After the movie ended, Yi Ling had finished with her popcorn and coca cola. She looked at An Ran and found her sleeping with an open mouth. Yi Ling looked down at the leftover popcorn, there were still few left. She took one from the paper bag and dropped it to An Dan's open mouth.
"Ma, why are you giving me candy?" said the sleeping An Ran.
Yi Ling rolled her eyes. "I'm not your ma."
"Then why this taste so sweet," An Ran muttered unconsciously as she slowly open her eyes as she swallowed the popcorn . It took her a few seconds to realised she was not at home but at the movie theater. She looked at Yi Ling and scratched her hair.
"Don't scratch, your hair will become messy. Remember those bus boys, they are watching us," Yi Ling whispered as she took a secret glance at those boys she met on the bus. An Ran gaped and followed Yi Ling's stare.
When she gaped her mouth close, An Ran tasted the sweetness of the honeyed popcorn, "So I'm not dreaming. I just realized this popcorn tasted good. Have you finish them all?" An Ran looked down at the paper bag. Yi Ling just rolled her eyes. She had known An Ran for a long time, but An Ran never to mesmerized her sometimes with her short focus on certain things and how quickly she could change the subject they were discussing into something else.
"An Ran, you seriously don't know those boys?" Yi Ling began to get suspicious. Maybe she was thinking too much, but sh had noticed those boys kept glancing towards their direction. Yi Ling didn't find any of their face familiar, and she was certain she don't have any relatives that resemble those faces. Could they be one of her Xiao Di's friend? When they glance at Yi Ling and An Ran's direction, Yi Ling became uncomfortable.
An Ran eat the leftover popcorn and drink her cola. "No. But how nice if I know them, especially that boy on the middle, he look so handsome.'' An Ran laughed lightly.
Yi Ling picked up her empty cola plastic cup. "Eh, I thought you prefer man with uniform? Looking at them, they seems to be high schoolers like us."
An Ran eat the last popcorn before she wipe her mouth using her right sleeves. The earlier cherry lipgloss gone. An Ran took out a small mirror from her bag then applied the lipgloss on her lips. Yi Ling wondered if An Ran can see her reflection on the mirror or not once the theater room was so dark. Then An Ran turned to her and offered her the mirror and the lipgloss.
"You should fix your lips too. Who knows, if we are lucky, we can get one of those boys number. especially the one sitting in the middle." Yi Ling was speechless hearing this but she did exactly what An Ran did just now and applied the lipgloss on her lips. Since Yi Ling had braided her hair, she didn't have to fix anything.
"What time do you have to be at Chen Yang's house?'' Yi Ling forgot to let An Ran know that day supposed lesson with Chen Yang had been canceled because his friends had ask him out to play.
An Ran got up and help out her right hand to her. Yi Ling took the offer. Her back was hurting from sitting too long on the chair. "Chen Yang said today session cancel because his friends ask him to go out.''
An Ran eyes lightened with excitement hearing this and she mischievously gave her a smirk. "Then you don't need to go home early right?"
Yi Ling rubbed and tidied her dress with her hands. "No, I told aunty that I will be staying with my grandparents today. But later, my third uncle will be having dinner with Chen Yang's family. He went out with his father fishing. Why?"
An Ran grinned. "Just tell your third uncle you are studying at my house with my tutor. I will cover up for you, then settle. Today, we go out to play."
Yi Ling eyes darkened hearing this. She felt if she was going to listen to An Ran, she would get drag down with her trouble. Then she would receive a good beating from her third uncle for misbehaving. Yi Ling became doubtful if she wanted to follow along An Ran's plan. "Why do I sense trouble when you suggest that?"
"After this, we will be lock by Old Zhao doing his maths questions and busy preparing gao kao. Today is our chance to shine and play." An Ran dragged her hand and they got out from the theater. Yi Ling was forced to follow her. As they walked out from the door, the brought along the empty cups and paper bag with them before throwing them into the trash bin. When they got outside, Yi Ling didn't expect those boys they had met in the bus was outside too as if they were waiting for them. An Ran threw a catious glance at Yi Ling and Yi Ling did the same. Then suddenly one of the boy whom Yi Ling noticed the one sitting on the middle of the group when they were watching James bond's movie approached them.
"Tong xue, let me introduce myself. My name is Su Juan, last time we used to be classmate during our early junior high school.'' The boy whom introduced himself to them spoke. Both Yi Ling and An Ran was flabbergasted with his sudden approach, for as moment, both girls just stared at him. It was An Ran who broke the silence.
"Oh, really? How come I don't recall meeting you before?" An Ran asked as she tidied up her hair suddenly became shy in front of the boy who had introduced himself as Su Juan to them. Yi Ling understood her friend's behavior, thus, she stepped two steps further away to give them space. The boy seems to be interested with her friend and An Ran seems to be interested with him from the first time they met in the bus.
Yi Ling noticed the other boys were staring at them too. She didn't dare to make any eye contact with any of them.
"Maybe because you are too young to notice me back then. I transferred school few years ago." Su Juan said. He sounded to be very matured as he spoke and he had a deep manly voice.
An Ran blushed hearing this. " Is it?" she could only voice out those words. Su Juan caught An Ran's shyness.
He cleared his throat before he spoke. " We are going to play pool in that place beside the street," Su Juan pointed the place using his hand. "Will I be too much to invite you girls to follow us?"
Yi Ling wanted to refuse his invitation but An Ran grabbed her hand and nodded. "We have nothing to do anyway."
Yi Ling looked at An Ran with a wide eyes after hearing An Ran agreed Su Juan's request. Yi Ling wanted to scold An Ran on the spot but An Ran had pleaded with her using her silent gaze that Yi Ling was very familiar with. At the end, Yi Ling could only give in.
Su Juan smiled hearing An Ran's answer. "Oh, by the way, I'm An Ran and this is my friend Yi Ling." An Ran introduced herself and she didn't forget to mention Yi Ling.
"I already know your name. After all, we all used to be classmate for a short moment." Su Juan said. Both Yi Ling and An Ran were introduced to the other boys. Yi Ling came to learn that they came from a neighbouring school. Yi Ling felt uncomfortable since she and An Ran were the only girls inside the group. She felt it was a little improper for them to casually hang out with those boys, especially those they are not familiar with. However, An Ran thinking was different from hers. An Ran was a carefree gel and she could easily trust a stranger. Thus, Yi Ling had no choice but to be drag down with her best friend.
They walked to the place Su Juan mentioned earlier. On the way, Su Juan and An Ran had exchange their contact number. Yi Ling didn't speak much with them, but she did speak with few of the boys along the way. One of the boy, who later she came to know his name as Feng Jun, had asked her for her contact number. Yi Ling felt really uncomfortable when the boy asked her this.
"This is my third uncle's phone. I really cannot simply give out his number. Later, if he find out, I will get into trouble." It was Yi Ling's way to politely decline the boy's request to give our her contact. Only later Yi Ling came to learn that Feng Jun had gotten her contact from Su Juan through An Ran.
When they reached the place where Su Juan had mentioned, Yi Ling never thought the place would be something like that; a place where it is improper for young girl like her to hang out in. Su Juan seemed to know very well with the owner of the place since the people outside didn't ask for their identity card. Although Yi Ling had never visited such a place before, she know that to enter that kind of place would need to show their identity card. But those people outside just allowed them to enter without much trouble. Yi Ling looked at the place, there were pool tables, and although usually people who came to such place would play pool, this place do offer beers. If her third uncle come to learn about this, Yi Ling was sure her third uncle would beat her really hard, a good beating at that. The thought of getting caught scared her. She could only hope no one would show notice her.
Su Juan and the others had booked a table pool near the corner. When they walked over to the direction, Yi Ling could feel few gazes were on her, probably wondering what a little girl like her and An Ran were doing in such place. Yi Ling regretted following and agreeing with An Ran's sudden plan. If Chen Yang didn't cancel their study session, Yi Ling would probably on her way to his house and not hanging in such place. A sudden rush of distress wash over Yi Ling's concern. An Ran however, was happy without any concern as she follow Su Juan around. Su Juan and the other boys playing the pool, they ordered a few beers. Seeing this, Yi Ling was sure those boys were not the right people to hang out with. And she wondered, how come the owner didn't stop high schoolers from ordering those beers? Yi Ling really wanted to get out from the place and go home. She was afraid by staying in such place would really get her into big trouble.
"An Ran, let's go home," Yi Ling whispered and pleaded with An Ran.
"Haiya, don't worry. Nothing will happen." An Ran brushed her off. Yi Ling did not feel reassured. An Ran always said that, and they still got into trouble. That's how Yi Ling came to learn that sometimes she shouldn't be so trusting with An Ran's action.
That same time, someone who knew An Ran had seen her and called her little uncle Ren Wei Gan, who was then just graduated from university and had been offered a position which considered promising in his political career. Ren Wei Gan who had received the call from one of his friend had been furious when he came to learn that his little niece had been hanging around in such place. When he received the call, he had been having late afternoon lunch with his colleague to discuss about the government project. Who knows that Ren Wei Gan's colleague was Jin Sing's elder brother.
"Wei Gan, I saw your niece at a pub playing pool with a bunch of young boys. They even ordered beers, young people these days!" Ren Wei Gan's friend spoke as soon as he pick up the call. Ren Wei Gan blood was boiling hearing this.
"You sure? Which pub?" Ren Wei Gan asked his friend. his friend told him the location and Ren Wei Gan quickly drove his car to the pub. Since Jin Hao came together with him, he followed along.
" Sorry Hao, something really come up with my family matter." Ren Wei Gan explained to him, since they had been disturbed halfway through their discussion about the government project.
"I understand. We can continue tomorrow with the discussion. We better pick up your niece before she get into real trouble." Jin Hao said with understanding.
Ren Wei Gan let out a frustrating deep breath he had been holding and shook his head. "This little girl, she is becoming unruly. Becoming more daring as if she haven't receive a good beating!"
Jin Hao chuckled. "Generation gap really becoming wider. Now on days, the younger generation are not afraid of punishment. Yesterday, I saw a high schooler smoking. If he is my younger brother, I would give him a good punch."
Ren Wei Gan agreed with that. An Ran and his relationship had been very close since Ren Wei Gan was more like an elder brother than an uncle. He was only eight years older than An Ran. Since An Ran's grandmother had accidentally fallen pregnant at the age of fourty nine, when An Ran's mother was twenty two years old, An Ran's little uncle had been raised by An Ran's mother since he was young. Thus, An Ran's relationship with her little uncle had been a close one like a real sibling. However, her little uncle would often clean up after An Ran making trouble, sometimes he would cover up for her so that An Ran's parents wouldn't find out. Ever since hitting puberty, Ren Wei Gan noticed his little niece seems to be getting more mischievous and misbehaving.
Yi Ling and An Ran had been offered to drink the alcohol. By coming into such place itself already a big mistake, how can she dare to drink the beer? Yi Ling and An Ran declined and ordered juice instead. Then when Yi Ling saw a familiar figure of An Ran's little uncle approaching them, Yi Ling panicked. She wanted to call out for An Ran but it was too late. An Ran's little uncle already saw them. She could tell he was furious, his steps were quick as he approached them.
"We are done! We are done!" Yi Long muttered and then only An Ran realised what happened. An Ran too when she noticed the familiar figure, her face became pale and her eyes became wide as she stared at the familiar figure of her little uncle.
"What happen?" Su Juan asked them when he noticed both girls were frozen into place.
"You both! Come over!!'' Ren Wei Gan shouted furiously as he stood few feet away from An Ran and Yi Ling. The girls quickly did as they were told and ignored Su Juan and the other boys. Both Yi Ling and An Ran had their head hang down as they didn't dare to make eye contact with Ren Wei Gan.
Ren Wei Gan blew out a deep frustrating breath for the second time that day. He was still young, but looking at the young people misconduct especially his niece, Ren Wei Gan thought he would soon be getting high blood pressure. Ren Wei Gan looked at An Ran and said, "you think you are grown up enough now? So daring by coming here! Or you think you haven't receive enough beating from me and your parents?"
Then Ren Wei Gan turned his face to the quiet Yi Ling. "And you!" He scolded, "you also think you can be so daring now!!"
Ren Wei Gan's voice had been so loud. Everyone came to take a look at what happen. None dared to speak out. It was Su Juan who took the initiative to come over and explained to Ren Wei Gan.
''I'm sorry. We are the one who invited them to come over with us." Su Juan told Ren Wei Gan.
Hearing this, Ren Wei Gan felt unbelievable. "How old are you? Have you graduate from highschool?"
Su Juan shook his head and mumbled, "no. I'm seventeen."
Ren Wei Gan let out unbelievable laugh that contains anger by hearing Su Juan confession. "Young people this day! Look, you all should be focusing on your study for gao kao, not coming here! If I call the police, you all really will be in so much trouble!"
Hearing Ren Wei Gan's threats, even Yi Ling became panic and distress. If An Ran's little uncle really call the police, her third uncle will surely know about this incident and it was the end for her. Yi Ling would not only receive a good beating, she would be receiving a good long lectures. The thought made her shivers in fear.
Ren Wei Gan came closer to Su Juan and pointed with his deadly big finger. "You dare to bring my nieces into such place again,not only I will report you to the police, I will personally give you a good slap with my bare hand. You understand?"
Ren Wei Gan's voice was deadly as he spoke word by word to Su Juan. Su Juan could only nod his head as he became scared of Ren Wei Gan's threats. After that, Ren Wei Gan pulled out both Yi Ling and An Ran ears as he dragged them out from such place. It was so painful but both girls didn't dare to voice out their pain. When Ren Wei Gan demanded both girls to sit at the back seat of his toyota, they did as they were told. Then only Yi Ling realised there was another person who had watched the whole scene and following Ren Wei Gan all this time. Yi Ling recognized him, he was Jin Sing's older brother. They had met couple of times. Yi Ling became even more embarrassed by this.