As the car glided through the streets of the southern district, Lin Chang reclined in her seat, gazing out the window with a sense of ease. Her wristwatch ticked away the minutes, and with only three left until 5PM, she remained unfazed.
Suddenly, Lin Bao's voice broke the silence. "Should we start looking for other restaurants, Chang?" he asked, his eyes darting to her face. He couldn't forget the fury etched on Mr. Cai's features, and he doubted the man would be willing to sell his restaurant.
"Rest assured, Uncle, Mr. Cai will sell the restaurant," Lin Chang reassured her uncle with a smile.
As her phone rang, Lin Chang answered it with a smirk. "Hello," she heard Mr. Cai's uneasy voice on the other end.
"Mr. Cai, have you made your decision?" Lin Chang asked confidently.
"Miss Lin, I am willing to sell my restaurant only if you can save my wife. While I am hesitant to trust you with my wife's life, I have no other choice as I do not want to miss any chance of her being cured," Mr. Cai stated matter-of-factly.
Lin Chang remained unfazed and responded, "Please send me all of her medical reports. I will create a plan and inform you accordingly." With that, she ended the call and turned to her uncle, "It's taken care of."
On the other side as Lin Chang hung up the phone, Mr. Cai felt his feet turn to stone. He couldn't shake the memory of Lin Chang's unwavering confidence in her ability to cure his wife but it also seemed impossible to believe that a woman of her age could perform such a complex brain surgery. He had been hesitant to call her in the first place, but as the minutes ticked by, his anxiety grew with each passing second. When he saw that the clock was about to strike 5, he couldn't resist the urge to dial her number.
Meanwhile in the southern district,
Chu Hai had been perched at the Lin family's food stall since the morning, eagerly awaiting the arrival of Lin Chang. However, as the hours ticked by, his heart grew heavy with disappointment as Lin Chang was nowhere to be seen. Then Upon seeing Lin Lisha leaving the stall, Chu Hai made his way towards his residence.
The memory of the day he first laid eyes on Lin Chang was etched into his mind like a precious gem. It was a day when he accompanied his mother to collect rent from her, and fate had brought him face to face with the most exquisite creature he had ever seen. His heart raced with an intensity that he had never experienced before, and his hands and feet turned to ice as he gazed upon her beauty. For Lin Chang was not just a mere mortal, but a celestial being whose radiance surpassed that of the entire world.
Ever since that fateful day, he found himself drawn to the food stall like a moth to a flame, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. The mere thought of asking her to be his girlfriend sent shivers down his spine, leaving him paralyzed with fear.
Upon entering his house, he was met with the disapproving gaze of his mother, her furrowed brow a clear indication of her displeasure.
Chu Hai stepped into the threshold of his home. His mother, Mrs. Chu, was quick to intercept him, her hands clasping his own in a tight grip. "What happened, mom?" he asked casually.
But before he could even take another breath, his mother's piercing gaze bore into him. "Where do you keep going these days?" she demanded, her tone sharp and accusatory.
Chu Hai tried to keep his composure, knowing full well that his mother was not one to be trifled with. "Nowhere special, mom. Why do you ask?" he replied, his voice steady despite the rising panic in his chest.
But his mother was not easily fooled. "Don't lie, Hai," she said, her grip on his hands tightening. "Someone already told me that you keep lurking around Lin Lisha's food stall every day. And I know why you keep going there."
Chu Hai's heart sank. He knew that his mother had discovered his secret, that he had been trying to pursue Lin Chang despite her warnings. "Mom, I-"
Her words were sharp and cutting, slicing through the air like a knife. "Chu Hai, I implore you, do not even entertain the thought. You are my only child, and I have poured every ounce of my being into raising you," Mrs. Chu declared, her voice unwavering and resolute. "Lin Lisha is nothing but a mistress, a woman who doesn't even know the identity of her own children's father. And what of her daughter? Do you truly believe she is worthy of you, Chu Hai? Your last semester is about to begin, and with your brilliant mind, I have no doubt that you will be accepted into one of the most prestigious universities in the capital. You have a bright future ahead of you, my son. Do not squander it on a lowly peasant from the slums. Do not disappoint me."
Chu Hai gazed at his mother, his eyes lingering on her for a fleeting moment before he offered her a reassuring smile. "Don't fret, Mom," he said, before turning on his heel and disappearing into his room. His mind was a flurry of thoughts, each one more profound than the last. He couldn't shake the weight of his mother's words, but he knew deep down that she was right. He had a bright future ahead of him, one that would see him shine in the real world. And maybe, Lin Chang will come sprawling on his feets. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he imagined that day, eagerly awaiting the moment.