323 Trouble & Danger (2/2)

”Take a deep breath, Uncle Kuan!” said Ying. ”I was with a new friend I made and lost track of time. You're worrying for no reason.”

There was silence at the other end before she heard, ”So, you didn't go to Yan Residence?”

The smile on Ying's face stiffened slightly before she loosened it up saying, ”I promised Zi that I won't go home alone. I don't like going back on promises.”

”That's good. That's very good,” Uncle Kuan said heaving a sigh of relief. ”When are you coming back?”

Ying's brows knotted up before she replied, ”Not sure. I have some work to finish up, so I might go to the headquarters from here. And most probably, I'll be staying there until I find a lead to follow on.”

After talking for another five minutes, she hung up the call and continued to eat her breakfast which was actually considered lunch for others with a content look. Cali was really surprised to see her like that. Just last night, the look in her eyes reminded her of a broken person and now, she looked like the happiest person in this world. This disparity between the Ying she saw last night and the one before her right now was too much.

”That wound on your arm,” began Cali making Ying look up slightly as well. ”Is it a gunshot?” Ying chewed on the food while nodding her head in reply. ”Is that the reason why you didn't show up to receive me at the airport?”

”Kind of,” answered Ying. Taking a sip of the fresh fruit juice, she went on, ”If it was just a wound, I'd have come to see you at any cost. But the problem is, I was knocked out. So, that's how I missed the time for our meeting.”

”How did you get it?”

Ying chuckled at her question, ”How do people get shot?” Cali squinted her eyes making Ying stop laughing on her own.  ”That's not for you to worry about. The less you know, the better.”

Cali nodded her head in agreement. ”So are you not going home because you have to look for my cousin?”

”Not really. I just don't want to go home.”

Cali frowned a little as she voiced out, ”Why is that?”

”No one is waiting for me there except for responsibilities and loneliness. I can shoulder the responsibilities but the loneliness is a bit overwhelming when you're not used to it.”

Cali's eyes flashed with surprise at her words. ”About that burn on your hand and that mark on your cheek...”

”You're asking way too much.”

”I know, but I can't help it. You looked like a mess last night. So, I'm just wondering if that swollen cheek and the hand burn were...”

”I let my guard down,” said Ying before she could ask anything. ”I usually don't do it but whenever this heart gets involved, I always tend to lower my guard.” Cali bit her lip while she stared at Ying who was still as calm as before. ”This is why I have decided not to follow my heart from now on. That bitch always gives the wrong direction and I have to suffer for no reason.”

Cali ended up smiling at her words. She knew Ying wasn't gonna share much with her since if she didn't dare talk at her most vulnerable drunk state than there was no way that she was gonna reveal anything in her sober state. However, whatever Ying was willing to reveal had already left a strong impression on Cali.

As Darren once said, Cali was fond of troubles. And Ying's was shrouded in trouble and dangers from head to toe. It intrigued her to befriend this friendless girl who was too good at hiding herself behind her smiling persona.