight with your company or done any membership that I can remember. How can I be your member much less a diamond card member? Could it be possible that there's a mistake with your system?"
"Is that so…" The man said to himself. Then he lowered himself back to his seat and typed something on his computer. "I am so sorry, misses. Do you mind giving me five minutes to double-check the system? I am so sorry for the inconvenience."
Xiu Ling stood where she was and shared a confused look with Joann. Neither of them knew what was going on, one was as clueless as the other.
Several minutes later, the man raised his head from the computer to address Xiu Ling, "Miss Xiu Ling, I've checked the system and it was right. You are the owner of a limitless credit card from XX Bank and that entails you to many privileges with our company because our company is a close partner of XX Bank. It states here on my computer that the card is also co-owned by a Mr. Lin Kang. Perhaps this is an enquiry that you can bring it up with him?"
While the man was going through his explanation, it finally dawned on Xiu Ling. She reached into her purse and pulled out the card Lin Kang gave her yesterday. She showed it to the man. "You mean this card?"
"Yes, Miss Xiu Ling. With this card, you are entitled to enjoy privileges provided by our company including the usage of the VIP boarding lounge, a special security pathway and many more." The man realized Xiu Ling was probably just given the card and did not know about its usages so he went through the whole practiced spiel.
After she recovered from the surprise, Xiu Ling remembered something important. "Then, where did you take my luggage?"
The man replied, "Miss Xiu Ling, we'll help you check-in your luggage. We'll take good care of it, don't worry." He added with a smile, "Now, would you please follow me? You can wait for the boarding time to arrive in our VIP lounge."
"Okay…" Xiu Ling was about to be led away when she remembered her friend. She called for the man's attention and asked, "Erm, I'm sorry but are the privileges extended to my friend?" Xiu Ling waved at Joann. "Because we're travelling together and if she's not going, then I'm not going."
The man's eyes scanned Joann but not in an intrusive way. After a second or two, the man's face broke into a professional smile and he said, "Of course, Miss. Please come this way as well."
Naturally, the man had recognized Joann but thanks to his professional training, he did not make a huge fuss out of it.
Normally, the request Xiu Ling asked for would not be approved because the privilege provided by the membership was limited to the cardholder alone. However, since Joann was an influential celebrity, the man decided to let this slide for once.
Being famous sometimes did come with its perks.
The man called for another one of his colleagues to take Joann's suitcase away from her and the man similarly disappeared down the same corner the man who took Xiu Ling's suitcase did.
Then, the man smiled at the both ladies. "Please."
As Joann walked beside Xiu Ling, she said, "Xiu Ling, you know that, I think I'm starting to enjoy this trip of ours."
Xiu Ling and Joann enjoyed themselves in the VIP boarding lounge and when the time arrived, they were shepherded into the plane.
Lin Kang had booked for them first class tickets so the plane ride was comfortable. When it came time for the flight meal to be served, both women asked for alcoholic beverages. They decided to let loose and join the mile-high club because screw it, they were on a holiday.
The trip was really shaping up to be a good one. Xiu Ling was glad that her friend was relaxing and Joann was glad that she accepted the invitation.
They closed their eyes for a rest and when they woke up, they were already landing at Japan, the Land of the Rising Sun.
