Sara didn't rush to give her an answer. Instead, she listened to Penny slowly recount what had happened that afternoon, deciding to offer her advice after hearing the full story.As for the final decision, she believed it should still be left to Penny. At such a pivotal moment in life, Sara didn't feel she could decide for someone else.If the wrong path was chosen, Penny might end up resenting her.This was Sara's principle—every year after students received their scores, she would weigh the pros and cons of each option and let the children make their own decisions.But after hearing Penny's story, Sara was furious."How could there be such a father in this world? In all my years of teaching, I've never encountered such a person!"She had dealt with parents who were alcoholics, abusive, or hands-off in various ways.But she had never seen a parent who would push their own child into the fire like this, especially on the day of the college entrance exam.Even those parents who
Penny's absence from the last exam became widely known. The news didn't come from Sara but from a few close classmates who asked her how she did on the exam.Penny didn't hide the truth and briefly explained that she missed the exam due to an unexpected incident. However, she only shared the specific details with Cecilia.The classmates didn't gossip about Penny's situation. Instead, during their free time, they sent her motivational messages, subtly reassuring her that life had many paths and one exam shouldn't be a cause for despair.Penny took screenshots of these messages, feeling both amused and touched.These young hearts' sincerity, untainted by any self-interest, was something she would forever remember.In the years to come, Penny often looked at these screenshots saved in her cloud storage, especially during her lowest moments.When she was being undermined in the industry, all her resources were taken away, and even her blood relatives stepped on her, it was these word
The incident happened during their senior year when they were about to start their internships. Cecilia's grandmother, Scarlett, suddenly fell ill and was taken to the hospital by a neighbor.During her university years, Penny often returned to Riverwood, the place where she grew up, harboring a sense of nostalgia. However, she never went back to the Lowe residence.Even on New Year's Eve, she stayed elsewhere, only returning on the first day of the new year for a short visit. She would quickly leave under the pretense of having to work part-time, not even staying for a meal.Spencer scolded her, calling it disgraceful for the Lowe family's eldest daughter to be out working part-time and showing her face in public.Penny responded with a sarcastic smile, reminding him that he had cut off her allowance and never reinstated it. How else was she supposed to survive without working?Spencer, filled with anger, had nothing more to say. It was clear to everyone that he wanted Penny to b
That was why, with Scarlett hospitalized, Penny naturally couldn't sit idly by. Since she chose these people as her family, she was willing to pour in effort wholeheartedly.Scarlett had worked in the town without health insurance. Unfamiliar with the policies and having an unreliable son, she had only Cecilia, a young child, with her and hadn't considered buying national health insurance.Now, with the illness and hospitalization, all expenses had to be paid out of their pockets. But where would the money come from?The money she had earned previously was used for her medicine, living expenses with Cecilia, and other essentials. While tuition was covered by the state, living expenses were not.Moreover, Moses often came back to rummage through her belongings and take any money he found until he was finally arrested. It gave Scarlett some respite and allowed her to save a little.But this small amount of money was not enough to cover the medical expenses.Penny took out all the s
Scarlett was resuscitated in the hospital and transferred to a general ward after a week in the ICU.As soon as she regained a bit of consciousness, she started clamoring to go home.Holding Cecilia's hand, her weak voice trembled as she said, "Cecilia, take me home. I'll be fine with some medicine and a few injections."Cecilia and Penny had already understood Scarlett's health condition thoroughly over these few days. Her constitution had weakened, and her years of illness caused both frustration and sadness.When she felt unwell, she would just buy some painkillers. And if she couldn't bear it, she would go to a nearby clinic for a couple of injections.The doctors at the small clinic advised her to go to the hospital for treatment. But Scarlett stubbornly insisted on getting injections there, saying she had no money to go to the hospital and no one to care for her there.Helpless, the doctors could only prescribe her some medication. But what could they prescribe other than s
Penny didn't need Scarlett to speak to know what she was thinking.Having just been transferred to the general ward for observation, her body was still severely weak. Why let Scarlett exert herself talking?Penny let go of her hand and said earnestly, "Grandma, just relax. Since the doctor said you can be cured, let's cooperate with them fully."There's nothing more important than health and having the family together. If you insist on treating me as an outsider and worrying about the money, then when you get better, you and Cecilia can sell yourselves to me and be my family for life."The playful words finally lightened the atmosphere in the ward.Whether it was Penny's and Cecilia's comforting words taking effect or a natural instinct to grasp every chance for survival, Scarlett's condition began to improve over the next week.Seeing that Scarlett was recovering well, the doctor discussed the surgery schedule with Penny and Cecilia. He explained all the precautions, risks, and
"Fortunately, the surgery was very successful!"The first one to come out of the room was an intern studying under the anesthesiologist.After delivering the good news, he explained that his teacher was still inside and would only come out once Scarlett regained consciousness slightly.If all of Scarlett's vital signs were stable, she would be transferred to the general ward, and then they could visit her.At this, Penny and Cecilia finally felt a sense of relief. After nearly a whole day without resting, hearing this reassuring news almost made Penny and Cecilia collapse.Seeing their exhausted states, the intern couldn't help but chuckle/ "If you're too tired, go back and get some rest. The hospital staff will take good care of the patient."Besides, the patient won't wake up so soon. Even if you're allowed to visit her, you would just be sitting here."It's better to go home and rest well, and then come back tomorrow fully rested to take care of her. Otherwise, you'll just we
Penny shot Cecilia a displeased look.Cecilia glanced at her phone, saw the two alarms she had set, and gave an embarrassed smile.Penny snorted softly. She went back to the bathroom to rinse her mouth and wash her face. When she came out, she couldn't help but vent."Who was the one who said to turn off all the alarms and sleep until we naturally wake up? It turns out I was the only one who took it seriously, sleeping until noon like a lazy bum."The small, shabby room didn't have a separate dining room, and the dining table was also Cecilia's desk.Penny sat across from her. Still not having much appetite after waking up and brushing her teeth, she sipped her soy milk slowly, looking at the breakfast on the table with a lack of interest.Cecilia apologized, "I suddenly got some work, so I had to get up. Besides, you didn't have anything urgent to do, so it's fine for you to sleep a bit more."Penny had sold her apartment to pay for Scarlett's medical bills and moved to this di