Back to Business
The roar of hand claps and happy shouts welcome the cut of big ribbon across the double glass door. Mr. Bai, still holding a scissor on his left hand, is busy receiving hand shakes from people that attend the reopening of his internet cafe. His mouth continuously say thank you. The sound of Chinese trumpet and drum beats from the CD player adds the festive atmosphere.
"Please, come in," Xiao Ping keeps bowing to welcome the guests to come into the cafe. Yu Jin who helps Tian Tian preparing dishes on the big table near the cashier is taking time to watch Xiao Ping's activity then smiles before back to his own business.
"The guests are beyond my expectation," Tian Tian whispers while putting roasted pork in the middle of the table. Yu Jin nods to agree. He wanders his sight around the cafe. There are more than 30 people in the 6x10 meters square currently. Some faces are familiar to Yu Jin. They are Mr. Bai's friends and neighbor's stores' owners. The rest seems to be people who received brochures they handed few days ago. Maybe they want to have a free snack for a minimal two hours rental like is offered on the brochure since A Lin is now busy showing them where to sit and teach them how to login. Yu Jin's sight ends at Tian Tian who stares back at him with a wide smile.
"Back to business," Tian Tian says with an unclear English.
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"Hasegawa-san,"
That call in reflex stops the light conversation between Takeshi and Hiroshi. Both moves their sight to a one-meter gap between the fake walls that functions as a door for Hiroshi's work cubicle. A young man stands there. He seems to be new since almost the company's employees are used to call Takeshi by his first name. "Hmm.. Hamada-san is looking for you," the man informs him.
Takeshi and Hiroshi look at each other before return their sight to the skinny man, "Now ?" Takeshi asks excitedly. "Yes," the man answers in wonder. According to rumor that he has heard after two days worked in the company, Mr. Hamada's call is a bad sign. Instead, this star looks exciting.
"Okay. Thank you for letting me know," Takeshi says as a signal to asks the man to leave. After the man walks away, without losing a single drop of excitement Takeshi turns to Hiroshi, "Let's go." Hiroshi nods.
Hiroshi was about to get off from his chair when his cellular vibrates. Hiroshi sighs after looking at the name on the screen. "My Dad," he tells Takeshi. "Why don't you go first," he says while taking the cellular. "But remember," he adds stopping Takeshi's step., "be careful. It's not easy for this company to spend 4 millions. Read the agreement letters thoroughly. Don't sign anything if there is something weird or you feel bad about it. Remember that!"
Takeshi nods. "わ-かっ-た (Wakatta - I understand)" he says with pressure on each syllable thus sounded playful. He then leaves Hiroshi in two steps.
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While stroking her bag's rope on shoulder, Xiao Ping leans to a pillar right in front of 2B classroom. Her eyes diligently watch the students of that class come out of the room.
"Hi, Xiao Ping," a girl among the crowd greets her. "Hi, Xiao Fein," Xiao Ping returns her greet. Xiao Fei approaches her. "Who are you looking for ?" she asks. "Hmm.. has Er Hua come out ?" Xiao Ping asks as an answers. "Oh, she'll be out soon," Xiao Fei answers. Xiao Ping nods to understand.
"Have you bought Scar Face VCD ?" Xiao Fei asks again. Xiao Ping lets a small head shake. "Why ? If you don't have the VCD you won't be allowed to go to the fans meet," Xiao Fei tells Xiao Ping with a frown.
"I know," Xiao Ping says sadly. "You must buy it soon, Xiao Ping. It is sold so quickly. The event is in two days," Xiao Fei suggests makes Xiao Ping gulps. "Me and other tomodachi will stay in the Maple hotel. You.. eh, that's Er Hua," Xiao Fei doesn't finish her sentence to see Er Hua comes out of the classroom. She then waves to Er Hua who is squinting to see who stands beside Xiao Fei.
"Hi, Er Hua," Xiao Ping greets her with a small voice, almost like a rat screech, to receive Er Hua's cold stare. "Hi," Er Hua replies short then turns to Xiao Fei. "Let's go to the Maple Hotel now."
Xiao Fei nods then turns to Xiao Ping. "You don't want to join us stay there ? We're going to book a room today," she offers. Before Xiao Ping has a chance to answer, Er Hua refuses. "She can't. There are already four of us, we can't add another member. The hotel will forbid us," then she looks at Xiao Ping with chin up, "beside.. you don't want to. Right ?"
Even though her heart is hurt to hear the rejection, Xiao Ping answers her question with a nod. Because though she really wants to, she can't afford to stay at the five stars hotel. "Actually.. I want to invite you hunting together like the last time," Xiao Ping hisses her intention to look for Er Hua.
"Of course you can ..." Xiao Fei's friendly sentences cuts by fake-regretful sighs by Er Hua. "I'm sorry. But we have had already our own plan." Once again Er Hua turns to Xiao Fei. "Let's go," she pursues. Xiao Fei, though still full of wonder, finally nods then leaves after saying goodbye to Xiao Ping. Before following Xiao Fei steps, Er Hua pouts to Xiao Ping and sarcastically whispers, "Beside, aren't you Takeshi's girlfriend ? You should have a special access to meet him, shouldn't you ?"