Lu Yudong stared at Jiang Ci. If he wasn''t mistaken, the night she spent with him had ulterior motives. Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that she left her phone in the room? But now, her straightforward rejection of him made him see her in a new light. Of course, if she ever changed her mind in the future, he would think even less of her. After all, playing hard to get was nothing new, and trying that on him would only lead to her own humiliation.


    "Fine, then you can leave." He dismissed her coldly.


    Back in the office, Jiang Ci found that she wasn''t angry, just felt a chill in her heart. But since she had already refused Lu Yudong''s request, she decided not to dwell on it. The most important thing now was to stay at New East. After all, the benefits at New East International were unmatched in all of Jiangzhou.


    While she was internally conflicted, she received a WeChat message from her brother Jiang Yi: "Jiang Ci, the doctor said to come to the hospital at four this afternoon."


    Jiang Ci was annoyed: "I''m still at work at four."


    "Then you tell the doctor yourself."


    Jiang Ci knew that talking to Jiang Yi was pointless. It was now three o''clock, and if she needed to be at the hospital by four, she would have to leave by three-thirty and ask the finance director for leave again.


    Thinking of this made Jiang Ci''s scalp tingle. She was actually quite capable, having been an outstanding student in school and later applying a new "accounting method" at work, earning praise from her superiors. But she was always asking for leave, and now, during the crucial period of deciding the interns'' futures, frequent absences were not good.


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    Sure enough, when she asked for leave, Finance Director Xing Baohua said, "Little Jiang, although your performance is good, how can I write a report for you if you''re always taking leave? You want to stay at New East Group, right?"


    "Director, New East Group is such a great company, of course, I want to stay. But I really have something urgent. I''ll come back and work overtime to make up for it after I''m done," Jiang Ci said humbly.


    ***


    Xing Baohua reluctantly approved her leave, and Jiang Ci left, taking the bus to Jiangzhou First People''s Hospital.


    Jiang Ci''s mother had been lying in the neurology department of the hospital for two years.


    "Little Jiang, your mom''s hospital fees are due. Did you bring the money today?" Dr. Fu, her mother''s long-time doctor, was familiar with Jiang Ci. He knew that her older brother was a hands-off manager who wouldn''t handle their mother''s medical expenses, leaving Jiang Ci to juggle everything.


    "Oh, no. I won''t get paid for a couple of days." The embarrassment of having no money made Jiang Ci lower her head.


    "Then hurry up. If this continues, the hospital will have to take action."


    "I know, I know," Jiang Ci nodded and bowed.


    Jiang Ci went to see her mother, who was still on oxygen. For two years, whenever Jiang Ci spoke to her mother, there was no response.


    Jiang Ci''s father had been a project manager on a construction site. The family of four had lived harmoniously. But six years ago, her father tragically fell from over twenty floors during a project and passed away. This incident was a huge blow to Jiang Ci''s mother, leading to her mental instability and a subsequent car accident. The compensation from her father''s accident, along with the car owner''s compensation, had supported her mother in the hospital for over five years, but the money was running out.


    When the money was nearly gone, Jiang Ci started helping teachers at school or tutoring to earn money for her mother''s hospital fees. According to her brother, it would be easier to just remove their mother''s oxygen, but Jiang Ci felt Jiang Yi was too heartless. Having a "mom" to call, even if she didn''t respond, was better than having no one in the world.


    At this moment, Jiang Ci held her mother''s hand in hers, "Mom, I''m preparing for the CPA exam now. You must bless me to pass. Once I pass, my salary will increase several times, and earning a million a year is possible. Then, paying for your medical expenses won''t be a problem at all."


    Jiang Ci even smiled at her mother, but there was no response.


    For six years, Jiang Ci had always hoped her mother would suddenly open her eyes and talk to her, just like when she was a child, stroking her head and calling her "Little Ci, Little Ci."


    "I have to go back to work. I haven''t passed the CPA yet, and the most important thing now is to stay at New East," Jiang Ci encouraged herself.


    Staying at New East meant a steady income every month, allowing her to pay rent and cover her mom''s medical expenses. But because she was always asking for leave, staying at New East was becoming quite difficult.