Chapter 4

"Ohh dear what happened? Your eyes are puffed out..", shouted mom early in the morning. "Did you not sleep the whole night? Did you play with your phone the whole night again?"

"No...... mom I was ... reading the whole night..... besides my university is starting soon.....", she was a little nervous.

"Study?? did I hear that right?? You are studying?? That also the whole night and on the weekend? How am I supposed to believe you?", Mom was surprised.

"Aww come on mom believe me. I swear I studied the whole night.", Sharlene rasised her three fingers.

                                                   *Note: Three fingers lifting means making a promise.*

"Okay let's see your university grades will show.", said mom with a little angry expression.

"Okay mom, I need to go meet Clara. She said we are having hotpot together. Bye mom.", Sharlene said and hurried towards the door.

"What? Hotpot in the morning? Are you crazy? What if something happens to your stomach?", mom was holding a broom in her hand.

"Mommm, it's not that we are gonna have hotpot right now. We will eat noodles and discuss about out majors and go shopping and eat hotpot later. Okay bye Mom I'm in a hurry", Sharlene left.

"This girl..... I'm so done with her.", mom sighed.

Mom's phone rang.

"Hello"

"Hello, is this Mrs. Jennifer?", said the voice.

"Yes may I know who you are.", said mom

"Please come to Hangzhou cancer hospital right now, we have an emergency..."

Mom's eyes were filled with tears when she heard it...

...

"Hello"

"Sharlene... Come to H cancer hospital right now."

"Mom... Is something wrong? Who's in the hopital?"

"Come and you will know."

Sharlene rushed to the hospital. She hadn't been so nervous in all her lifetime.

"Excuse me, can you tell the room no of Mr. Andrew?", Sharlene was covered in sweat and she was breathing fast after running the whole way to the hospital.

"He is in operation room right now. It'd be better if you could pay the fees.", said the nurse looking at the bill.

"How much is it?", Sharlene was nervous.

"20,000 yuan please.", the nurse looked at her.            *(20000 yuan means about 3099 usd)*

Sharlene gasped. Where would she get all that money?

....

"I am a student. Do we get some discounts?", she was twitching her fingers as she spoke.

The nurse looked at her "do you have your student card?"

"My university starts from tomorrow. I have 1000 yuan now. Tomorrow I will get my card and I will bring it here. Till when can I pay the money?"

"Your relative shall be staying at the hospital for 15 more days so you can pay until then. If you show your student card then we can give you discount. after discount it'll be 18000 yuan.", nurse looks at Sharlene's nervous eyes and twitching fingers.

.

.

"Dad!!! are you alright?" Sharlene came in shouting.

"Sussh! he's sleeping. So what did the nurse say about bill?", mom lowered her voice

"She said total fee is 20,000 yuan and I shall get a discount as a student so total is 18,000 yuan. I had 2000 in my credit card so I gave them all. We still have 16,000 left"

"Holy crap! Its driving me crazy I only have 7000 yuan. Where do we get remaining 9000 yuan???", mom gasped.

"Don't worry mom, take care of dad while I find some solutions."

.

.

"Hi I heard you are hiring a waitress so I came to apply. My name is Yang Sharlene."

"hello could you please give us your contact information, your birth certificate and citizenship."

"Yes here you go. And may I ask how much is the hourly payment?"

"Ohh, it's 500 yuan per hour.", manager looked at her information.

'wow that a lot of money with this I will be able to pay the bill soon' Sharlene thought.

"Thank you for applying. We will inform you today evening via message till today evening.", the manager smiled.

.

.

*Ding *

Phone rings...

Sharlene hurried towards the phone.

' Congratulations!! You have been hired as a waitress.'

Sharlene's heart fluttered. She'd now be able to work and pay off her father's bill with her own effort.

...

*The Next Day*

"Heyy you sleepyhead wake up!! Did you forget your university is starting. You need to move your belongings to your dorm.", mom was shouting.

"ermmm...hmmm... muuummmmm can't I just sleep for a feww moreee tim.....", Sharlene was half asleep.

"You brat do you even know its already 7 am!! just wake up or else I'll beat you."

"Mooomm you are so naggy... Finee I'll wake up.", Sharlene looked at the clock,"Mommmmmm, Why didn't you wake me soon.... Ohh noooooooo I'm gonna be late. Then I can't find a good bed in dorm. Mommm whyyyy.....", She gasped.

"You stupid little brat, I woke you up, 10 times before this and now you have the guts to say these to me? Hurry up and get dressed Daniel said he'll pick you up."

"Really Mom??"

"Yes hurry up."

*She felt the same feeling of her high school back then.*

"Sharlenee... Sharleneeee... are you there... hurry we're late!!"

"Comingg.... Byee momm... I'll miss youuu."

"Ahhh there we go my girl has already grown up. Now the house will be so silent.", said mom wiping tears mixed with feelings of both sadness and happiness.

"Aww come on Mom I will be back on the weekends. After all it is not that far either. Don't cry. Besides I'll be in the same province as you and I will call you frequently. I see you still love me hehe." She grinned.

"Silly girl! I always love you"

"Okay bye mom! Take care of yourself and daddy too I will visit him frequently. Besides I've found a part time job. It'll help clear the bills."

"Bye dear, dont go too hard on yourself. I will also find some ways. Study hard, take care."

...

"Hey how do you even get time to get dressed so well."

"I look good in whatever I wear.", Daniel smirked.

"Hah, don't get too high on yourself."

"I heard you got a job?"

"Who said?"

"Well... I heard the conversation between you and your mom."

"So, you were eavesdropping on us? You prick.", Sharlene raised her eyebrows.

"Okay okay.... sorry your highness... now don't give me that scary look..... So why exactly are you doing a job when you shall be studying?"

"Erm I want to... yes I want to do it for fun"

"You know you cant lie to me..", he knew she was hiding something from him.

........

"Well.... There we go university's here lets get off."

Daniel suddenly clasped her hand.

"No.... we wont get off unless you tell me the truth", he gave a cold stare.

"Fine, My dad got an operation and the bill is 20,000 yuan, we were able to pay 11,000 but we're running out of money so I need to work for 9,000 yuan.", she sighed.

"Why worry? My cousin is doctor so I'll ask him to let you get more discount. Wouldn't it be okay?"

"No! I can't accept that. Other patient also have to pay and they afford it. And I should pay it with my own efforts. Besides I want to work too. Don't bother."

They came out from the car. The atmosphere in the university was refreshing.

"Excuse me, which major are you choosing?", asked a volunteer.

"Oh hi! I am choosing architecture and he is choosing engineering, can you guide us?", Sharlene was smiling

Her smile made Daniel's heart flutter.

"Little meowww"

"Sharleneee"

Came two voices from the crowd. It was Lex and Clara.

"Heyy don't call me with that name.", Sharlene was agitated.

"Heyy Sharlene. We'd better get the same dorm now. You two go fill the forms. Sharlene and I will also go fill it."

Daniel gave a cold stare to Lex.

They all filled their forms.

"Okay we will go to our dorms and unpack our things. We will meet you guys later. Bye Daniel! Bye Lex.", Sharlene waved at them

"Bye meoww",Lex shouted.

Daniel waved and smiled at her.