"Sorry, the money in your card can only be exchanged for eight hundred US dollars. Do you want me to withdraw it all for you?"
Jian Jiaojiao was taken aback for a moment and finally nodded. Holding the eight thin banknotes, she almost burst into tears.
She had never had the concept of saving money since childhood. She would spend whatever money she had, so there was no so - called savings at all. Her parents had an accident, and all the family's money had been seized by Jian Chengzhang. If the lawsuit didn't end soon, with only eight hundred dollars, she might starve to death on the streets of the United States.
Not long after her parents' accident, Jian Chengzhang said he would keep the money for her. She stupidly believed him. It was not until she proposed to go abroad that Jian Chengzhang only verbally supported her. The living expenses he gave her became less and less, and now there was only eight hundred US dollars.
She had deleted Jian Chengzhang's contact information because of an argument with him and had run from the UK to the US. Now it was impossible for her to call him shamelessly to ask for money. Jian Chengzhang clearly wanted her to starve to death outside so that he could inherit all the family property justifiably.
She had no room to understand a person like Jian Chengzhang. He wanted her to starve, but she would never let him have his way.
However, she had been living a pampered life since childhood and didn't have any survival skills. She didn't know if it would be smooth for her to find a part - time job.
Actually, her first thought was to borrow money from friends. But the few friends she had in the US at the moment all seemed to have their own difficulties. It wasn't appropriate for her to borrow money from them.
Jian Jiaojiao checked some job - hunting websites. Suddenly, she saw someone sharing a job in a Chinese community group.
It offered room and board, with a monthly salary of twenty thousand US dollars. It sounded extremely tempting.
She quickly called according to the provided contact information to find out the situation and was informed to go to Mark Manor for an interview the next day.
After hanging up the phone, Jian Jiaojiao still couldn't quite believe it. Who lived in Mark Manor? And why did this recruitment specifically target Chinese people?
But the salary was so high, much higher than that of a part - time job.
Although Jian Jiaojiao was suspicious, she still went. At first, she suspected that some rich Americans might have bad intentions. However, when she found the right place, she found that the person in charge also had a Chinese face.
It seemed that she would be dealing with her own people. Jian Jiaojiao suddenly wasn't so worried.
"Do you know our requirements for employees?"
Jian Jiaojiao shook her head honestly. She had come just for the money, and the person on the phone the day before didn't say much either.
"Your job is to take care of a patient in the recovery period of a serious illness. His body is basically okay, but he is still very weak. If you are asked to take care of him, what do you think your advantages are?"
Jian Jiaojiao thought for a while and tentatively said, "According to your requirements, it's very likely that the patient and I come from the same country. We can communicate directly in our mother tongue, which can make him more relaxed during the recovery period. And I have some knowledge of nutrition, so I may be able to help him recover through diet."
"You don't need to think too much. We have a professional nutritionist."
Jian Jiaojiao nodded awkwardly and didn't say anything more. The person opposite seemed to be thinking about something and didn't say a word for a long time. When he spoke again, he told Jian Jiaojiao to go home and wait for the news.
It was almost evening when Jian Jiaojiao left Mark Manor. Maybe it was just her imagination, but the sunset in Mark Manor seemed more beautiful than outside.
She was still sleeping when she received the employment notice. Although the future was uncertain, she still slept soundly.
When she was informed that she could move into Mark Manor as soon as possible to start work, she was still in a daze.
When she finally realized it, she didn't dare to scream out loud for fear of disturbing the neighbors and being complained about. So she just bit her own hand.
It was really amazing that such good luck could fall on her.
When she came to Mark Manor with her few belongings, someone quickly led her to her room.
Her room wasn't with the other maids' rooms but was independent. It was even on the second floor, next to the master bedroom. They said it was for better taking care of the master.
Jian Jiaojiao didn't think much and quickly accepted the arrangement. Before changing into the maid's uniform, the butler suddenly brought her a document about the master's information.
"Get familiar with it and then you can start working."
Jian Jiaojiao nodded and put the document aside. She began to daydream about her future. Now she had to take some hard - working jobs for money. After the lawsuit ended, she would be rich again.
Moreover, living in the manor had another advantage. Jian Chengzhang's people couldn't find her at all, so they couldn't use her poverty to force her to give up the family property.
She could both keep her money and earn money. It was really killing two birds with one stone.
After changing her clothes, Jian Jiaojiao went to look at the document. She was stunned when she saw it.
Why was the patient she needed to take care of him?
Jian Jiaojiao's impression of him was a bit blurred. She hadn't seen him since he graduated. It was said that he had taken over his family's company and was recognized as a young and promising person in the industry. Why did he end up like this after she went abroad?
The document didn't contain much personal information about him, but Jian Jiaojiao would never forget his face. All the memories about this face and all the past related to him seemed to reappear in front of her eyes.
He was the only person she had liked but dared not admit during her school days.
Now she had actually become his maid.
Jian Jiaojiao didn't know how to describe her mood for a moment.
All the others didn't matter, but what she wanted to know was whether he still remembered her.
She was called to his room by the butler. The butler didn't go in. She walked in slowly by herself. The room was pitch - black without any lights on. She couldn't even see him.
"Y - you... Hello, I'm the new person taking care of you."
She didn't speak English. The room was so quiet that there was no sound at all. After a while, there was some movement on the bed, and then all the lights in the room were turned on.
He was lying in bed, his face pale and bloodless, looking as thin as paper. Anyway, he didn't look in good condition.
He looked at her without smiling, without the bright smile in her memory. He asked her, "What's your name?"
"I'm... " Jian Jiaojiao tugged at the edge of her apron and casually made up an English name. "My name is Kristen."
It didn't matter if she told him her real name since he didn't remember her.
Many things might only exist in her memories. In the eyes of others, some of her precious memories and past were just time to be forgotten.
Seeing that she looked very young and a bit flustered, he just blinked his eyes calmly without showing any emotion.
He put down the remote control in his hand, looked at her again, and seemed to be thinking about something.
Jian Jiaojiao didn't dare to look him in the eye and lowered her head nervously.
The person in bed spoke again. "I'm going to get up. Come and help me."