Beeeeep

Lan Ying halted her steps and turned around, "I will not!" Then she stormed off after that.

Wandering on the street with her stuff, Lan Ying looked around for places that were hiring people. Sadly, she didn't find any and ended up sleeping within newspapers in a park. The next morning, she checked her wallet and bought herself a small sandwich from a food cart on the street.

After finishing half of the sandwich, she rewrapped it and saved it for later in the day. Lan Ying resumed her job hunt. She didn't go to school today, Rong Yue must be worried.

Indeed, Rong Yue who was in school was worried because Lan Ying didn't come and couldn't focus on the lessons as she was feeling uneasy. She also couldn't contact Lan Ying, all she heard repeatedly was: "We are very sorry. The number you have dialled is currently unavailable, please try again later."

Noon arrived, Lan Ying sat down on a bench in front of a subway tunnel's entrance. She took out the half-eaten sandwich and ate it. Sighed, the space between her eyebrows had been unconsciously creased since the last afternoon. She drank a bit of water from a water bottle and look up at.

Ah...People were moving, young or old, they were all advancing - time would not stop flowing. Her vision was seeing people walking quickly from place to place, little kids running back and fore. Couples shared conversations and either parted way or joined hands. The olds were doing tai chi or taking strolls and soon also left for home.

The world was revolving and she was just sitting there watching everything as they were moving forward. The view was wonderful but at the same time, Lan Ying also felt isolated. She staked almost all the fortunes she inherited from her parents for the operation. But in the end...

Lan Ying snorted out laughing hysterically, "Only one month..."

The sun was setting, she still did not find any place that was hiring.

"Hungry..." She didn't buy any more food and she would need the money for tomorrow morning. The Lan Ying right now was really tired. But little did she know, this was not the worse. She lied on the ground with her stuff since the benches around here were all taken by other bums and slept the night away.

The sun rose, Lan Ying continued to look for a job with an empty stomach but did not find any. Around noon, she bought just some bread as it was cheaper than a sandwich and a small water bottle. The blazing sun was glaring down at her, it was mid-summer. So hot, sweats were dropping down her face and her back was soaked, but she had to save the water for later.

'Why did everyone leave me?' a little girl asked as she wrapped her arms around her bent legs. Around her was nothing but darkness, she was all alone.

"But the paper on the window said-"

"No, we don't need more, we hired enough!"

"But-"

"That paper is up there because we forgot to take it off."

Lan Ying stared at the man as he walked back inside the shop. Her gaze went to the 'Hiring' paper and saw that it was being taken off by the man. Turned her head to the side, she started walking again. Her stomach was grumbling but she didn't buy food any longer as she needed the whatever left money to buy water.

The next day's afternoon, she found Rong Yue in her uniform was walking home on the street. Looking at the ragged clothes she was wearing, Lan Ying hid herself in an alley and left silently. Her stomach was hurting, Lan Ying found it difficult to walk and leaned on a pole.

"No! Don't leave me!" she cried as she collapsed in beside the hospital bed. On the side, the electrocardiogram was showing a straight line as it beeped.

Raising her head to the sky, Lan Ying saw black clouds were flying towards her direction. She went to purchase some small pieces of bread and ate some while saved the rest. When the clouds were on top of her, she lifted her head and opened her mouth. Few droplets of rain successfully made it into her mouth and she drank that little water within her mouth.

Kneeling on a mat in front of a coffin that was decorated and surrounded with flowers. Her head bowed, murmuring, "Why...why did you leave me, too?"

"We'll hire you."

"Thank you very much!"

Carrying two trays on her hands, she walked towards the table that ordered the food. On the way, a few guys were peering at her, one of them purposely put out his feet and tripped Lan Ying. She fell and the trays were on the floor.

Shattered!

"Lan Ying! What happened!?"

"He tripped me!"

"What are you talking about!? Do your job properly or else, you'll be fired!"

Behind her and the coffin, the adults were whispering, "Who is going to take her in now that mother's dead?"

Lan Ying was refilling the glass when the customer seized her wrist. "Pretty girl, why don't we go somewhere later?"

"No, I'm sorry I can't," she replied with a smile.

Pulling her arm, the guy said, "Come on. It'll be fun."

She frowned and soon, a commotion broke out. The shop manager rushed out and saw Lan Ying hitting the customer. "Lan Ying! What are you doing to the customer!?"

"He was-"

"You're fired!"

"The girl wasted all the money she inherited, I don't want to take her in." a woman said in a low voice. The others also followed, "I also don't want to have her in the family, my children won't accept this orphan."

Standing on the street at night, Lan Ying was caught in a difficult situation. The guys were staring down at her as they grinned smugly, "Hey, girl. Come with us, you won't be penniless anymore."

"No!" Lan Ying yelled, breaking away from their grips and bolted away with all the energy she had left. Luckily, they didn't chase after her. Wouldn't be penniless? They would just take her to a hostess club or some brothel.

"I don't need you people to take me in. I'll live by myself." She got up from her knees and turned to look at her so-called relatives.

Curling up in a corner of an alley, Lan Ying sobbed. Her stomach hurt so much, her throat was dry, and she felt extremely tired. Her eyelids were heavy and her eyes burned, Lan Ying cried herself to sleep.