It is Monday morning and Niuniu is at her desk, preparing for her new story about successful executives. She reserves Monday morning - the traditional day of dread - for routine tasks such as setting up appointments for interviews and booking hotel and flight reservations.
As she thumbs through her Rolodex, she comes across the names of several of her former high school classmates. One of them, Xia, is vice-president at a Swiss investment-banking firm. Hoping he might give her some quotes for her story, Niuniu dials his number.
When Xia's secretary explains that Xia is not in, Niuniu leaves a message saying that she would like to get together for lunch. One hour later, his secretary calls back to say that Xia's driver will pick her up at her office at midday. Promptly at noon, Xia's personal assistant rings Niuniu's desk to say that a car is waiting for her outside her office.
Niuniu steps outside and is quickly whisked into the open door of the waiting limousine. 'Mr Xia has had an urgent business emergency,' the driver explains. 'He will meet up with us at the restaurant. I hope that is okay.'
Niuniu sits back in the broad leather seat of the limousine, silently gazing through the smoked glass of her passenger window and contemplating what it must be like to have a personal driver. Or an assistant. Or a secretary.
At the restaurant, Niuniu sits alone at a table for two. The driver, who escorted her in, stands off to one side, refusing to sit down even when she invites him to do so.