The bustling of the people busied around of the hospital whether it was staffs or patrons, filling the entire building. Huang Mao stood in front of the counter as he gave a lump sum of money to the hospital staff in charge of payment.

"Auntie Du, how much more do I have to pay?" Huang Mao asked the familiar staff as he hoped that the debt would not be that much anymore. After all, he had been paying for four years already with his multiple jobs’ salaries.

The staff in charge was a middle aged woman. She had been working at this hospital for ten years and knew this young man.

"Xiao Mao only has to pay a balance of 5000 yuan," she replied kindly.

The boy - now a man - had been a frequent visitor of this hospital since he was in a middle school. The boy's mother was diagnosed with a late stage stomach cancer. After school, he would always come to the hospital to stay with his mother.

And because of the accumulated cancer treatment fees, the boy didn't continue to the high school to work part time to pay the fees. After his mother’s death, Huang Mao took a few more part time jobs. He was only a young teen who only had middle school certificate and couldn’t possibly find a good job. While juggling between two to three jobs and being a frugal in life, he was finally left with only five thousand yuan balance.

He smiled at the middle aged hospital staff, this woman was also the reason he only had that balance left. When he had just lost his mother, this kind woman had helped him to request for a monthly remuneration. Also, she had helped him, a stranger, paid for the deposit fees. So, he was very grateful to her, “It’s all thanks to Auntie Du.”

The sweet woman only smiled gently. “If you have time, come and visit auntie’s house.”

“En. I will.”

After saying goodbye to Auntie Du, Huang Mao walked out of the hospital with a bright smile. His handsome face with his attractive smile charmed the people around him. He didn’t mind being look at and only felt that he could finally feel some relief. Based on his salaries now, minus his living expenses, if he kept on saving, he would able to finish his debt in a few months.

Some people might be able to pay five thousand yuan in one off payment, but Huang Mao didn’t have that much money. He was reluctant to spend money if it wasn’t important. And because he had to go to the city today to settle his monthly payment, he wouldn’t want to spend three yuan on a bus fare.

Huang Mao walked to the bus stop, sat on the bench and waited for the bus to come. He was waiting for the bus when two high school girls stared at him and giggled shyly. He acted as if he didn’t hear them and minded his own business. When the bus arrived, he quickly entered the bus and paid another three yuan fare. He walked to the back seat and sat down next to the window.

Looking out of the window, it had been long last Huang Mao felt this light.

Maybe, he should buy something good for Xiao Hei, after all, the cat had been injured last month. Smiling, he decided to buy a big fish for today’s dinner. After all, Xiao Hei deserved it. Also, Dr. Mu… Huang Mao felt that he should really treat the kind vet. After all, Dr. Mu had helped him a lot. Ah, he should text the veterinarian and invited him for a dinner.

Huang Mao hummed and quickly texted the vet. Staring at his phone, he nervously waited for a reply. He waited for three minutes before there was an incoming message. He opened and read the positive reply. He smiled happily.

“Hm… what should I cook for dinner?” Huang Mao said to himself as he checked the recipes on his phone.

Also, he would need to buy ingredients since he didn’t have much in his fridge besides fish for Xiao Hei and some bread and milk with a bottle of pickle vegetables. He never had guests coming to his house and this would be the first time ever after a few years.

It was a sad fact but Huang Mao had been too busy working to even make friends. And also, after he left the city and selling the house where he stayed with his mother to pay for the hospital treatment, he had moved to the small neighbourhood where he stayed now. The cost of life there was a lot more cheaper than living in the city and he really needed that to save money.

Though the house he rented was small, but, Huang Mao was contented with his life now. After paying all the debts, he would quit his night part time job and just focused on working his day job. Maybe, he could save money to attend online classes and maybe got a nice job after that.

The plans felt perfect for Huang Mao and his mood was especially good now that he thought he finally could study back. He giggled to himself and the old man in front of him, turned back and stared at him as if he had lost his head.

Huang Mao coughed in embarrassment and nodded apologetically to the other. Well, he couldn’t help it ba, today was such a good day and he knew it that the incoming days would be even better and brighter than today!

After all, Huang Mao wasn’t a pessimist person and as long as he was alive, he would treat his self good. And now he had Xiao Hei, his life wouldn’t be that empty anymore. He didn’t realize it that he had had that small black cat for two months already. And in that lonely small house, the small black cat was his only companion.