Chapter 4: The accident

Lin Wei sighed as she finished the last batch of the dishes. She glanced around the kitchen, noting the empty corner and dirty pots. Ugggh! She wasn't going to finish in time for her next shift. Working three part-time jobs together hadn't been easy, but it had to be done. Yuqi sauntered inside with another tray of dirty dishes, prompting a groan from LiWeiei. "I thought we were closed for the day!" She said, changing her weight from one foot to the other. Yuqi shared the same disgusted and tired expression as Lin Wei, and she dropped the dishes into the sink. "So I thought. Three guys made it in time before we changed the sign on the door. Biggy insisted we serve the m" she complained bitterly. She stretched her fingers and back, groaning as the creaks of her bones filled the silent kitchen. LinWeii nodded in understanding. Biggy was their boss, and he was the cruelest person to exist on the surface of Earth. His fat face was always breathing down on your neck, and he wouldn't hesitate to make a living hell out of your life. LinWeii needed the job too much to mess it up. Yuqi turned her back to leave, but stopped on a second thought and said, Ohh, that reminds me, there's this one-day-waitress thing, there's a vacancy. I think you should apply. I'll send you the link," She smiled a tired smile and went off. LiWeiei dried her soapy hands on her apron. After thirty more minutes, she was done for the day. She checked her phone and gasped, the chicken delivery! She was going to be late today! She threw her apron on the hanger, reapplied her lip gloss, and rearranged her bun. She was done for the day. She hollered out of the kitchen, almost colliding into a smelly armpit. She gagged and her breath hitched. She almost smashed her head into her boss's armpit. Ugh, so smelly. "You done?" He asked gruffly "All done, sir!" She replied promptly "The dishspott, sot pans pan?" He squinted "Wiped, clean, sir. I'll head out now, but," she replied and scurried off. Before he could find something to tie her down with. She grabbed her helmet and clasped it on, and she got on her scooter, driving off. She passes the traffic light, the busy street, and the oitering people. She rounded a corner that's more quiet and subdued. She stopped in front of a small building, the scent of fresh chicken wafting from there. She placed her safety helmet on the scooter and said a silent prayer, hoping she would not get any speeding tickets. The sign said "Shanshai Fried Chicken. Delivery available" "I'm here!" She announced enthusiastically. The place was neat and small, and no customers were in sight. LiWei entered the kitchen gingerly and pried the door open. "Why are you late again?" An elderly woman yelled. Lin Wei coughed from the sizzling smoke and the smell of soy sauce as it filled the whole place. She stood at the entrance. "The orders have been coming in like crazy." The lady pointed to the floor and the counter. It was filled with packaged chickens and their address. The jingling sound of the telephone alerted them to the incoming of another order, and LinWeii rushed to answer it. "Shanshai fried Chicken here," she said into the phone. "Can I get one deep-fried and four roasted chickens? With an extra serving of pickled radish," the customer inquired. Lin Wei placed the phone between her shoulder and her ear. She nodded and wrote the orders down in a few hurried scrawls. "One deep fried, four Roasted, and an extra serving of radio, sh right?" She asked once again to be sure. Once, she had gotten a customer's order mixed up, and she paid dearly for it. She hung up and hurried to the chicken, preparing the orders. The roasted chicken looked delicious, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. She gulped down saliva and licked her lips. Her stomach took that time to make an appearance by growling and rumbling, shit! She hadn't eaten anything since the cup of watery coffee she had hurriedly drunk. "Hurry back and get some chicken for yourself," Shanshai patted LinWeii on the back. Lin Wei grabbed the two brown boxes and headed outside. She's ending this shift in two hours, and today is pay day. Mentally calculating her bills and her mom's hospital bills, she sighed and hurried towards her scooter. She still has a long way to go. The number of zeros was still the same. She tucked the thought of her sick mom and her hospital bill into one corner of her mind. She got on the scooter and checked the Google map before turning on the ignition! The chicken delivery is on its way! Wohoo~ The street was busier than usual, bursting with parked cars, moving cars, and clutched trucks. LinWeii stopped at the light. She had already sped enough today, risking a speeding ticket out of her budget for this month wasn't advisable at the moment. She tested her knuckles on the scooter and hummed one rickety tune she knew. The light turned green in a flash and smiled. Suddenly, a black Ferrari swerved out of its lane, switching so suddenly and quickly that it collided with the bumper of Lin Wei's scooter. Eyes widened and jaw slacked, before Lin Wei could register what was going on, the scooter was sent spiraling to the other side. She lost her footing and smashed her head on the floor. She gasped loudly when she saw chicken flying all over the place. She was done for! Her whole salary flashed in her eyes, a nd she yelled. Then everything turned black. Shouts flew about, horns blared from different angry drivers, but LinWeii did not register any of it. Blue eyes stared down at her. he was saying something. "His eyes are so blue" was all she said.