Different kind of life

Ava was reading a case file in her office when her phone started to ring. Ava looked at it and saw it was a video call from Charlie. She was a bit surprised that Charlie called, usually they contact each other through WeChat. She was a bit worried if everything was ok with him in Switzerland.

"Hello, my dear director Green, what are you doing?" Charlie's enthusiastic voice came from the other end and he looked refreshed. He just woke up, it's morning in Switzerland.

"Looking at a case file at my office." Ava closed the file and put it at the side and suddenly realized her desk was messy with a pile of files and documents. She felt embarrassed and changed the angle of the camera.

"Working so hard as always," Charlie said with a smile.

"Do I have an option? You are not here and all the pressure is on me. How is Switzerland?"

"It's going very good actually. We have been experimenting in groups and yesterday our group experiment was successful. I am really hopeful about this case study." Charlie said excitedly.

"That's really great Dr. Byrne, I hope you can finish it successfully as soon as possible," Ava said with a smile.

"Wow Dr. Green I haven't seen you for a few days and you become more beautiful."

Ava smiled faintly and said, "Dr. Byrne, I'm waiting for you to come back successfully and I will throw you a party to celebrate."

"Fine.. fine.. prepare the gift in advance director Green, it won't take that long for me to come back," Charlie said with a smile.

"No problem." Ava readily agreed.

After all, Charlie went to Switzerland under great pressure. He was representing Beijing Tiantan Hospital. This project was only allowed to succeed, not to fail and he definitely deserved a good welcome!

"I want a special gift from you, can I get it?" Charlie said with a mischievous smile but his eyes were a bit calculative.

"What kind of gift do you want Dr. Byrne?" Ava asked after a pause.

Charlie said shamelessly, "Dr. Green I want a kiss from you."

"That's a dream not reality." Ava rejected Charlie's unreasonable request without even giving a second thought.

"It's not fair Dr. Green you said you would give me a gift," Charlie said sadly.

"Come on Dr. Byrne, long-distance calls are very expensive. You should get up and go to work quickly rather than wasting your time and money here." Ava rolled her eyes at him but felt familiar.

During the time Charlie was in Switzerland she felt the workplace was really boring without Charlie's constant chatterings and humorous jokes.

"You have agreed that when I come back, you will come to pick me up from the airport," Charlie said acting like a child.

"Don't worry, I will," Ava said with a smile.

Charlie was satisfied with Ava's answer and stopped pestering her. They said their goodbyes after chatting a little longer then hung up.

Ava picked up a pen and started to draw on her meeting book unconsciously. Her heart felt really troubled, sometimes she wished she could get away from all of this and take a long vacation. Her life was getting very tiring, her work, her parents, Sarah, and above all Oliver.

Ava regretted fighting with Oliver over Jacob that day. In this case, she was really the wrong one. If she informed him and told him everything clearly then he wouldn't get that angry. She knew very well how jealous Oliver gets when it was about Jacob or Sam, which actually proved that he really loved her. Ava's heart felt warm at that thought.

Ava looked at the notebook and saw she wrote Oliver's and her name side by side on the book unconsciously. Ava closed the notebook and put it back in the drawer.

After work, Ava walked toward the nurse's station and found Mia there, "Mia, let's have dinner together."

"Dinner? How did you think of having dinner with me suddenly? Where is CEO Knight? Mia asked with a funny smile on her face.

"He is abroad at business."

"Oh, so your husband is not here and you finally remembered that I exist?" Mia said teasing Ava.

"What nonsense, he is not my husband," Ava said shaking her head and blushing.

"Fine not your husband, it's my boyfriend, OK? " Mia blinked innocently.

These past few days, Mia has been very depressed. She hasn't gone out with Ava for a long time so when Ava asked her to have dinner she felt very happy in her heart. Ava was her only good friend in this Hospital, she missed hanging out with her but after collaborating with Kiara she always felt guilty to be around her.

Ava and Mia came to a private restaurant near Repulse Bay. The owner of the restaurant was a middle-aged couple. It has been here for a long time. Ava remembered coming here with her parents often especially during holidays. It was peak time so the restaurant was full of people and the owner and the staffs were all busy serving and greeting customers.

The Owners wife who was greeting the customer outside had a good memory, she saw Ava and immediately recognized her. "Miss Green, It's been so long I haven't seen you here. How are you?" The middle-aged lady said with a gentle smile, she was holding the menu in her hand.

"Yes! I am good thank you. Just brought a friend to eat here today." Ava was surprised the lady still remembered her, she hasn't been here in the last five years. Ava smiled at her politely.

"OK, Miss Green, how are your parents?" The lady led Ava and Mia toward a private box.

"They are very well. Thank you."

"I remember you used to come here almost every week to your family for dinner." The lady said as she opened the box door and turned on all the lights inside.

"Yes, dad liked to eat fried screws and chicken in here. I would like to take that as a parcel for him today before I leave."

"Sure sure. I will make sure to put it in the hot box for you." The lady said happily.

"My parents have been very busy recently but next time I'll bring them here for dinner."

"OK! What would you like to eat today?" The lady picked up the pen, ready to take their order.

"Chopped chicken, palm with scallion oil, salted duck, fish ball..." Ava ordered a few dishes. There were many restaurants in this city, but only a few of them served authentic food. This was one of them and Ava liked their food very much.

"OK." The lady took the order and left them alone.

Mia didn't speak, she was lost in her own thoughts. Through the conversation between the owner and Ava, she could tell that Ava had a very happy and good childhood. How nice of them to come here every weekend to have dinner with family. Suddenly Mia felt very envious of Ava, they grew up so differently and had completely different kinds of life from each other.