Revenge

Amanda instinctively took a step backwards. She had barely survived last night, and it disgusted her simply at the thought of his
big fat hands and bloated belly.
Then, behind Mr. Hu came the President Liu who she had just met this morning. He was grinning broadly at Amanda and said in
a hoarse voice: “Mi, come on, come over here.”
Mi?
Well, what’s that endearment about?
Amanda had seen faces like that a lot, and she was sure there was something President Liu wanted from her; was it to please
Mr. Hu and spend another night with him again, or...
She did not duck, but went down the stairs and walked toward Mr. Liu and Mr. Hu.
"Mi, sorry about last; there was some misunderstanding between Mr. Hu and you; Mr. Hu is actually a really good guy; he is the
age of your dad; and she was like an uncle to you, so...” Said President Liu incoherently.
Amanda was amused by his analogy, especially after last night; what kind of monster uncle would have tried such things with his
niece? Amanda remained cold-faced and interrupted him: “President Liu, just cut the shit and tell me what’s it. It is getting late
and I still have class.”
The tough attitude of Mia had now did surprise President Liu a lot; it was like she was another girl. President Liu had not other
choice: “Mi. We had a deal last night before heading to the hotel; one night sleeping with Mr. Hu and twenty thousand dollars for
you; I know your mother’s illness was now in need of a large amount of money; that’s why I help you in the first place. You can
not blame Mr. Hu; besides he did do anything to you last night, did he?”
That was her mother, the picture of a patient with hair loss...She was serious ill, that’s why Mia sold herself to the society
scum...for twenty thousand dollars? Everything made its sense to Amanda all at once. Twenty thousand dollars? Aaron Gu was
such a noble and generous man compared with this Mr. Hu.
Amanda was lost in thought and did not answer; President Liu added: “So, you cannot bear grudge over Mr. Hu; it was your own
choice and it was a fair deal; you are still young and you would know when you grow up a bit.”
Amanda was fed up with his self-righteous lecturing; she turned around and said, "Alight! Let the bygone be the bygone. I'm
going to class!"

"Don't!" President Liu grabbed her by the arm; Amanda shook his hands off and glared him in the eyes saying: “Don’t you even
touch me. Even if you are the president, I could sue you for the sex harassment!”
Mr. Hu was watching silently and wiping his forehead with his napkin again and again as his fat body seemed not to handle the
heat of the summer very well; and suddenly his mouth opened and said, "Whoa, a rose with thorns!"
President Liu winked at Mr. Hu to remind him of misbehaving then smiled obsequiously and apologetically: “Mi, Mr. Hu has some
issues with Mr. Gu over last night, misunderstandings...I think we are all friends and there is no need to make such a deadlock
out of it; so...we are thinking of inviting Mr. Gu and apologizing to him face to face...”
That why they were acting like this; Amanda knew it must have something to do with Aaron Gu before he even spoke. So
President Liu bought what she made up of this morning. She decided to swim with the current and asked plainly : “So, what does
it has to do with me?”
President Liu’s grin was even broader but his eyes narrowed into a crack, totally different from the domineering attitude in the
morning: "Mi, since Mr Gu like you so much, we have a favor to ask from you: be our mediator and put in some good words for
Mr. Hu; and let’s solve the issue; what do you think?”
So, they were planning on using her as the bargain chip. What a great idea.
President Liu thrust a pile of red banknotes into her hand before she could even react and said: “Mi, take the money and buy
some food for you mother..”
Amanda did not push the money away immediately; President Liu patted her palms holding the money gently, then retracted his
hands back, straightened up his waist and said, "It’s a deal! Mi, we will pick you up when we have Mr. Gu over for a meal." Then
he turned to face Mr. Hu, who was still sweating like a dog: "Mr. Hu, it's hot out here. Let’s go to the office and have a rest. Don't
get sunstroke. Everything is settled, relax..."
"Mi, go to you class now!" President Liu turned to wave to her with the same smiling face.
Amanda felt the money in her hand. There should be like twenty thousand dollars.
She needed the money badly...
It was her ticket to get back to S City...
She had so many things she wanted to do that she needed money.

Obviously, money was the last things she had to care about for her whole life, but not now, she needed them so desperately. The
dirty business was the easiest way to get money. That was why the 17-year-old Mia sold herself, wasn’t it?
Amanda was still hesitating when her cell phone rang in the same familiar melody:
"I wonder if he remembers? Once the love was so deep and heated, in that spring and summer. Yet now. Don't talk, it's raining,
and we prefer to stay naive..."
The caller ID on the phone screen read: Dr. Cheng.
As soon as the phone was put through, a gentle male voice came out from the receiver: "Mia, I know it is not easy for you but still
I have to inform you that hospitalization expenses of this week would be...”
Amanda smiled wryly; Mia’s life was not any easier, not at all.
Making up her mind, Amanda stuffed the money in her bag and said to the man at the other end, "Dr. Cheng, I'm going to the
hospital right now. I...I have got the money for this week’s expense."
For her now and for Mia, money was something so important and life-saving. She would not blink her eyes in sacrificing anything
for it, neither would have Mia...
Amanda then took a taxi to the People's Hospital in C. After consulting the reception desk, she found Dr. Cheng's office; a warm
male voice invited her in after knocking on the door, "Come in."
Amanda pushed open the door. Behind the desk sat a man in a white gown, his head bowed, his long fingers writing something
on a list. Contrary to his mature calmness in the phone, he was a very young man, with a handsome face and a pair of square
glasses before his calm and confident eyes. Amanda felt a sense of security just by looking at him.
He smiled at Amanda who was standing a bit awkwardly at the door and motioned her to take a seat with his long fingers giving
a habitual push to his glasses: “Mia, here you are; have a seat.”