Chapter 56：Mistaken

"Yu Jin ..." Xiao Ping's voice a cross the cable is sounded worry and urging, making Yu Jin frowns. "What's wrong ?" Yu Jin asks while pushing his chair away from the computer.

"Do you know how to cancel a sent email ? Xiao Ping asks with worry yet hopeful.

Xiao Ping only answers few seconds later, if that even can be considered as an answer, "Nothing.. I.. I just mistakenly sent an email." From her voice Yu Jin can guess that Xiao Ping is covering up something.

"Xiao Ping ?" Yu Jin calls with an asking tone. "Really, it's alright," Xiao Ping says as for her self. "I'm sorry to bother you. Btw, I will go home early today. My mother is starting to wonder where I go to come home so late everyday," Xiao Ping says ended with giggles. "Okay," Yu Jin aborts to urge and lets her breaks the call.

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Xiao Ping turns her bike to enter a small aisle to her house. She fastens her speed to see there is someone in front of her house's gate.

"A Dao ?" Xiao Ping calls once she recognized the person's face.

"Hello, Xiao Ping," A Dao greets while walking to welcome her.

Xiao Ping breaks her bike and stops beside A Dao. "What's up ?" Xiao Ping asks. A Dao shrugs. "Nothing," he says shortly. He helps Xiao Ping puts her bike in to her small front yard then sits on her terrace floor. Xiao Ping sits next to him.

"You are being arrogant now," A Dao says while glancing at Xiao Ping who definitely is surprised to hear it. "Arrogant ?"

"Right. You never visit my stall again," A Dao explains as a protest. "Ough.. Forgive me, A Dao," Xiao Ping apologizes once she understands what A Dao talked about. She gives him a sorry look.

"Where have you been ?" A Dao asks. "I've been at Yu Jin's apartment," she answers frankly. A Dao squints. "The guy that came here ?" A Dao asks. Xiao Ping nods.

"Do what ?" A Dao asks. His rough tone makes Xiao Ping turns to him. "I..," Xiao Ping is hesitated to answer. "I play internet at his apartment," she finally is telling him the truth. "You know that my woking place was burnt. Yu Jin offered me to play the internet at his apartment."

A Dao pouts. "That's only his way to trick you," he says. "What do you mean ?" Xiao Ping asks. "He only want to seek an opportunity with you," A Dao answers. "Opportunity ? What oppor.." A Dao snaps, "You're a girl. He's a man. What else can you think of ?"

Xiao Ping squints, doesn't like what A Dao's thought. "Yu Jin is not that kind of guy !" she says upset. "You are just too naive !" A Dao denies. Xiao Ping immediately stands and angrily looks at him. "You don't even know him ! How could you accuse him like that ?" she raises her voice.

"All I know: he is a guy. Except he is a gay, he must have that kind of feeling when being close to a woman," A Dao is getting more cynical.

"But not every guy has that dirty thought, young man." Xiao Ping and A Do turn around to the door. Mrs. Yuan stands in front of the door. "Mom.." Xiao Ping walks to her mother's side then turns to A Dao. "I regret you have a negative thought of Yu Jin, A Dao. I know him way before I know you. I trust him. He is my best friend," Xiao Ping says. Her eyes are already moist for suppressing her emotion. "Go home, A Dao," she asks before she goes inside her house with her mother.

After closing the door, Mrs. Yuan turns to receive Xiao Ping's hopeful stare. "You don't think Yu Jin would do such a thing, do you, Mom ?" Xiao Ping asks. Mrs. Yuan softly smiles and shakes her head. "Yu Jin is a good man and he cares for you a lot. I'm sure he will never hurt you," her mother answers. Xiao Ping is so relieved to hear her mother is on her side. "Thank you, mom," she says. Mrs. Yuan hugs her.

"But, actually.. Do you really go to his home daily ?" Mrs. Yuan asks. Xiao Ping breaks the hug and drops her head. "True," she admits. "Actually I .. well, I kinda work for him. Become his housekeeper." Mrs. Yuan frowns. "Yu Jin told you to ?"

Xiao Ping quickly shakes her head. "It's my own initiative. That's why I said 'kinda'. I am too often playing internet at his apartment while he is busy outside. Thus I decide to help him cleaning up. I didn't even told him. So.. I 'work' for him with internet access as my payment," Xiao Ping explains. "You wouldn't forbid me, would you, Mom ?" she pleads. Mrs. Yuan rubs Xiao Ping's shoulder. "It's okay. Just don't go home too late," she finally approves. Xiao Ping nods and hugs her tighter.

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"Aren't you going to check your email ?" Yu Jin asks, realizing today Xiao ping hasn't touched the laptop. That girl is even helping him dries plates. Xiao Ping shakes her head. "Takeshi is at Kochi for a week. He won't be able to send email from there," Xiao Ping answers. Yu Jin in silent. His thought was wrong. He thought Xiao Ping was waiting for email since he caught Xiao Ping for several times glanced at the laptop. Her sight looked gloomy yet hopeful.

Xiao Ping's sigh drags Yu Jin's attention. "What's wrong ?" he asks. "Hhh?? Oh.. No.. nothing," Xiao Ping answers. There is something she hides, Yu Jin knows it. But he doesn't want to pursue her, unless she tells him with her own will.

"If today you didn't intend to play internet, what are you doing here early in the morning ?" Yu Jin asks while closing water faucet then handing the last wet plate to Xiao Ping. What Yu Jin said early was eleven AM.

Xiao Ping looks at him with a slanted smile that looks flirtatious. "Am I not allowed ?" Yu Jin gasps. Not because of the question, but because of Xiao Ping's smile. That's a new smile. He has never seen Xiao Ping smiled like that before.

"Where did you learn to smile like that ?" Yu Jin purposely acts busy drying his hands to his jeans. "From last night movie. At that movie the girl, her name is Julia, can catch dozen of guys' hearts by smiling like this," Xiao Ping answers then repeats her smile. Once again Yu Jin feels a reaction on his lower body.

"Do you like it ?" Xiao Ping naively asks. Yu Jin clears his throat. "Of course. But.. you better not showing it off to others recklessly," Yu Jin answers. Xiao Ping looks at him, not fully understand. "Hmm.. I mean.. If the movie is true, you definitely will be overwhelmed facing all the guys that crazy about you," Yu Jin adds.

Xiao Ping giggles and says, "You're right." then she dries the last plate. Secretly Yu Jin exhales his breath to relieve his tense. Hopefully Xiao Ping also will not often show that smile on him.