Five Years Return

Chapter One

    China, Shanghai. It is 8:00. Li Qin rode her bike, on the way to Mrs.Yang's street market to sell cabbages. Her mom is really sick at the hospital and is trying to recover so Li Qin could find a good job to work at. Her father had ran away from them when Li Qin was only three years old. 
    Li Qin parked her bike and carried the basket full of cabbage. "Mrs.Yang, I brought the cabbage you bought yesterday, if you had told me sooner, I would've brought it with me earlier," she said as she laid the cabbages down. 
    "I didn't want to bother you and your mom with just this, it's good that you're here now," Mrs. Yang answered. She picked up the cabbage one by one as Li Qin helped her. Her market was in charge of selling vegetables. So, Mrs.Yang would usually buy cabbage from Li Qin if they were needed.
    They finished storing the cabbage and Mrs.Yang asked Li QIn, "How is your mom doing? Is she recovering so far?"
    "Yes, but the doctor had suggested for her to have surgery. But we don't have a lot of money right now and I'm going to work at many part-time jobs as I could to get the money."
    Mrs.Yang took out her wallet and gave a few hundreds to Li Qin. "Here, even though it may not be enough, it could help a little." Li Qin shook her head and said, "Oh, no, no. It's okay, you can keep the money for you and Mr.Yang to use for Jun Jie's college fund."
    "No, just take it, if you're not taking it, I'll give the cabbage back." she insisted. Li Qin felt guilty and took the money. 
    "Thank you, Mrs.Yang, I'll pay you back as soon as I get the money. I have to get going now, I'm late for my part-time. I'll come back again if you need more cabbage!"
    Li Qin got on her bike and rode to her part-time job. She has been working as a waitress at a restaurant since her mom was at the hospital. 
    She had arrived and changed to her work clothes. 
    Jing Bo Ran picked up Xuan Lu Lu, his parent's friend's daughter, from her house and also picked up his best friend, Simon Gong from his house.
    "Bo Ran, before we go to see your grandma from the hospital, let's go eat something first, my mom and dad left early to England, so I couldn't get to eat," Simon said as he whined and rubbed his stomach.
    "Simon, didn't you say that you have a professional chef," Lu Lu asked as she rolled her eyes.
    Simon rolled his eyes at Lu Lu and turned back to his whining face, asking Bo Ran, "Please, Please, Please, I know a really good restaurant that makes delicious food."
    "Okay, Okay," he said. They drove to the restaurant and walked inside.
    "Li Qin! We have another customer, take care of them," the boss yelled. Li Qin placed the other plates to other customers and quickly walked over to Bo Ran them. 
    "Hello, Welcome to Hakkasan  Restaurant to, how many people?"
    "Hello, three people for today," Bo Ran answered.
    "Okay, please follow me to your table." Li Qin led the way to their table and Bo Ran, Lu Lu, and Simon followed. They sat down and Li Qin passed down the menu.
    Bo Ran took a look at the menu and asked, "Why is the menu only seafood?" 
    Li Qin looked at him and answered him, "Well, this is a seafood restaurant, didn't you read the sign?
    Bo Ran looked at the sign and then looked at Simon. "You didn't mention seafood when you told us about the restaurant did you?"
    Simon laughed awkwardly, "Well, my friends recommended it, so I didn't think it was seafood." Bo Ran sighed and smirked. "We're leaving."
    Li Qin stopped them and asked, "Why are you leaving?" Bo Ran stopped and looked at her. "I'm allergic to seafood."
    "Right, he's allergic to seafood. You guys should have made this a steak restaurant," Lu Lu replied, smiling.
    "What? This is meant to be a seafood restaurant, if you'd like to eat steak, go somewhere else," Li Qin yelled as she carried the water cups. Bo Ran and his friends were about to go when he stopped Li Qin. 
    He bumped into her and the water cups were splashed all over them. Everyone gasped and looked at them. "You tried to kick us out then dare to splash water on Bo Ran? Ridiculous! Call your boss to come out here," Lu Lu screamed while trying to wipe Bo Ran's shirt with a napkin. 
    "What? He bumped into me! Also, you were leaving anyways," Li Qin said. The boss came out and quickly apologized. "We're very sorry! She's a new waitress. We're deeply sorry."
    "Li Qin, what are you doing? Hurry up and apologize to them," he insisted. Li Qin apologized and bowed 90 degrees. 
    Lu Lu laughed and said, "You should apologize with your knees." Bo Ran tried to stop Lu Lu, but Li Qin went to her knees and apologized again. "I'm sorry, I'll pay you in return."
    "No, No, it's fine, it's not your fault. Just remember to announce to the customers that this is a seafood restaurant," Bo Ran suggested. They walked out of the restaurant and drove to the hospital. 
    Li Qin stood up and talked to the boss. "Boss, I'm sorry, for this matter, you could take off the money for this check." 
    "It's okay, at least that guy is not mad at you, you could get off now."
    Li Qin changed to her original clothes and rode her bike to visit her mom. Bo Ran and his friends had arrived and bought some fruits for his grandma.
    They walked inside her room and she was laying down on the bed. "Bo Ran, Lu Lu, Simon, you guys are here so early." Bo Ran smiled and set the fruits. 
    "Grandma, we brought some fruits for you, how are you right now," Lu Lu asked, hugging her.
    "I'm doing good so far, they said I could recharge in a few days, how are you doing?"
    "I'm doing good, but we went to a restaurant today and Simon didn't know that it was a seafood restaurant."
    "But Bo Ran is allergic to seafood."
    "Right. But then this waitress kicked us out and splashed water over Bo Ran."
    "What? Who is that person to be doing that to my grandson?"
    "I forgot her name, but good thing I was there, I yelled at her and she begged for forgiveness with her knees."
    "Really? Bo Ran is very lucky to have you there with him."
    Bo Ran peeled the apple and gave it to his grandma. "Grandma, it wasn't her fault, she was just a waitress there. It was actually Simon's fault for not knowing where we were going."Simon chuckled and said, "No, it was my some of my friends." 
    "Okay, okay, Bo Ran, could you go get more water for me," his grandma asked. Bo Ran went to fill her water bottle.
    Li Qin arrived at the hospital and went to her mom's room. "Mother, did you eat the medicine they gave you?" 
    "Yes, did you finish working your part-time job," her mom asked. Li Qin nodded and smiled. She wanted to tell her mom about what happened, but didn't want her to worry. 
    "Let's take you out for a walk, it's beautiful outside today," Li Qin asked her mom. She helped her mom in the wheelchair and put the blanket over her lap. "Let's go!" She exclaimed. 
    They were outside and enjoyed the light breeze around the small river bridge. They went to the seats and sat down. Li Qin took out her keychain. "Mom, look, I still have dad's keychain. The one he gave to me when I was three." Li Qin's mother smiled and patted her head. 
Li Qin realized that her mom's water bottle was empty. "Mom, stay here, I'll go get some warm water for you, okay," she said.
    "Alright, don't worry about me, I'll watch the birds flying around the fountain. Li Qin smiled and walked to the drinks area. Right when  she was about to use the water spoiler, Bo Ran quickly rushed to use it. 
    Li Qin looked up and saw him, "You? What are you doing here?"