Dear Mr. Yan,
Please, could you kindly step over there for a moment? The secretary, who was attending to an English tourist visiting Japan, politely requested him to move aside. Yan was a rather robust-looking man, dressed in Western-style business attire that suggested confidence and professionalism. However, at that moment, he appeared entirely oblivious to his surroundings. He was on holiday, after all, and did not have any pressing work obligations weighing on him. His carefree attitude was evident, and he seemed to be leisurely wandering around the office, unconcerned with the busy environment. The word “dear yan” means “there”. In this story it is used to denote “over there”.
The secretary, Tammy, grew increasingly frustrated with his behavior. She was in the midst of typing out an important business document, trying to focus and work efficiently. Meanwhile, Yan was wandering around the office, wavering aimlessly near the printer, seemingly unaware of her growing irritation. Frustration mounting, Tammy got up once and had to carefully bend around him just to retrieve her printed materials from the machine. It was a small, yet maddening inconvenience, and she couldn’t help but feel her patience thinning.
Later, as she attempted to meet with a client, she was met with yet another obstacle. There Yan was, standing right in the doorway, blocking her path. She wondered silently, Why is he standing there? What purpose does it serve to stand directly in front of the door? She cast a stern look his way, hoping her expression would communicate her annoyance. Yan, however, seemed oblivious to her visual cues, still standing there as if he had no idea he was causing a disruption. It was clear to Tammy that her day was going to be long and challenging.
With a resigned sigh, Tammy prepared herself for a break. She decided to have her lunch outside, seeking some space away from Mr. Yan’s constant presence. The thought of sitting in the park with a strong cup of coffee brought a faint smile to her face. She longed for that moment of peace, free from the bustling office and Yan’s unwelcome wandering. Her back still ached from bending over the printer, adding to her discomfort. She couldn’t help but think how selfish some people could be—Yan, just a tourist, wandering around because he didn’t have to work, had already saved up enough money from his job back in America. Yet, despite his relaxed attitude, he continued to get in her way.
Gathering her belongings, Tammy made her way to the door, only to find Yan once again standing in the doorway. Her patience snapped. She nearly lost her composure as she reached out her arm to grasp the doorknob, but Yan was still partially blocking her way. To his credit, Yan was a much larger man physically, and the office was designed to accommodate Tammy’s workflow, not his size. But Tammy was in no mood to make excuses for him. Frustration boiling over, she said sharply, “Can you please give me some space?”
Yan looked at her, a bit confused. “Oh, where are you going?” he asked innocently.
“I’m going to lunch,” Tammy replied, trying to keep her tone calm.
“Oh, that’s great! I’d like to join you,” Yan said cheerfully, not picking up on her subtle hints of irritation.
Despite her desire to refuse, Tammy was too polite to turn him down outright. Reluctantly, she allowed him to accompany her, and together they stepped outside into the fresh air. As they walked, Tammy felt herself beginning to forgive his earlier behavior—outdoors, there was more room for him to move without obstructing her. She appreciated the open space, the gentle breeze, and the opportunity to stretch her legs.
Yan then commented, “You should get more fresh air; work in the office can be quite stressful,” he said thoughtfully.
Tammy looked at him slowly, observing how he was now standing in front of an elderly gentleman with a walking stick, blocking his path. The old man was patiently waiting to pass, but Yan was in his way. Tammy sighed inwardly. “Yan,” she said, “you’re blocking that elderly gentleman over there.”
“Oh, really?” Yan asked, glancing around. “Sorry about that,” he said, stepping aside to let the man pass. He then turned back to Tammy and apologized, recognizing that his actions might have upset her. Since traveling abroad, Yan seemed to have a hard time navigating social situations—his well-meaning gestures sometimes caused unintended inconvenience.
They sat down on a park bench while Tammy bought her coffee. Yan let out a long sigh, clearly feeling the weight of his social missteps. He often found himself upsetting others despite his good intentions, and he wondered if he would ever be able to truly get along with people without causing trouble. Sitting alone, he reflected on his desire to have a positive experience during his holiday—to bring happiness to those around him and to enjoy the simple pleasures of the trip. He was grateful for the hospitality extended to him but worried that he might be unintentionally upsetting his hosts.
As he sat and pondered, an idea formed. Perhaps he could do something to make it up to Tammy. What might she want? She was a secretary, accustomed to working indoors, but she also enjoyed getting outside for fresh air. What kind of gesture could he offer to show his appreciation and perhaps ease her frustrations?
He considered that maybe Tammy was upset because she hadn’t eaten enough during the day. It was a common enough issue—after all, skipping meals could make anyone irritable. As he thought further, he realized he hadn’t seen her take a proper lunch break all day. That was probably it. She was hungry, and that was making her upset. Determined to make amends, Yan decided to find something for her to eat.
Meanwhile, Tammy had returned with her coffee and turned around, expecting to see Yan nearby. But he was nowhere in sight. She had told him to wait over there, yet now she was worried—Yan’s cluelessness often meant he could easily get lost in the busy streets of Tokyo. She was responsible for him, after all, as her boss had asked her to look after him since he was bored at home and needed some sightseeing.
Her concern grew as she scanned the crowded street. He might walk right in front of a motorbike or get into some other trouble, she thought anxiously. Suddenly, she spotted him emerging from across the park, holding up both hands with something in each. He was calling her name excitedly.
Relieved, Tammy hurried over. Yan was holding two large hot dogs—lunch for both of them. “I got some lunch for us,” he announced proudly.
“Oh, that’s very thoughtful of you,” Tammy said with a faint smile.
Yan handed her one hot dog, along with a bottle of tomato sauce. He opened it with his large, clumsy hands but slipped, causing a generous splatter of bright red tomato sauce to land all over Tammy’s white blouse. To make matters worse, her blouse was pristine beforehand, and now it was stained. Yan immediately began to wipe the sauce off her face and blouse with his handkerchief, apologizing profusely.
Tammy’s patience snapped. She pushed him away gently and hurried to find a nearby tap to wash off the tomato sauce as best she could. Her lunch break was ruined, and she felt her mood sour further. They made their way back to the office, Tammy walking ahead in silence, and Yan trailing behind, looking apologetic.
Back in the office, Tammy instructed, “Yan, you sit over there,” pointing to a designated spot. From that day on, the phrase “Dear Yan” became a light-hearted joke in the office, often used sarcastically to mean “sit over there.”
Later that evening, Tammy, feeling somewhat better now that her blouse had dried and the stains faded, reflected on the day. Despite the frustrations, she appreciated Yan’s genuine attempts and his kind-hearted nature. She decided to escort him back to where he was staying with her boss—mainly out of concern that he might get lost or cause himself trouble in the unfamiliar city.
After she left him at his accommodation, she couldn’t help but smile to herself and whisper softly, “Dear Yan, you can stay here for the night.” At last, she had some time to herself—free from the responsibility of babysitting the well-meaning but clueless tourist—and a moment of peaceful relaxation. Remember that the word “dear yan” means “over there” or simply “there”.