"We have been following the conditions of the contract for many years now, and now I feel that it would be best for us to nullify the contract. I have fulfilled our end of the bargain by giving you a monthly allowance for years, and now that you're taking everything that you gave us in the first place, then it's also time for me to break free from the contract and take control of my own life," declared Lin Lisha with unwavering determination.
Many years back, Lin Lisha's father gave her some cash to start her food stall. However, there were a few conditions attached - one of them being that she had to provide her parents with a monthly allowance. Despite her best efforts, Lin Lisha could only scrape by with a modest income. She had to allocate a portion of her earnings towards rent and another portion towards her parents' allowance. After all that, she was left with a measly sum, half of which was snatched up by Yun Chun as pocket money. With only a few hundred yuan left to support her small family, Lin Lisha and Lin Bao had to work tirelessly to make ends meet.
Upon hearing this, Su Fang was taken aback. This contract had been her primary tool in causing hardship for Lin Lisha. Several years prior, Su Fang had devised the terms and conditions of the contract, and had effectively exploited Lin Chang for an extended period of time. If she were to breach the contract now, Su Fang would lose her most significant leverage in this game. As such, she could not allow that to occur.
"Wait, what? You're not going to support your own parents anymore? Lin Lisha, are you serious? They brought you into this world!" Su Fang exclaimed, her voice filled with panic. She was at a loss for words, knowing all too well how greedy her in-laws could be. She feared they would toss aside the contract just to get their hands on some cash.
"Ugh, talk about greed! Su Fang, seriously? Don't be so extra. Either take it or leave it," Ye Huiqing quipped, giving an exaggerated eye roll.
"Tell me, how much money are you giving us?" asked old Mrs. Lin skeptically. Su Fang had mentioned that Lin Lisha's business was doing well, but Mrs. Lin wasn't certain about the exact amount. Therefore, she was unsure whether to accept Lin Lisha's offer or not.
"Four hundred thousand Yuan," Lin Lisha announced, and the room fell silent. The sheer amount of money she had made in just fifteen days left everyone stunned. Even Su Fang, who thought she wouldn't be swayed, couldn't believe her ears. Lin Qian and Old Mr Lin were equally shocked, now their eyes and hands craved to touch and see the money. Old Mrs Lin's eyes glimmered with a greedy light, and she couldn't help but wonder just how beautiful Lin Lisha's daughter must be to have earned such a fortune.
The infamous daughter swapping fiasco was already known to everyone in the Lin family. But things took a wild turn when news spread that Lin Lisha had actually bought up the daughter of the Yun family. The old Lin couple saw this as an opportunity to make a quick buck and attempted to extort money from the Yun family. However, they were no match for the shrewd and cunning Yun Chun, who kicked them out before they could even make their demands. The Lin family was left with a bitter taste in their mouths, realizing that if only they had treated Yun Chun with a little better, they wouldn't have been left empty-handed.
But now that the chance to make a fast buck had presented itself once more, they were eager to seize it. Their sole focus was on the amount Lin Lisha offered and no other conditions mattered to them.
The sun had barely risen the next morning when the surgery of Mrs Cai was finally complete. Eighteen grueling hours had passed, but the team of seven had emerged victorious. Lin Chang, the lead surgeon, let out a long-awaited sigh of relief as she gave the final instruction, "Stitch up."
The team had worked tirelessly, with two interns and three medical assistants supporting Lin Chang and her colleague, Song Mu. As they emerged from the operating theater, Lin Chang was met with the sight of Mr Cai, and the director, waiting outside. Mr Cai's bloodshot eyes and heavy bags under his eyes were a testament to the long night he had endured. But as soon as he saw Lin Chang, he stood up and made his way towards her, but didn't say anything and kept looking towards the OT door.
Mr. Cai was at a loss for words. The mere thought of asking about his wife's surgery sent shivers down his spine. He dreaded the possibility of hearing the news he didn't want to hear. He had been bracing himself for the worst since the surgery began yesterday, but now that it was over, he couldn't summon the strength he had built up over the last 18 hours. The uncertainty of what had transpired inside the operating room was eating away at him, leaving him feeling helpless and vulnerable.
As the Director trailed behind Mr. Lin, he couldn't help but feel the heavy atmosphere that surrounded them. But then, he caught a glimpse of Lin Chang's reassuring nod and knew that everything was going to be alright.
"Mr. Cai, I have some amazing news for you!" exclaimed Lin Chang, her eyes sparkling with joy. "The surgery was a complete success and Mrs. Cai is doing wonderfully! She'll be kept in the ICU for a few more hours until the anesthesia wears off, then she'll be moved to her own private room."
As Mr. Cai heard these words, he felt like a huge weight had been lifted off his chest. He couldn't believe what he was hearing - was it really true? His heart was racing as he asked Lin, "Are you serious? You're not joking, are you?"
Lin smiled warmly at him and reassured him, "I promise you, Mr. Cai, I'm not joking. Your wife is going to be just fine. You can breathe easy now."
And then, to add to the joyous moment, Song Mu emerged from the ward with a grin that could light up a room. It was hard to believe that he had just been a part of an 18-hour surgery.
Song Mu was beaming with joy as he turned to Lin Chang and bowed in respect. "Dr Lin, You are truly a treasure in the medical world," he exclaimed. Today was a day he would never forget. Not only did he have the privilege of witnessing the legendary doctor's incredible skills, but he also had the opportunity to learn from her. Since joining the hospital after completing his master's degree, Song Mu had faced numerous obstacles. Whether it was his colleagues or Dr. Kan, he felt like he wasn't getting the exposure he needed. But today, everything changed. He watched in awe as Dr. Lin flawlessly performed the surgery, and every small detail she shared with him felt like a precious gem. "Director, I can't thank you enough for this incredible opportunity," Song Mu said with gratitude.
Lin Chang flashed a warm smile and replied, "Dr. Song, you're too kind! But I must say, you're exaggerating it a bit."
But Song Mu wasn't deterred. He couldn't help but gush over Lin Chang's surgical prowess. "No, no, I mean it! You were amazing there. I would be honored if you could be my mentor in the future. Your corrections were so graceful and your tips were like gold nuggets!"
"Well, I would be happy to help in any way I can," she said graciously. "Just let me know how I can be of assistance."
Lin Chang's gaze shifted to Mr Cai, who was a complete mess. Tears streamed down his face as he spoke, his voice choked with emotion.
"Dr Lin, thank you so much," he said, his gratitude pouring out of him. He bowed repeatedly, apologizing for not trusting her sooner. "I can't thank you enough, Dr Lin. My wife is my only family, and if anything had happened to her, I would have been left alone in this world. But now, thanks to you, I have a new lease on life and a renewed hope for the future. Thank you, Dr Lin."
"Mr. Cai! Don't you worry, everything's under control now. Why don't you take a breather and rest up for a bit? Once Mrs. Cai wakes up, you two will have plenty to catch up on," Lin Chang reassured him with a warm smile. She couldn't help but feel a bit uncomfortable with Mr. Cai constantly bowing in respect towards her. After all, these types of surgeries were a piece of cake back in her era. She didn't feel like she deserved such high praise.
With just a few words, Mr. Cai left the director, Song Mu, and Lin Chang alone. As the silence settled in, the director turned to Lin Chang with a look of admiration. "Dr. Lin, I trusted the right person," he said, his eyes shining with pride. He had always known that Lin Chang was an exceptional individual, but there had been a moment of hesitation. Now, however, the final result was nothing short of victorious.
Lin Chang simply smiled in response. "Director, I had my reasons," she said, her voice calm and collected. "There's no need to thank me." But there was a hint of something else in her tone - a quiet confidence that spoke volumes about her abilities.
"I just hope that my name stays a secret," Lin Chang continued. "For my family and friends, I'm still just an ordinary high school student. So I hope you know what you have to do."
The director nodded in agreement, his expression serious. "Rest assured," he said. "Your secret is safe with us."
Out of nowhere, a security guard came sprinting towards them, his face twisted in panic. "Director!" he shouted, breathless. "You won't believe it - there's a swarm of media waiting outside!"
The trio was taken aback by this sudden revelation. "What?!" they exclaimed in unison.
Lin Chang's eyes darted towards the Director, who seemed to have grasped the gravity of the situation. Without wasting a moment, he turned on his heel and strode away, with Song Mu hot on his heels.
Mr Kan was up to no good last night. He stayed put in his office, eagerly waiting for the surgery to finish. As soon as he heard it's done, his twisted mind started churning out plans. He knew exactly what he was going to do. He picked up the phone and called the media, asking them to gather outside the hospital.
Mr. Kan had meticulously orchestrated his scheme, intending to exploit Lin Chang's surgical failure to create a spectacle. He planned to invite the media to bear witness to the ensuing chaos and further inflame the situation. However, when he emerged from his office, poised to execute his plan, he was met with the most astonishing news: the surgery had been a success.