Revenge

Chapter 12 Life-saving money!

Amanda instinctively took a step backwards. She had barely survived last night, and it disgusted hersimply at the thought of his big fat hands and bloated belly.

Then, behind Mr. Hu came the President Liu who she had just met this morning. He was grinningbroadly at Amanda and said in a hoarse voice: “Mi, come on, come over here.”

Mi?

Well, what’s that endearment about?

Amanda had seen faces like that a lot, and she was sure there was something President Liu wantedfrom her; was it to please Mr. Hu and spend another night with him again, or...

She did not duck, but went down the stairs and walked toward Mr. Liu and Mr. Hu.

"Mi, sorry about last; there was some misunderstanding between Mr. Hu and you; Mr. Hu is actually areally good guy; he is the age of your dad; and she was like an uncle to you, so...” Said President Liuincoherently.

Amanda was amused by his analogy, especially after last night; what kind of monster uncle would havetried such things with his niece? Amanda remained cold-faced and interrupted him: “President Liu, justcut the shit and tell me what’s it. It is getting late and I still have class.”

The tough attitude of Mia had now did surprise President Liu a lot; it was like she was another girl.President Liu had not other choice: “Mi. We had a deal last night before heading to the hotel; one nightsleeping with Mr. Hu and twenty thousand dollars for you; I know your mother’s illness was now in needof a large amount of money; that’s why I help you in the first place. You can not blame Mr. Hu; besideshe did do anything to you last night, did he?”

That was her mother, the picture of a patient with hair loss...She was serious ill, that’s why Mia soldherself to the society scum...for twenty thousand dollars? Everything made its sense to Amanda all atonce. Twenty thousand dollars? Aaron Gu was such a noble and generous man compared with this Mr.Hu.

Amanda was lost in thought and did not answer; President Liu added: “So, you cannot bear grudgeover Mr. Hu; it was your own choice and it was a fair deal; you are still young and you would knowwhen you grow up a bit.”

Amanda was fed up with his self-righteous lecturing; she turned around and said, "Alight! Let thebygone be the bygone. I'm going to class!"novelbin

"Don't!" President Liu grabbed her by the arm; Amanda shook his hands off and glared him in the eyessaying: “Don’t you even touch me. Even if you are the president, I could sue you for the sexharassment!”

Mr. Hu was watching silently and wiping his forehead with his napkin again and again as his fat bodyseemed not to handle the heat of the summer very well; and suddenly his mouth opened and said,"Whoa, a rose with thorns!"

President Liu winked at Mr. Hu to remind him of misbehaving then smiled obsequiously andapologetically: “Mi, Mr. Hu has some issues with Mr. Gu over last night, misunderstandings...I think weare all friends and there is no need to make such a deadlock out of it; so...we are thinking of inviting Mr.Gu and apologizing to him face to face...”

That why they were acting like this; Amanda knew it must have something to do with Aaron Gu beforehe even spoke. So President Liu bought what she made up of this morning. She decided to swim withthe current and asked plainly : “So, what does it has to do with me?”

President Liu’s grin was even broader but his eyes narrowed into a crack, totally different from thedomineering attitude in the morning: "Mi, since Mr Gu like you so much, we have a favor to ask fromyou: be our mediator and put in some good words for Mr. Hu; and let’s solve the issue; what do youthink?”

So, they were planning on using her as the bargain chip. What a great idea.

President Liu thrust a pile of red banknotes into her hand before she could even react and said: “Mi,take the money and buy some food for you mother..”

Amanda did not push the money away immediately; President Liu patted her palms holding the moneygently, then retracted his hands back, straightened up his waist and said, "It’s a deal! Mi, we will pickyou up when we have Mr. Gu over for a meal." Then he turned to face Mr. Hu, who was still sweatinglike a dog: "Mr. Hu, it's hot out here. Let’s go to the office and have a rest. Don't get sunstroke.Everything is settled, relax..."

"Mi, go to you class now!" President Liu turned to wave to her with the same smiling face.

Amanda felt the money in her hand. There should be like twenty thousand dollars.

She needed the money badly...

It was her ticket to get back to S City...

She had so many things she wanted to do that she needed money.

Obviously, money was the last things she had to care about for her whole life, but not now, she neededthem so desperately. The dirty business was the easiest way to get money. That was why the 17-year-old Mia sold herself, wasn’t it?

Amanda was still hesitating when her cell phone rang in the same familiar melody:

"I wonder if he remembers? Once the love was so deep and heated, in that spring and summer. Yetnow. Don't talk, it's raining, and we prefer to stay naive..."

The caller ID on the phone screen read: Dr. Cheng.

As soon as the phone was put through, a gentle male voice came out from the receiver: "Mia, I know itis not easy for you but still I have to inform you that hospitalization expenses of this week would be...”

Amanda smiled wryly; Mia’s life was not any easier, not at all.

Making up her mind, Amanda stuffed the money in her bag and said to the man at the other end, "Dr.Cheng, I'm going to the hospital right now. I...I have got the money for this week’s expense."

For her now and for Mia, money was something so important and life-saving. She would not blink hereyes in sacrificing anything for it, neither would have Mia...

Amanda then took a taxi to the People's Hospital in C. After consulting the reception desk, she foundDr. Cheng's office; a warm male voice invited her in after knocking on the door, "Come in."

Amanda pushed open the door. Behind the desk sat a man in a white gown, his head bowed, his longfingers writing something on a list. Contrary to his mature calmness in the phone, he was a very youngman, with a handsome face and a pair of square glasses before his calm and confident eyes. Amandafelt a sense of security just by looking at him.

He smiled at Amanda who was standing a bit awkwardly at the door and motioned her to take a seatwith his long fingers giving a habitual push to his glasses: “Mia, here you are; have a seat.”