Looking For Trouble

Yao Yao was finally able to corner Shi Ai during the lunch break and immediately dragged her to the secluded grounds to interrogate her.At this moment the two looked like  normal teenage girls off to discuss their secrets.But no one could peep into a person's mind.After finding a perfect spot,Yao YAo sat down and pulled Shi Ai to sit with her.Shi Ai found this amusing and sat down with a thump.She knew that Shi Ai loved to gossip and could hardly wait for the details.So before she could be questioned,Shi Ai said,"I know you want to know all about how I came to be Brother Min's little sister!Don't worry I'll tell you everything!"Shi AI nudged her shoulders with hers and Yao Yao felt a little pacified and looked at Shi Ai for an explanation.

Shaking her head,Shi Ai explained,"Brother Min's mother happens to be a distant cousin of Auntie Wu and before she passed away she contacted her to take care for me.And Auntie Luo agreed.But she never realized that Auntie Wu had passed away so suddenly.You know she was sick but was expected to survive longer.Anyways they came to know about it last week and came to see me.But I did not know that Brother Min was their son.This is why I was shocked when he called me little cousin the other day!And I have moved in with them over the weekend so I will be coming in with Brother Min!"

While Yao Yao absorbed this explanation,Shi Ai was feeling guilty.She had been influenced by Brother Min saying that he did not like and trust Yao Yao so she had given her the explanation meant for outsiders.Shi Ai wanted to curse herself even as she gave the made up explanation but was unable to stop the words coming from her mouth.This story of Auntie Luo and Auntie Wu being cousins had been concocted by Auntie Luo to save some awkward explanations but Shi Ai had intended to tall Yao Yao the truth.But now what was done was done.She could not possibly change her explanation.Yao Yao would be hurt.

Before Shi Ai could say anything else,Yao Yao could already feel that she was hiding something.But she decided to find out for herself so she went ahead and pretended to accept the explanation and said,"Auntie Luo ha!Alright,since our Shi Ai now has a new family and new home,are you not going to invite me over?Senior Brother called me a sister as well so are you scared to share him with me?Come on,next time we are going to study in your new home!"

Shi Ai was hesitant at this and wanted to refuse but she did not know how.She did not mind inviting Yao Yao but felt it was too soon.She was not yet very comfortable living in the Zhang family home and felt like inviting Yao Yao would be an invasion of their privacy as well.She was saved from replying when suddenly a younger boy from the school's basket ball team rushed over and called out,"Senior Sister Shi AI!Senior Brother Min is looking for you!He say if you do not come to the canteen soon,he will not eat his lunch!"Shi Ai had forgotten that Zhang Min had indeed invited her to eat together so she just shook her head and said,"Yao Yao!Come along.Let's have out lunch in the canteen!"

But Yao Yao shook her head and said,"You go ahead.I will be there in a few minutes."Shi Ai nodded and ran after the other boy.The moment Shi Ai was out of sight,Yao Yao's expression had changed and she took out her cell phone and dialled a number.The phone was answered immediately and a loving man's voice said,"My little baby!How did you think of your old man at this time?Do you need something?"

In a totally different and coy voice,Yao Yao said,"Daddy!Can I not call you because I miss you!"The man at the other end laughed and said,"Of course you can my princess but you usually don't call me in the middle of the day!Is something the matter?Has someone bullied my princess?"

Yao Yao thought of the scene that occured this morning but did not tell her father.Instead in a teary voice she said,"Daddy!One of my best friends lost her parents at a young age and recently her guardian also passed away.She now has to live with strangers!Daddy.I want her to find her relatives whom she can connect with."Her daddy was a powerful man and he would definitely be able to find Shi Ai's parents!But she could not say that directly because that would give her father a wrong impression of her.

The man on the other end of the phone felt his heart soften at his daughter's plea and he wondered how he had been blessed with such a tender hearted daughter.In a soft voice he agreed and asked her for the friend's name and promised to do his best to find everything.

Truimphantly,Yao Yao mentioned the name,"Her name is Shi Ai."