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Before Yves King could say something, Faye Owen sat down beside him with a face full of sympathy and sadness, hugged Teacher Zhao's shoulders, and comfortingly, apologetically said, "Teacher Zhao, I didn't know about the distressing situation your family is going through, I'm truly sorry. Moreover, don't be too heartbroken. Current medical treatments are quite advanced. Although renal failure is a serious illness, if you get a kidney transplant in time and receive good care afterward, you can still recover. If you can't do it domestically, you can go overseas. Besides, I know some doctor friends in America. I can ask them to contact the medicos at the hospital that have better treatments for renal failure."
Teacher Zhao's eyes initially brightened, but then quickly dimmed again. After hesitating a bit and seemingly making a significant decision, he held Faye Owen's hand and gratefully said, "Miss Owen, I've already caused you a lot of trouble with this matter. I can't let you go to further trouble on my behalf, can I?"
"Teacher Zhao, don't be so formal. This is a matter of saving people's lives. I'm just making a few phone calls and contacting doctors, it's no trouble. And your daughter has just gotten into a prestigious university, she has an unlimited future. Just overcome these small setbacks," Faye Owen gently smiled, her demeanor contrasting starkly with her cold and bullish nature at the company.
Yves King also stepped forward to comfort him, "Yes, Teacher Zhao. Miss Owen studied in America, she has connections there. Just prepare on your end, after all, you'll need to deal with visa procedures and such to get treatment overseas. If you have any problems, I can ask a friend for help."
"King, I'm grateful that you forgave me for renting out the house without your consent. As for the visa, I will prepare it myself, you don't need to bother." Teacher Zhao looked somewhat relieved, but his eyebrows were still furrowed.
Yves King had already guessed. She was still worrying about money. After all, the cost of treatment domestically had already driven her to sell her belongings. If she went to America for treatment the cost would certainly be significant. Yves King guessed that she had decided to sell her house. The price of houses in Sea City had been soaring, it was quite outrageous. If she sold the house, it would indeed support the treatment in America.
However, his mother once said - a house provided the soil for a family to put down their roots in. A home without a house of their own is like a rootless duckweed; easily swayed by the winds and unable to find peace.
That's why his mother always scrimped and saved, pinched pennies and worked herself to the bone just to buy this small house. Her goal was to provide a stable home and to support the once young Yves, offering him a sky under which he could grow up.
Sigh~ Mother's love knows no bounds. Not just his own mother, but Teacher Zhao, Miao Miao's mother, was no different, is she?
"Miss Owen, the money you gave today, I...I've spent it all paying recent medical fees," Teacher Zhao said with shame and regret to Faye Owen, "So, I'll write you an IOU now. Give me some time to raise some money, and I'll pay you back as soon as I can?"
"No need, no need." Faye Owen grew up in a wealthy family and has always lived lavishly. The years she spent overseas were also flush with monetary support from her family. A few thousand bucks were far from enough even to buy a purse she liked. To her, money had never been an issue. Seeing Teacher Zhao struggling so much just to get treatment for his daughter and even humbling himself to beg for help touched her heart. She waved her hand and said, "Keep that money for emergencies." Not only that, but she directly picked up the purse on the coffee table, took out a few thousand bucks from it and handed it to Teacher Zhao saying, "Teacher Zhao, use this money to buy some food for Miao Miao. I'll visit her at the hospital this weekend."
"How could I?" Teacher Zhao stood up in surprise and hurriedly refused, "Miss Owen, we've just met, and I'm already grateful for your help. How could I not return your money, let alone take more of it?"
"Teacher Zhao, everyone has their ups and downs. It's a good deed to be kind to others. Maybe when I'm in trouble, Teacher Zhao you will help me out, won't you?" Faye Owen laughed lightly.
"Yes, Teacher Zhao, accept this kindness, please. Miss Owen comes from a wealthy family and wouldn't miss this small change. Look at her purse, if she sold it, it could buy a minivan." Seeing that Faye Owen seemed intent on doing good, Yves King naturally wouldn't stop her. No matter what, Teacher Zhao had extended kindness and care towards him when he and his mother were new to the city. Morally and emotionally, he had a stronger bond with Teacher Zhao than with Faye Owen whom he barely knew.
"Hmm?" Hearing Yves King's words, Faye Owen suddenly realized that she seemed to be running short of money herself. Damn it, the rent for her three months lease and one month deposit came from her symbolic salary from the last two months. The three thousand bucks were deposit and advance payment refunded from the hotel. Handing all of it out, how was she to live from then on? She was so used to not lacking money that in her surge of sympathy, she completely forgot that she was broke now.
When Faye Owen thought of this harsh reality, her head began to spin. Her pretty face turned slightly pale, as she silently prayed, "Oh, Teacher Zhao, it's not that I, Faye Owen, am stingy, but it's all because of my unscrupulous old dad who squandered all the money. I would appreciate it if you could decline once more so I can smoothly take it back."
Who would have known that Teacher Zhao seemed to be in desperate need of money lately. Previously, accepting Faye Owen's "charity" always made her feel somewhat uneasy. After all, Faye looked like a recent college graduate who had just started working and had to rent a place to live.
However, after hearing Yves King's words, her guilt was greatly diminished. It turned out Faye was a kind-hearted rich young lady. What replaced her guilt was more of gratitude towards Faye Owen. With tears welling up in her eyes, she accepted the money and tightly held Faye's soft and perfect hand, "Miss Owen, not only are you more beautiful than those superstars, but you're also a great philanthropist. I, Zhao Rong, will never forget this favor. If you need anything in the future, like if your relative's child needs tutoring, my husband Old Lane and I will be more than happy to help."
Teacher Zhao's excitement was genuine. In the past, when her family didn't have any problems, she didn't put much thought into such an amount of money. But now, Faye Owen's act was like sending charcoal in snowy weather. Everyone was used to adding flowers to the brocade.
Faye Owen's eyes widened in astonishment, her heart throbbing, almost tearing up. But what's said cannot be unsaid, and the water that's spilled cannot be retrieved. She could only helplessly watch Teacher Zhao accept the money and thank her profusely. The thought of her last bit of money being given away caused a torrent of mixed feelings surging in her heart, rolling endlessly.
Teacher Zhao, why didn't you decline once more? Doesn't our people, especially intellectuals, like to decline a few times? Wail, my money is all gone, it's all because of this damned King, showing off my wealth, saying that my bag is worth as much as a van. What lousy taste, comparing those broken vans to my beloved bag?
Decorously blaming Yves King instead of Teacher Zhao, Faye turned her head and glared at King fiercely. The thought of being left penniless after a series of misadventures made her even feel like beating someone up.
Naturally, Yves King was somewhat puzzled and wondered what on earth irked Miss Owen, this "Queen". Did I just praise her for doing a good deed?
Women, oh women, so fickle.
Thinking of the mountain of tasks that awaited Teacher Zhao at home, Yves said to her: "Teacher Zhao, you've been working too hard recently. Why don't you go home and rest early? Once I get things settled in the next few days, I will visit Miaomiao in the hospital."
"Alright, King. Miss Owen is a good person, make sure you do not bully her." Teacher Zhao winked at King from an angle invisible to Faye. After expressing her gratitude to Faye profusely, she excused herself.
It wasn't until she left that Yves lit a cigarette for himself and sighed, "Life is full of unpredictable blessings and disasters. Before, Teacher Zhao's family, although not rich, lived a stable and satisfied life. But life can be so turbulent, it can toss people around like this."
Faye Owen also felt the same sentiment and added, "Indeed, life is like a ship sailing on the open sea. It might be calm one day, but who knows when a storm might suddenly arise, taking one by surprise?" Just thinking about how she was a millionaire in the morning, and now, in just a day, she had turned into a pauper, she couldn't help but sigh.
Yves gave her a disdainful glance, "What does it matter to you, a carefree capitalist lady? What the hell do you know? Quit acting profound and melancholic in front of me."
Considering herself a master of psychology and having strong self-control, Faye didn't know why this King's expressions and words often provoked her, causing her anger to flare up. Angrily she retorted, "Mr. King, please mind your language. What does my feeling about life have to do with you?"
"It doesn't involve me," Yves said lazily as he slumped on the couch, waving his hand, "Alright, the issue has been resolved, can you please leave?"
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