Chapter 919: Chapter 919: What Did She Get in the End

It was Xiao Ling.

Hadn’t she followed Wen Rendong? Why was she working here as a waitress now?

Feeling Lin Gantang’s gaze on her, Xiao Ling nervously gripped the tray tighter, placing another dish on the table.

“You…” Lin Gantang wanted to ask something, but felt it might be presumptuous to ask such a question of someone with whom she merely had a fleeting acquaintance.

Xiao Ling always remembered the words of caution Lin Gantang had given her before she had gone astray. For some reason, she didn’t want Gantang to think poorly of her.

She didn’t leave, but with her head hung low said, “My contract with him expired.”

Lin Gantang knew who she meant by “him” and looked at her in surprise, “You’re working here? What about your family’s restaurant…?”

“Sold it, got money for my mum’s treatment.”

Xiao Ling’s mother had been ill for a while but kept it a secret from the family until one day, when she collapsed while working in the restaurant. It was only when Xiao Ling took her to the hospital that she learned her mother hadn’t been taking blood pressure medication.

Her mother’s condition was serious; she needed a kidney transplant.

They sold the restaurant, cashed out their savings, even reached out to friends and relatives to borrow money, just to scrape together enough for the surgery, not even considering the post-operative costs.

But her mother refused treatment. Not only had they not found a suitable kidney, but all their money was also being drained by the hospital bills. Furthermore, her daughter, still so young, was saddled with debt, and without any savings, how was she supposed to get by in the future, let alone get married?

It was then that Wen Rendong approached her, offering her enough money for agreeing to be with him for a while and promising to find a kidney for her mother.

The period for being his lover wasn’t long, just a month.

Xiao Ling eventually agreed and signed a contract.

Wen Rendong kept his word and let her go after a month. Xiao Ling didn’t accept the money he offered afterward; the money from the sale of the restaurant was still there, enough to ensure her mother’s continued care.

After she left Wen Rendong, she started looking for work again, more than one job.

Being a waitress here was her part-time job.

As her fingertips subconsciously gripped the tray, Lin Gantang felt she didn’t need to be so nervous.

There were, after all, many people in the world whose lives were not in their own hands, carrying burdens and a sense of helplessness beyond most people’s imaginations.

Xiao Ling was one such person.

“How’s auntie doing now?” Lin Gantang asked.

“Much better, she’s now resting at home.” Xiao Ling’s face relaxed a bit as she spoke of her mother.

“Waitress, give me a packet of tissue,” a customer from the neighboring table called out.

“Yes, okay,” Xiao Ling replied crisply and turned to attend to it.

After Xiao Ling left, Ye Qiuqiu asked, “A friend?”

“We’ve met a few times, not really a friend,” Lin Gantang, not wanting to discuss someone else’s privacy, pushed the stir-fried pork towards Ye Qiuqiu, “You used to love this, does it still taste the same?”

After tasting it, Ye Qiuqiu gave a thumbs up, “I’ve had this at many places after starting work, and none are as good as this one.”

Lin Gantang picked up some green vegetables with her chopsticks, “Oh, that must be because I wasn’t there to accompany you, isn’t food much more delicious when I’m with you?”

Ye Qiuqiu laughed, “Since when did you become so narcissistic?”

Lin Gantang laughed as well, then after the teasing asked, “Speaking of work, do you still plan on going out to apply for jobs?”

“To tell you the truth, there was a time I was so mad at my mother-in-law, I wanted to wean Qianqian and start working right away. But once I cooled down, I felt it was too cruel to Qianqian. She’s such a small child; she needs her mother’s company,” said Ye Qiuqiu. “I think I’ll wait for the time being, a child’s growing up only happens once.”

Lin Gantang’s hand paused as she was picking up vegetables.

Her thoughts became complicated.

The Qiuqiu from her previous life, she thought and did the same.

In the end, having considered the family and children in all her decisions, what did she receive?