Chapter 122：New Year Celebration [1]

Xiao Ping just finished preparing her self when her mother informs her that Yu Jin arrives. She quickly wears her jeans jacket and grabs her postman bag before leaving her room.

"Yu Jin !" she excitedly shouts her best friend's name while running to give the man who stands in her living room a friendly hug. Hugging Xiao Ping, Yu Jin widely smiles.

"Are you ready ?" Yu Jin asks after Xiao Ping loosens her hug some seconds later. Xiao Ping nods excitedly. "Your dad permits you, right ?" Yu Jin hisses to her. The old man he talks about is staring at him with a solemn face. Xiao Ping chuckles. "He does," she responds. "Let's say good bye to my parents," she suggests then takes a lead to do it.

After saying good bye to Xiao Ping's parents, they walk to the bus stop. Yu Jin just finished his basic training couple days ago and is going to start his duty at the ROCA headquarter at 2nd of January. He decided to use his free time by spending it with Xiao Ping. Fortunately, Xiao Ping agreed and allowed to. It's Saturday night, and more over it is New Year's eve. They are now on the bus to the MRT station. They are going to meet Han Han and A Lin at the MRT station, then together go to eat dinner first before going to the Elephant mountain.

Since it is quite cold tonight, the four decide to go for hot pot for dinner. On the surface, people may mistakenly guess they are couples who are doing double date, while actually one man is still in effort to win one girl's heart and the other man can only play role as best friend of the other girl. They have their dinner with light and cheerful talks. Yu Jin glads to find no awkward and sinister look from A Lin. He really hopes his junior can win her heart.

They finally arrive at the Elephant mountain. As expected, there are already a lot of people on the mountain. But they are lucky enough to get a space to lay out their picnic blanket and sit on it with not much of a crammed. Han Han immediately opens a can of beer and handing it to Yu Jin before opening another one for him self. Once the beer enters his body, Yu Jin feels warmer. He looks at Xiao Ping who is already mesmerizing at the night sky. It is not even 11 PM but the fireworks already on although not much. He notices how Xiao Ping occasionally strokes her hands to her arms, trying to catch a warmth. Yu Jin takes off his coat. He wears a long sleeve T-shirt under it. He attaches the coat to Xiao Ping's shoulder. "You're gonna catch a cold," he says to insist her taking the coat. She says thank you while wearing the coat properly. Yu Jin glances at Han Han who his coat was just being refused by A Lin that already has her coat on. Yu Jin slaps his forehead inwardly.

"You want some ?" Xiao Ping's question turns Yu Jin's head to front where Xiao Ping is. She is handing few blocks of chocolate to him. "Thanks," Yu Jin says while receiving the chocolate and bites it a little. Three fireworks come in a sequence. "Oooh..," Xiao Ping murmurs in amazed. Yu Jin sips his beer. He forces his mind to enjoy the night view though his sight keeps glancing at Xiao Ping every time the girl reacts to the fireworks.

Yu Jin is reaching for his third can of beer when Xiao Ping pulls his other hand. "The count down has started," she says, asking him to stand while she and most of others already stand. Instead taking the beer, Yu Jin obeys Xiao Ping and stands. At the sky there is a laser light that forming numbers.

"11 .. 10 .. 9 !!" Xiao Ping follows other shouting the count down excitedly. "8 .. 7 .. 6!!" Yu Jin follows to shout. "5 .. 4 .. 3 .. 2 .. 1 !!"

"HAPPY NEW YEAR !!" Everyone is exclaiming so excitedly almost deafening to ears.

"Happy New Year, Yu Jin !!!" Xiao Ping shouts while hugging his waist then suddenly kisses him on his left cheek. Yu Jin is stunned. When he overcomes his shocked, Xiao Ping is already greeting A Lin and Han Han.