| September 30, 2023 – 4:00 AM
Lin pulled into the apartment complex parking lot, the city streets still quiet, lit only by flickering streetlights and the occasional passing car.
She cut the engine, grabbing the box of fresh donuts from the passenger seat before stepping out. The bag crinkled as she shifted it under one arm, adjusting her keys in the other.
Four in the morning.
She had expected to sneak in, drop her bags, and collapse into bed.
Instead—the soft clatter of dishes greeted her the moment she stepped inside.
Lin paused mid-step, frowning.
The kitchen light was on.
And there, in her robe and work mode face on full display, was Helen Zhang—packing up the kitchen like it was moving day.
Lin blinked. "Mom?"
Helen didn't even look up, her hands expertly wrapping dishes in newspaper. "Took you long enough."
Lin glanced at the counter—half the plates were already stacked in boxes.
She raised an eyebrow. "You're packing?"
Helen finally looked up, giving Lin a pointed look. "What does it look like?"
Lin let out a tired chuckle, setting the box of donuts on the counter. "And here I thought I'd get to be the dramatic one when I told you the news."
Helen paused, wiping her hands on a dish towel. "What news?"
Lin smirked, pulling out a glazed donut and taking a slow bite. Then, around a mouthful of sugar and dough—
"I bought you a clinic."
Helen froze.
Her eyes narrowed. "Excuse me?"
Lin swallowed, licking powdered sugar off her thumb. "You heard me. You officially own a clinic now. Congratulations."
Helen set down the dish towel with very controlled movements. "Lin Zhang, explain. Now."
Lin grinned, reaching for another donut.
"Oh, you're gonna love this story."
| September 30, 2023 – 4:05 AM
Helen crossed her arms, eyes sharp and unreadable. "You have exactly thirty seconds to explain how you 'bought' me a clinic before I start throwing things."
Lin smirked, completely unfazed. She took another bite of her donut, chewing slowly, making Helen wait just long enough to test her patience.
Then, finally—"The owners didn't want to pay severance. They shut the place down to cut their losses. I called them, made an offer, and now I own everything inside. Moving trucks are coming at nine. We'll have it cleared by noon."
Helen blinked once. Twice.
Then—"You bought a clinic overnight?"
Lin shrugged. "I bought clinic equipment overnight. The building was useless to me. But everything inside? That's what matters."
Helen stared. "For how much?"
Lin smirked. "Eighty grand."
Helen pressed a hand to her temple, muttering in Mandarin before leveling Lin with a look. "Do you even know how much medical equipment is worth?"
Lin popped the lid on the donut box and held it out toward her. "Yes. That's why I paid twenty cents on the dollar."
Helen didn't take a donut. "Lin."
Lin grinned. "Mom."
Helen inhaled deeply, like she was debating whether to scold or be impressed. Finally, she sighed and grabbed a donut, taking a small bite before pointing at Lin.
"You're impossible."
Lin raised her own donut in a toast. "You're welcome."
Helen chewed, eyes narrowing again. "And what exactly do you expect me to do with all this?"
Lin licked powdered sugar off her thumb. "Set up your own practice."
Helen paused mid-chew.
Lin leaned against the counter, completely at ease. "You've been running someone else's clinic for years. Now you'll run your own."
Helen was silent for a long moment. Then, in a measured voice—"You think it's that simple?"
Lin smirked. "No. But I think you'll figure it out."
Helen exhaled, staring at her daughter like she wasn't sure if she should be proud or exasperated.
Finally, she took another bite of her donut and muttered—"I need coffee for this conversation."
Lin grinned, reaching for the coffeepot. "Already on it."
| September 30, 2023 – 4:15 AM
Lin poured two cups of coffee, sliding one across the counter to Helen before grabbing another donut. The kitchen was quiet—except for the faint rustling of newspaper-wrapped dishes and the slow clink of ceramic against the table.
Helen took a sip, then let out a deep sigh. "I was supposed to have time to think about what I wanted next."
Lin smirked, dunking a piece of donut into her coffee. "Now you don't have to. I made the decision for you."
Helen gave her a flat look. "That's not how life works."
Lin took a bite, completely unbothered. "Worked pretty well tonight."
Helen shook her head, but there was a tiny smile tugging at the corner of her lips. She tore off a piece of her donut, rolling it between her fingers. "And what if I didn't want to run a clinic again?"
Lin arched an eyebrow. "Do you?"
Helen opened her mouth, then hesitated.
Lin watched her carefully, then leaned back, smirking. "Exactly."
Helen let out another sigh, resting her chin on her hand. "You really did all of this while I was having dinner with friends?"
Lin shrugged, sipping her coffee. "Had to use my time wisely."
Helen chuckled, shaking her head. "Lin, most people panic when they lose their job. You? You see a fire and start buying the furniture."
Lin grinned. "It's an investment."
Helen gave her a long, measured look, fingers tapping against her coffee mug.
Then—"I should be mad."
Lin smirked, sipping her coffee. "But you're not."
Helen exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "No. Because the alternative is admitting that you just handed me the biggest opportunity of my career while I was sitting through the most insufferable dinner of my life."
Lin raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Helen leaned back in her chair, pinching the bridge of her nose like she was still recovering from it. "It was supposed to be a nice dinner—catching up with old friends. Instead, it was two hours of listening to them brag about their children's 'amazing' careers and their perfect lives."
Lin snorted. "Let me guess. Investment bankers, startup founders, doctors married to other doctors?"
Helen huffed a laugh. "One of them married a plastic surgeon and won't stop talking about how she 'never pays for Botox.' Another just bought a third vacation home and spent twenty minutes complaining about 'how exhausting' renovations are."
Lin made a face. "Sounds like a nightmare."
Helen took a sip of coffee, eyes narrowing. "Then one of them—Maggie, of course—turns to me and says, 'Helen, aren't you tired of working? At your age, shouldn't you be relaxing by now?'"
Lin arched an eyebrow. "Wow. Subtle."
Helen's jaw clenched slightly. "She said it with that tone, you know? The one where they pretend it's concern, but it's really just smugness."
Lin nodded. "The 'Oh, poor you, still working' tone?"
Helen pointed at her. "Exactly."
Lin smirked, resting her chin on her hand. "You tell them you quit?"
Helen let out a slow exhale. "I almost did. But then I realized something."
Lin tilted her head. "What's that?"
Helen leaned forward, eyes sharp now. "I don't want to be retired. I love what I do. I just hated doing it for people who don't know what the hell they're doing."
Lin's smirk widened. "And now you don't have to."
Helen let out a soft, disbelieving laugh. "I left that dinner thinking I needed a new plan. And then I come home and you hand me one."
Lin picked up another donut, breaking it in half. "See? I saved you time."
Helen shook her head, taking a bite of her own. "Unbelievable."
They sat in comfortable silence, drinking coffee, the weight of the night settling.
Helen wasn't just starting over.
She was taking control.
And Lin?
She was one step ahead, as always.