6

Adrian and I barely knew each other.

When I worked part-time in the campus cafeteria, he often came to my station. Unlike the regular cafeteria staff, I never shook meat off the serving spoon. His tray always left my counter piled high.

Eventually, we added each other as contacts. He messaged every day to ask what dishes were available.

Then I started my internship and began dating Julian. Adrian and I stopped talking.

Now, out of nowhere, he wanted to have dinner.

After thinking about it, I declined.

Sorry. I'm busy sending out résumés.

He didn't push.

No hurry. Ask me anytime.

The next few days were quiet. I traveled across the city for interviews. Julian didn't contact me.

The last message in our chat was several days old.

I know you're upset about not getting the offer. I'll give you time to vent.

I didn't answer.

I thought I would never call him again.

Then a neighbor from my hometown phoned me one afternoon.

“Lily, I passed your house and found your grandmother unconscious in the yard. I called an ambulance. She's at the county hospital. You need to come home.”

I bought a high-speed rail ticket and left that night.

The doctor said my grandmother had an aortic dissection and needed surgery immediately. The operation would cost around 140,000 yuan, and the deposit had to be paid first.

My grandmother grew watermelons for a living. She had no savings. Even after adding everything I'd earned from part-time jobs, I was nowhere close.

Pride wasn't worth more than her life.

So I called Julian.

He finally answered after a long wait. His voice was relaxed, almost amused.

“So you've calmed down enough to call me?”

“Julian, I need to borrow 140,000 yuan. My grandmother is—”

He cut me off.

“Lily, are you joking? You know my family situation. Where would I get that kind of money?”

“I found another part-time job, and I'm working right now. My coworkers are calling me. I have to go.”

In the background, someone shouted that the yacht was about to leave and told him to hurry aboard.

He answered them and hung up before I could finish.

When I called again, the line was busy. Then his phone went off.

At that moment, the dorm chat lit up.

Vanessa had posted a photograph of an imperial-green jade bracelet.

Isn't it gorgeous? My fiancé bought it for me at an auction. It belonged to European royalty. Five point four million yuan.

I sat in the hospital corridor with the smell of disinfectant in my nose.

One person could spend 5.4 million without blinking. Another could be crushed by a need for 140,000.

Through the doorway, I saw my grandmother lying in the hospital bed.

I'd once told her I'd found someone who loved me. We'd work hard together and build a life. After graduation, I would bring him home to meet her.

I'd been blind.

I took out my phone to search for another way to raise the money.

A man appeared at the far end of the corridor.

Adrian walked toward me, travel-worn and breathing hard.

“Your faculty adviser told me there was an emergency at home. I hope you don't mind that I came.”

He stopped in front of me.

“Tell me what you need. Money, practical help—anything.”