Chapter 42：Disconnected [1]

A television shows an anime, makes Xiao Ping who watches it giggles. Hearing her daughter's laughter, Mrs. Yuan looks from above her sewing machine. It has been three days Xiao Ping accompanied her at home. she occasionally helps sewing buttons or zippers on the clothes.

Mrs. Yuan stops her activity then goes sit beside Xiao Ping. When she stretches her body to release her tiredness, Xiao Ping turns to Mrs. Yuan. "Why don't you go out today ?" Mrs. Yuan softly asks her. Xiao Ping plunges and shakes her head.

"Isn't it boring to be home all the time ?" Once again Mrs. Yuan asks. Xiao Ping frowns. "Are you repelling me, Mom? I have been rarely at home, once I am at home, you throw me out," Xiao Ping pretends to sulk. Mrs. Yuan chuckles to see her reaction. "I'm just feel pity to see you. It's summer holiday and you just being at home," she says.

"That friend of yours has never come here again," Mrs. Yuan searching for a conversation. "Which friend ?" Xiao Ping asks. "The one that drove you home once," her mother answers as a reminder.

"Ooo.. Yu Jin ?" Xiao Ping asks answered by a nod. "He is visiting his parents at Indonesia," Xiao Ping tells her mother.

Mrs. Yuan raises her eyebrows. "He is Indonesian ?"

"No. But his parents live there because his father works at a branch of Japanese company there," Xiao Ping explains briefly.

Mrs. Yuan's mouth forming an 'O' then looks at her daughter. "He looks like a kind and polite young man," she says.

"Very kind," Xiao Ping confirms.

"Also good looking," Mrs. Yuan adds while glancing at her daughter and has a meaningful smile.

"Yes, he is handsome," Xiao Ping agrees without realizing her mother's behavior.

"Is he your boyfriend ?" Mrs. Yuan asks straightforward makes Xiao Ping surprised.

"Goodness, Mom.. Of course not. We are like brother and sister," Xiao Ping answers to correct her mother's thought. Mrs. Yuan still looks at her in search. "Really, Mom.. He is my brother," Xiao Ping confirms with serious face.

Mrs. Yuan smiles then patting Xiao Ping's palms. "I thought you are secretly dating him and not telling me," she says. Once again she gives her daughter interrogating gaze, "then.. Do you have a boyfriend ?"

Xiao Ping leans on her mother's shoulder and smiles. "Nope. If I have, I will definitely tell you, Mom," she promises. "Dating Yu Jin is also good," Mrs. Yuan is teasing her. Xiao Ping plunges and look at the ceiling, "Naaah.. Yu Jin is kind and handsome.. But I prefer to have him as a brother," she says.

"Hmm.. then, may be you are having a crush on other man ?" Mrs. Yuan investigates. Hearing that question, Xiao Ping is a bit startled, but she quickly hides it with a sweet smile. "No one," she says as plain as possible, hoping that her mother can not sense her lie. Fortunately the phone ring saves her.

Mrs. Yuan stands to pick up the call. Xiao Ping exhales in relieved. She has to lie to her mother. She does not know what would her mother think knowing her daughter is actually in love.. but to an idol that is impossible to be reached. Maybe her mother would think she is crazy, her father might also tell her to stop idolizing Takeshi. That is the last thing she wants to right now.

Xiao Ping sighs. The thought of Takeshi makes her misses that Japanese man. Since the burning accident she has not opened her email for once. She does not have any money. With the current condition, she does not have a heart to ask her payment to Mr. Bai nor to asks money to her parents.

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Xiao Ping looks at the monitor not far from her with full desire. There is a wide glass window between her and the monitor. She has stood still in front of a public internet for some times now. After braving her self, she eventually steps toward the public internet door. Her hand outstretches to open the door..

A woman sits behind a desk turns and stares at her from the first time she enters the room. "Welcome," the woman friendly greets. Xiao Ping responds the greet with a nod. "Please, you may pick any available computer," the woman adds while pointing to computers across her. Most computer are idle.

Xiao Ping's sight follows her pointing hand, then awkwardly turns back to the lady. "Eeeng.. Mam," she says hesitantly. The woman stares back at her and raises her eyebrows, "Yes ?"

To collect her braveness, Xiao Ping is playing with her bag. She then approaches to the desk. "Is there any job for me ?" she asks in whisper.

"Do you know about hardware or networking ? Our technician is .." The lady does not need to continue her sentence to see Xiao Ping shakes her head. "Then, sorry.. but we can't hire you," she says a bit regret.

"I can help taking order or delivering food," Xiao Ping speaks. "But we don't provide food here," The woman explains with gentle tone. "I.. I don't need to be payed," Xiao Ping replies in rush.

"No need to pay ?" The woman asks in confused. Xiao Ping hesitantly nods. "I can be a cashier and operates the program. I will do the work the whole day without a payment. I only need a permission to connect internet for a while," Xiao Ping shyly explains then drops her head.

The woman stares and her then sighs. "It's not that I don't want to hire you. But, as you can see, we are barely have customer," she says, "I'm sorry." Xiao Ping nods.

"Why don't you try the cafe across the street. I heard they need waiter," the lady suggests. Xiao Ping once again nods and says thank you before she lets her self out.