Computer

The dark skinny man looked at the young boy but said nothing instead he placed his bet in the bowl and then picked up the bowl. There were only six coins inside the bowl, no sooner was the bowl raised than the ones who won the bet took double their money back but those who lost sighed in frustration especially the young boy who was on the verge of crying.

" Hey runt, if you don't have money then don't play," the dark skinny man told the boy who was squatting in front of the table and then took a sip from his hot tea which he poured from the thermos into a small cup. " I am not saying that you are bad," he added when the boy started to cry. " But your mother only hands you five yuan, are you not afraid of going hungry?"

" But big brother is waiting for sick," the young boy sniffed as he looked at the dark-skinned man causing the man to feel awkward. " I need money for his me..meficine."

"It's medicine, young one," the dark-skinned man smiled and looked at the little boy who nodded and then said, "That's right, that's the one. Xiao Yan needs money for medicine."

" I know but now you have no money," the man patiently spoke to Qin Yu Yan who seemed teary-eyed. " I am not saying that you are not a good child who does not know how to play but this is a game for adults and you will not be able to win with your little mind."

Qin Yuyan pursed his lips, he looked at the five yuan which was placed in the bowl longingly as he stood up. Looks like he will have to stay hungry today as well.

Just as he was about to leave, a faint fragrance of lilies which seemed a bit cold and indifferent like his mother but even stronger came from behind. Qin Yuyan thought that it was his mother but when he turned around stiffly, he saw that it was a young woman who was a complete stranger to him.

Only then did he heave a sigh of relief.

Xua Ying Yue glanced at the young Qin Yu Yan who stiffened under her sharp gaze but her gaze was rather faint as she turned her head away and then looked at the man who was placing bets who had started another round and then placed a total of five hundred yuan which was her entire month's pocket money and calmly spoke, " Five hundred yuan and I bet that there are sixteen coins inside the bowl, boss please open it."

The dark-skinned man had been playing at the bridge for ages, he had won and lost many bets which was why he was not even fazed as he nodded and then showed the coins underneath the bowl.

It was just as Xua Ying Yue said, inside the bowl there were exactly sixteen coins.

When the old men who were placing the bets saw that it was a young girl who won the bet, they were all stunned. One of them could not help but look at Xua Ying Yue and praise, " Little girl, your eyes are really sharp."

" Mhmm thank you for the compliment," Xua Ying Yue blinked her eyes and then collected the thousand yuan which was handed to her by the boss. She did not place any more bets since she knew that if she was to play anymore then the boss will surely start to cheat, if she was to expose him so soon then she would no longer be able to come and see this child.

Thus, Xua Ying Yue still needed the boss to place bets for now.

She looked down at the young boy who was staring at her with an admiration-filled gaze and then remarked, " Here you go and stop coming to this place."

In her hand was a crisp five yuan which the young boy had placed on bet earlier along with another ten yuan bill.

" This is not the place for little kids, like you," her voice was light as she placed the money in her pocket and then walked away. Even though she said such a thing to the young boy, she knew that he was going to come here again tomorrow.

Her lips curled into a smirk as she recalled the fancy clothes that Professor Pei wore in the college and then thought of the tattered clothes that the young boy was wearing.

" Looks like she does not know how to treat her life-gracing talisman well," muttered along with another ten yuan bill as she headed towards the junkyard. " It doesn't matter though."

A smile bloomed on her lips as she remarked coldly, "It will be much easier to deal with her this way."

…..

" Where were you?" When Xua Ying Yue returned home it was already too late and Xua Yenay who was panicking was on the way to the police station, when she saw that her sister finally returned, she couldn't help but get angry.

" You are late, where did you go? Why didn't you call me? I was so worried!" Xua Yenay was not angry that Xua Ying Yue went somewhere but she was angry that she did not call her. It was fine if this was before but now what kind of situation were they living in? Was it even fine for her to leave without telling her where she was going? Of course, it wasn't!

" And what are you carrying in your arms?" She further questioned when she saw the computer desktop and many other things that Xua Ying Yue was carrying, it looked as if her sister went to rob a junkyard or something. " Why did you bring these for?"

"It's a computer and some other parts that I need to fix it," Xua Ying Yue had some other plans as well but she did not reveal them to Xua Yenay for the time being lest her sister was too startled. " I need a computer for my studies and the ones at the net cafe are all occupied most of the time which is why I think that it's good to have one for our own use."