Chapter 2: A place to stay

A few moments ago, she slowly opened her eyes feeling sore all over. Looking from the blurry white ceiling of the room towards a sting from her wrist…

("Am I in a hospital?")

She felt a bit dizzy but she was more eager to get out of there. She sat down taking the needle and tried to stand up but her head ached making her sat back to her bed; she rubbed her head gently.

The door opened and a nurse went in. "Miss, you woke up!" the woman said, "please don't force yourself and have a rest," she added.

"I… Why am I here? What happened?"

"I guess you didn't know, you fainted and your boyfriend brought you here."

"'My boyfriend'?"

"He wasn't your boyfriend? Sorry, I just thought…"

"It's alright, but, do you know where he is now?"

"No, he already left after paying in the counter…"

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("Who might that young man be? Will I be able to see him again?") Xiaoqi wondered as she continued on her journey.

"Oh, it's getting dark," she said looking at the red tainted sky. "I must've passed out for quite a long time… It's already late and I still haven't got a place to stay the night," she mumbled.

("Oh right, I should call Yuyan and ask for help. I hope she's available…")

She took out her phone and dialed Yuyan's number. After a few moments, Yuyan picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Yuyan, it's me Xiaoqi. Are you home?"

"Not yet, why? Did you arrive here already?"

"Can I meet you right now?"

"Sorry, I can't now; I'm still at work,"

"Oh sorry, then can I meet you at your pla—"

Beep—beep—

"―Hello?"

("What a bad luck; the battery's dead. Maybe I should just go back to her place; I think it's still the same apartment as she stayed before. Besides I know she won't mind, I mean she's a good friend who's really into her work. I'll just make her dinner when I arrive; she must be tired by then, I'll let her have a taste with my cooking.")

It was a nice plan in her mind. However, she's now currently stuck thinking about where she got it wrong in front of her friend's apartment doorstep.

("I remember it clearly though, I know it was her birthday in month-day-year order. However, it just won't work. It's not like she changes her passcode often either. As far as I remember, it's not Zhao Tingzhe's birthdate, nor the first day they officially became together. I just don't get it, it doesn't make sense. And here I was looking forward to hearing her reaction about my cooking")

Xiaoqi sighed with disappointment in front of the door, deciding to give up on opening the door and just wait for her friend to return when she heard a familiar voice call her name.

"Xiaoqi?"

She turned around to see her friend in front of another apartment's door, "Yuyan?"

"Xiaoqi, is that really you? What're you doing there?"

"Me? I was waiting for you, I actually tried to open your apartment but it seems like you changed your code."

"What're you talking about? And that's not my apartment," Yuyan said pointing in front of where she's standing.

"Oh," ("That was… embarrassing,")

Yuyan invited Xiaoqi to her home and served her a cup of tea as she sat in the living room.

"I can't believe it, you're really back. It's been so long, how have you been? What brought you here? With that luggage…"

"Well, about that I actually need a favor,"

"What do you need?"

"I actually need a place to stay, and I've got no penny with me right now…"

"What? Why? What happened?"

"It's actually a long story, but I don't mind telling you if you're willing to listen,"

"I'm all ears."

It took quite some time as Xiaoqi told her friend everything that happened. And after several minutes later…

"Oh, so that's what happened. I can't believe you actually accepted Uncle Xue's challenge. I understand that you got your own pride, but I also know it's not right to force your daughter to get married without getting permission; it's not like they'll be the one to get married. Don't worry; I'll help you whatever happens. So, do you have a plan?"

"Thanks Yuyan! I knew that I could count on you," she jumped to her with open arms. "For now, I've found a place to stay but I still need to find a job and earn money as much as possible. Then I'll be free from those arranged marriages. However, it's not easy to find a high-paying job. Do you know any company that pays highly?"

"Well, I heard that our company needs new workers and they'll be hiring new employees. Though the spots wouldn't be that many, I know you'll make it. It'll be easy as pie for you."

"Really? Where? When?"

"At NGM Company, interview starts tomorrow at 10 o'clock in the morning."

"Got it, I'll keep that in mind. I'll get that job no matter what."

"Yeah, yeah. But I still can't believe you were trying to open the wrong apartment," Yuyan chuckled. "Thankfully the owner still wasn't home or they would mistake you as a robber."

"Hey! Let it go already, I told you it was a mistake."

"Yeah right,"

"Forget about it; erase it from your mind…"

Laughter filled the night at Yuyan's apartment for the girls talked for a long time catching up about the things that happened for the past three years when both of them could rarely talk. It was a long night and a long talk, yet morning came unannounced.

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♦♦♦

Great! Now I've got no problem at finding a place to live. That's my best friend; kind and caring. I knew she wouldn't mind letting me stay with her.

Now that this thing is settled, I guess I have to find an excellent job shouldn't I? Oh right, I have an interview tomorrow. Wish me luck won't you?

[If you like this novel, kindly like and comment down below... I hope to hear good words from you]