I Was kicked Out

Without thinking, she got her keys, got in her car and drove off to the hospital.

On the way there, she continually questioned herself, asking if he knew it would happen, 'was that why he told me that yesterday?', 'Was he actually in pain?', despite the number of times she went over the questions, not only were her questions left unanswered, but they had also multiplied,

None of it made sense to her but she didn't have time to analyse it all, and before she knew it, she had arrived at the hospital.

She immediately got in, signed at the reception and inquired about her brother's location. She made her way there, signed the consent forms and paid the deposit.

The nurse gave her a few words of encouragement then walked out leaving Liling feeling as empty and silent as the corridors surrounding her. She stared at the unblinking red light right above the operating theatre, and she could feel her thoughts spiralling the longer she stood there.

Taking a seat on a three-seater waiting chair just opposite the OT, she brought her knees up to her chest, wrapped her hands around them and lay her head atop,

She felt like a child, helpless and alone, she wished she could be one again, but this time living in the comfort of her parent's home, without a care in the world, basking in their love and warmth, but sadly, that was never going to happen, she didn't feel warm, just cold, empty and as deserted as she had always been

There was a new problem hanging over her, she had no way to pay the full cost of the surgery. Every person she could think of for help was immediately crossed out and right at that moment, his face appeared in her mind.

'No', she thought, shaking her head as though trying to wipe his very existence out of her mind, but there was this very tiny part of her that knew he would be the best person to help her,

'Why don't you just call him', she asked herself, 'He's only asking for your hand in marriage, it's not that big of a deal',

'But he's your boss'

'So what, you're drowning in debt and he's offered to help'

Her thoughts continued back and forth like that until she sighed and finally gave in,

There was a time for having pride, and a time to put it away and ask for help, this was that time, plus, if she called and he didn't pick up, she wouldn't call again, she would just have to find an alternate way out,

She typed his number fluently on the keypad,

it was at times like this that Liling was grateful for her photographic memory, she remembered the number clearly and pushed down on the call button,

The phone rang once, and just as she was planning to leave it at the second ring, he picked up.

"Hello", his low husky voice came through the phone bouncing off the walls around her,

She was momentarily stunned, but quickly collected herself, "Mr Li, it's Xu Liling, Are you busy?"

"No, I'm not that busy", he said, she could hear the calm in his tone and that slightly relaxed her,

Meanwhile, the people in the meeting room stared dumbfounded at their boss not daring to make a sound.

They exchanged questioning glances at each other and couldn't understand how the president who didn't take calls during meetings was now answering one with a very relaxed aura, who was this person and what had they done to him?

"I've decided to take you up on your offer, but I need money for my brother's operation"

"Say no more, what hospital are you currently at?"

"City Y hospital", she said brows scrunching in confusion

"Okay, I'll meet you there"

******************************

-Li Corp

As soon as the call disconnected, he stood up and turned to his assistant,

"Prepare the car, we're going to City Y hospital", Han Bei was confused but nonetheless, he nodded and left the room, 

Turning to the curious faces of the managers in the room, he dismissed them and walked out. As soon he left, they flew into an uproar, one question on their minds, 'What on earth had just happened?'

Oblivious to all the juicy gossip he had just created in the company, he walked out of the building and got into his Bugatti la Voiture noir parked out in front with Han Bei waiting in the driver's seat 

Liling could hear some footsteps heading her way after a while, she lifted her head now more alert

It was Li Hao, donned in a black shirt, black suit pants and grey coat.

"Mr Li?", she said as she stood, 'Why was he here?'

"Thank you for helping", her voice was still as monotone as ever, but she was grateful

"As I said, there's no problem"

She returned to sitting and watched as he sat down as well, 

They remained silent for a short while, but it wasn't an awkward silence; it was comfortable for Liling and allowed her to process.

Li Hao sat tapping away on his phone and, after a while stopped and turned to look at her,

She was silently staring at the ground hoping for the best with her brother's situation, while fiddling with her hair,

"You and your brother we're at an orphanage at some point right?', hearing him speak brought her out of her reverie, and she turned to look at him, 

She wasn't surprised in the least, of course, he would have had a profile check done, it would be weird if he hadn't

"Yeah we were. But I was kicked out"