Reluctantly Willing

After being fired from the supermarket, An Xiaoyan started his job search again, but this time it was extremely difficult. When they saw his name, they looked at him in a suspicious manner and turned him down saying either there were no more openings or he was unqualified.

At first, he thought he was unlucky. After a few days, he gradually came to realize that someone was behind it all.

And he knew that it was Gu Jun who did it. Only Gu Jun could make everyone dodge him.

Fortunately, Ye Qing found a job smoothly. This made An Xiaoyan feel better as he did not drag Ye Qing down.

To celebrate finding a new job, Ye Qing went to the supermarket to buy some ingredients to cook at An Xiaoyan's house.

Not long after An Xiaoyan reached home, Ye Qing arrived with a large bag of groceries. He rushed over to welcome her as he did not want his bad mood to affect his sister.

"Brother, I bought vegetables, some meat, balls and so on. Let's have hotpot today. I even bought the seasoning for the soup base."

"Sure," An Xiaoyan agreed and went to the kitchen to get the pot. Ye Qing's carefree personality had injected some life into his home. Most importantly, Ye Qing would never judge him.

The hotpot's base soup was soon ready. Considering An Xiaoyan had a weak stomach, Ye Qing deliberately purchased clear tomato soup.

"Brother, I was afraid you might not be used to the spice, so I brought along a bottle of chili sauce only for me. This is my seasoning. Don't snatch it from me."

When An Xiaoyan heard that, he chuckled and said, "Okay, that's all yours."

The meat and balls in the pot were soon ready. An Xiaoyan ate mostly vegetables. After eating a few pieces of meat, he said that he could not eat more and put down his chopsticks, and then watched Ye Qing eat.

Ye Qing's mouth was kept busy all night chewing and talking to An Xiaoyan at the same time. She talked mostly about the delicious hotpot and her job. When talking about her job, An Xiaoyan's face suddenly looked solemn.

"Brother, I'm sorry."

"It's alright. You work hard. Brother will have a way out. You don't have to worry about it."

Ye Qing acknowledged with an "oh" and lost her appetite. At the end of the meal, she took out some notes from her wallet and said, "Brother, take this. If you don't have enough, let me know. Don't stand on ceremony, that's what brothers and sisters are for."

Ye Qing's action left An Xiaoyan in a loss and not know whether to cry or to laugh. He was a man. How could he ask for something from a woman, let alone his sister?

"You are a girl, you should keep it for yourself. In case you need to buy any clothes, you can use it," An Xiaoyan put the money back into Ye Qing's hands.

"Brother…"

Before Ye Qing could finish her sentence, An Xiaoyan said, "It's getting late, you should go back now. I'll see you out."

The next second, Ye Qing was pushed outside the door. An Xiaoyan dragged Ye Qing downstairs and said, "Come back when you have time. Work hard and don't think too much."

After walking Ye Qing to the station to get on the bus, An Xiaoyan wandered back along the lighted path. The autumn wind sent a chilling breeze and made him tuck in his jacket. National Day was approaching and he did not have much time.

The next day, An Xiaoyan still could not find a job. He pulled out all his savings from his bag, totaling 450 dollars. That's all he had.

He would never go to Liu Cheng if he had any other choice, and here he was, with no other choice. No matter how powerful Gu Jun was, it was impossible for him to block all avenues.

Liu Cheng was checking accounts in his office at the hospital when his assistant told him that a person named An Xiaoyan wanted to see him but there was no appointment made.

Once Liu Cheng heard that it was An Xiaoyan, he went downstairs to pick him up personally. As he saw the familiar figure from afar, Liu Cheng could not contain the joy in his heart. An Xiaoyan still regarded him as a friend and they were still on good terms just as they were at university.

"Yan Zi, you finally came to see me. I told you my address the last time we met, what took you so long? I thought you had forgotten me, my friend."

"Why would I?"

An Xiaoyan was led up by Liu Cheng to the office via an exclusive elevator. Liu Cheng closed the door and began to talk to An Xiaoyan.

He had been waiting for this day, a day to see Yan Zi come and visit him personally. It showed that An Xiaoyan did not blame him for what had happened.

"Yan Zi, what brought you here today? Do you miss me?"

An Xiaoyan did not know how and where to start. Though they were former classmates and had a good relationship, he was still a little embarrassed. They used to be on the same path, but now the gap between them had grown so much.

"I need a job now, but I haven't found a suitable one. I hope you can help me out."

The smile on Liu Cheng's face stiffened. He was aware of the news going around, saying that whoever employed a man named An Xiaoyan would be acting against the Gu Family.

Of course, Liu Cheng knew how powerful the Gu Family was. The Liu family could not compare to them. However, in his heart, he wished to compensate An Xiaoyan, and his conscience made him unable to refuse him.

"Sure, I'll arrange it. Yan Zi, based on our friendship, there's absolutely no problem in finding you a job. If you need anything, don't hesitate to tell me. Don't always keep it to yourself as before."

"Thank you, Liu Cheng," An Xiaoyan solemnly thanked Liu Cheng. He swore in his heart that this would be the last time he to involve Liu Cheng in his personal matters. He would never bother him again.

"How's the hospital doing recently?" An Xiaoyan tried to start a conversation so as to not feel awkward.

"As usual every day, you know, students are becoming more and more impetuous. There are not many good students recruited recently. If we can recruit students like you, the hospital will surely become more famous."

An Xiaoyan waved his hand and said, "Liu Cheng, that's all in the past. Time made it inevitable that in every profession the rising generation will surpass the former one. There's bound to be good recruits."

These words were within Liu Cheng's expectation. An Xiaoyan had really changed a lot. He used to be quiet but would not be so pessimistic.

"If you want, you can work here as a doctor. Yan Zi, I'm sure you can do it. I believe in you."

An Xiaoyan shook his head helplessly, "Liu Cheng, I should go. Let me know when you have any updates. I have a phone number now," An Xiaoyan wrote down his number on a piece of paper and took off.

Liu Cheng looked at An Xiaoyan's back view and suddenly had an illusion. It resembled the scene when An Xiaoyan left him for the prison three years ago. He looked so desolate.

"Director, are you looking for me?" his assistant knocked on the door and asked.　　

"Do you know any opening lately?"

"I overheard that there is a shortage of a helper to pack medication in the shop opposite the hospital."

"Okay. In two days, someone named An Xiaoyan will be reporting to work there. You help arrange it."

No doubt the assistant had heard of the name, An Xiaoyan. Although he did not know who An Xiaoyan was, he did not dare to disobey the order from the Gu family.

"Director, I don't think it's a good idea. If the Gus finds out, they might harm our hospital."

"Don't you know how to change the name? Change it to An YanZi."

Looking at the president, the assistant knew that he was determined in helping An Xiaoyan.