"Mr Lu if you don't leave my office now am going to call security to throw you out". a middle aged looking man said he was wearing glasses, there was also a white coat hanging on the door with a stethoscope on the table he seemed to be a doctor.
"please just one more day I promise I'll look for the money", Lu chen said.
"And how exactly do you plan on doing that you have an annual salary of five thousand yuan or rather had since you just lost your job, some mobsters are out for you since you've been unable to pay back the money you borrowed let's not even talk about your outstanding fees of over five hundred thousand yuan, the surgery costs three million yuan even I a top surgeon with a salary of seven hundred thousand yuan will at least take a few weeks to procure that money so I gave you two months mr lu it's been three months yet all you could get was a hundred thousand yuan and now you're telling me you're going to get three million yuan in one day you do realize how ridiculous that sounds right. Mr lu I am doing a great deal of restraint by respecting your self esteem so please do yourself a favor and kindly leave my office ", Dr yang lashed out.
Lu chen was greeted with the news of his mother's failing health four months ago, his mother was in urgent need of a heart transplant and his life savings were not even up to fifty thousand yuan , he started borrowing from every source possible but all he could get was a hundred thousand yuan he was now at his wits end but he couldn't allow his mother to just die due to his incompetence.
" I understand , thank you for everything Dr Yang I'll take my leave"
"poor soul, " Dr Yang sighed
Lu chen left the office looking downcast, "am I really going to go there", he thought to himself gritting his teeth, he headed towards the exit and stopped a cab
" minhang district, how much? " he asked
"that will be fifty yuan ",the driver replied.
"fifty yuan! that's too much don't you think",Lu chen cried out in alarm.
" young man you do realise you're in shanghai right, the home of the rich and famous so everything is double it's usual price", the driver said with a raised eyebrow.
"alright I know but fifty yuan is all I have you don't wanna take everything from me do you?"Lu chen asked shamelessly .
"alright get in I'll waive you ten yuan you sure are persistent I wonder what you're going to do in minhang though",the driver asked curiously "hehehe just some odd jobs", Lu chen replied
" ok but be careful though ", he advised
"Alright sir, thanks for your concern ." he said with a light smile
Lu chen noticed an odd watch on his hands he wondered where he got it from ,it seemed as though it was moving clockwise and anti clockwise at the same time it was sophisticated like an antique.
" hey old man where did you get this watch from ? It looks like an expensive antique",he asked.
"oh it's a heirloom",the driver replied looking at the rear mirror.
"i've got to give it to you for carrying your heirloom around like a regular watch ever considered it getting stolen" Lu chen questioned .
" oh please no one would want to steal from an old man like me" he replied confidently.
" How are you so sure?"Lu chen wondered amusedly where he got his blind confidence from.
"I just know and besides don't underestimate my old bones am strong enough to protect my stuff",he replied
"if you say so ",lu chen said with an amused look on his face.
After some few more minutes they reached their destination.
" we've arrived "he said
" ok ", he replied and opened the door
" here is 50 yuan keep the change ",lu chen said
"I enjoyed the ride,you made me forget the things weighing on my mind ", he said.
During the ride Lu chen forgot all about his worries due to the drivers humor and warmness that made him feel safe.
" oh, what was all that bargaining for then wasn't it all you had? ", the driver questioned laughing. "it really is "Lu chen said with a solemn expression this was all he had now except his mission here was successful he will be left with nothing. "oh, I see",the driver said taken aback.
"then I must give you something in return, here have this watch".he said handing over the watch formally on his wrist.
"I thought you said it was a heirloom ",Lu chen asked puzzedly .
"yh I did but it's not like I had anyone to pass it to so just take it ",the driver replied. "it seems he may have either lost his family or his a loner ", lu chen thought to himself.
" ok if you say so thanks",lu chen said taking the watch he wondered how much it could sell for. "alright then have a nice and fulfilled day young man ",he said speeding off.
" you too sir!"
Lu chen took a look at the familiar surroundings and clenched his fist with a determined look. He definitely didn't want to be back at this place ,
he was going to see his father who he hated and who also hated him usually whenever they crossed paths there was always tension, he left their family for a richer woman and his excuse was that his mother cheated.
Someone framed his mother for infidelity just to ruin her reputation and career and he knew exactly who did that it was Tang shu the woman who married his father.
" Alright here goes nothing" he took a deep breath and knocked at the gate.
" How may I help you," a security guard responded.
" I would love to meet with Mr Tang", Lu chen replied
"what business do you have with him if I may ask", the security guard asked sneering inside.
He had seen too many of this already people thinking they could just seek audience with Mr Tang at will.
"Am his son",Lu chen answered.
"oh".
The guard was taken aback among all the lies he had heard on his post no one had the guts to make such claims he had the urge to ignore Lu chen but as a professional guard he had to report first so he dialed the home line.
" Sir someone here claims to be your son",he said to Mr tang on the phone
"what's your name ",he asked.
" lu chen" he answered
"his name is lu chen, oh ok" putting down the phone he gave lu chen an intense stare that gave lu chen the creeps and opened the gate. "Come in" he said.
Lu chen ignored his stare and stepped in with a solemn gaze his heart raced and he clenched his fist and took a deep breath.
" what are you doing here? ",Tang ming questioned sarcastically.
"Dad ", Lu chen called out
"Don't call me that, state your purpose", Tang ming interrupted
Lu chen immediately knelt down
"I beg you father mother is about to die", he said filled with sorrow
"that old hag can die for all I care how is that my business " ,Tang ming said coldly
Lu chen shivered at the words of his supposedly father .Suddenly a voice rang out and a figure came into view and there she was a middle aged woman who liked she had undergone quite a number of surgeries as everything looked fake came in with a mean stare
"what are you doing here, "Tang shu his father's current wife asked with a mean glare .
Ignoring her he turned to his father and continued begging,
"I beg you father please she justs needs 3 million yuan for her heart surgery if you can give me this money you can forget about my existence.... "
"why don't you go rob a bank ",Tang shu interrupted .
"your mothers a shrew she deserves death "she said filled with hate. Lu chen clenched his fist and tolerated the insults, "it dosent matter what they say as long as my mother can be saved",he thought to himself trying to stay calm. "I have nothing to say to you see yourself out ",Tang ming said coldy .
"I beg you please even if is half a million it could go a long way ",Lu chen pleaded once again
"see yourself out ",Tang ming said unfazed by his continual plea
"no father I'll stay right here till you help me",Lu chen said determined to get help.
"suit yourself then shu'er come with me let's go inside ",Tang ming said heading towards the door
"Father....
" pa! the sharp sound of a slap rang out lu chen was in a daze he couldn't believe this woman dared to lay her hands on him in front of his father he turnex to look at his father whether he would react only to see a blank face, it finally dawned on him that he doesn't care at all
"he's not your father respect yourself ",Tang shu spat out in rage and slammed the door.
Lu chen smiled in self mockery 'what was he expecting', however he remained in the same position not getting up from the ground hoping that maybe his father may find a little compassion in his heart and will open the door and come to his aid unfortunately he knelt till the next day in the cold snow.
He had already gotten frost bites and his lips were blue ,he was shivering and his knee was filled with bruises.
Suddenly the door creaked and slowly opened, his eye lit up, "is he finally going to be able to save his mother he thought",
" splash! tang shu emptied the bucket of ice water on him .
"Since you don't want to leave and want to continue to humiliate yourself, have a cold bath" she said sneering and slammed the door shut again.
lu chen silently cursed under his breath.
" Is my mother going to die because of me ", Lu chen silently thought as his eyelids slowly closed and he passed out .