CHAPTER 105: CHAPTER 105: STUNTED DEVELOPMENT

Sheila Yardley speculated, "Can’t the studio assign a designer to take an order? Maybe she wants to talk in advance and have the client specify her."

"Those who appreciate her work will naturally specify her."

Sheila pouted and said, "I don’t know what her plan is. We’ll see when we go with her tomorrow night.

Shannon Quinn pondered for a moment and asked, "Did she tell you the address?"

"The Azure Lounge."

"The Azure?" Shannon felt the name was somewhat familiar, "Legitimate clients usually wouldn’t choose a nightclub, right?"

"I used to work near there part-time, and I know a few friends. There shouldn’t be any issue, and I told my boyfriend, he’ll drop me off and pick me up."

Shannon nodded, remembering that this was the bar June Yardley had asked her to go to before.

Also, some time ago, Ronan Rhodes mentioned that the time Zane Rhodes went missing, he was drinking in this bar. It seems like a friend of theirs owns it, so Ronan could help look out for Sheila.

After being set up by June Yardley, Shannon was indeed much more suspicious. If it was just a normal meal and chat, it would be fine, but if Lynn Kendall had other plans, Sheila would surely be overwhelmed.

She and her boyfriend are so happy; she can’t let those dirty things ruin them.

As they reached the classroom door, Sheila received a call and her expression immediately changed. She inquired a few things over the phone, and Shannon vaguely heard it was related to her mom.

After hanging up, Sheila said, "TA Quinn, I might not be able to attend this class, my brother called to say my mom suddenly passed out, I have to go to the hospital now."

Shannon concernedly asked, "Is it serious?"

"Not sure yet, my brother said they are doing tests."

"Is it convenient? Do you want me to drive you there?"

"No need, the class is about to start, I’ll just grab a cab at the entrance, the hospital isn’t far."

Watching Sheila’s figure running away, Shannon sighed.

Why are unfortunate things always happening to good people? Fortunately, Sheila still has a boyfriend who sticks by her side, which is a blessing in adversity.

After the two classes ended, Shannon didn’t have anything to do, so she called Sheila for the address and headed to the hospital.

Outside the examination room, Sheila sat absent-mindedly on a chair in the corridor all by herself.

Shannon walked over lightly, placed a hand on her shoulder, sat beside her, and gently asked, "Are you okay?"

Sheila snapped back to reality, turned her head to look at Shannon, then lowered her gaze to the ground, clutching her phone tightly as if she was facing a difficult situation.

"Tell me what’s going on, see if I can help you."

Sheila pursed her lips, looked at Shannon again, and said, "The test results just came out, the doctor said my mom has a tumor in her brain that requires immediate surgery..."

"Is it serious?"

"The doctor said the condition is still controllable, and the success rate of the surgery is quite high, but..."

"But you’re running out of money?"

Sheila nodded, "I haven’t told Ryder yet. A few days ago, he paid for my mom’s hospital fees, and he’s already spent quite a bit of money on my mom’s situation. He’s tight on funds too..."

Shannon smiled, put her arm around Sheila’s shoulder, and said, "I’ll lend you some. You can pay me back slowly."

Sheila was surprised, looking at Shannon gratefully, "Really? The doctor said it requires around fifty to sixty thousand..."

"I have that kind of money. When do you need it? I’ll go to the bank right now."

"TA Quinn..."

Seeing Sheila about to cry, Shannon comforted her, "If money can solve it, it’s not a problem. It’s just that I happen to help, if it were more, I might not be able to provide that much."

"Thank you, TA Quinn, but you know my situation, the salary I get from Professor Lockwood every month, it’ll take years to pay it off."

"No worries, I’m not in a rush to get the money back, take your time."

"Thank you so much!"

"Don’t be too upset. Didn’t the doctor say it’s controllable? Your mom is sure to get better soon. Go discuss the surgery with the doctor. I’ll go get the money."

"Okay, thank you, TA Quinn."

Shannon stood up, chuckling softly at Sheila, "If you don’t mind, call me Shannon from now on, not just TA Quinn. It sounds off to me."

Sheila wiped her tears with her hand, broke into a smile, and shyly called, "Shannon."

For some reason, Shannon felt quite connected when she looked at Sheila, perhaps as Aidan Lockwood once said, Sheila reminded her of the person she used to be.

After withdrawing the money from the bank and returning to the hospital, it was her first time seeing Sheila’s brother.

He was her brother, but his height was close to 1.8 meters, and Sheila didn’t quite look like the older sibling.

When Shannon arrived, her brother was still lecturing her, "I told you to eat, you wouldn’t eat. Now that mom has collapsed, do you want to collapse too?"

"I said I’m not hungry right now."

"Can’t stand you!"

"Elaine," Shannon called out to her.

Her brother turned around, looking at Shannon with annoyance, and asked, "Who is she?"

Shannon answered for Sheila, "I’m a friend of Elaine’s."

"Are you the woman from the new studio telling her what to do every day?"

Upon hearing this, Shannon guessed the brother was referring to Lynn Kendall. She was about to explain when Sheila spoke for her, "It’s not her. Don’t vent your anger randomly, the money for mom’s surgery is lent by Shannon."

"Still Shannon?" Her brother sneered and sized Shannon up, "Calling you a classmate would be more fitting, you’re just as underdeveloped."

Sheila raised her hand to smack her brother on the back and hurriedly apologized to Shannon, introducing, "This is my brother, Julian Yardley, he’s usually cheeky, and his words are unreliable. Don’t take it to heart."

Naturally, Shannon didn’t take it to heart. Although the siblings bickered, it was evident that they had a good relationship.

"I’m going downstairs to handle the paperwork," Julian said, visibly annoyed with both of them, and walked away.

"My brother’s words are unpleasant, but he’s not a bad person."

"I can see that."

Sitting down on the empty bench in the corridor, Sheila began to talk about the past.

"Actually, he’s very smart, studies better than me, but he dropped out to work for me. He earned the tuition for my university. Most of mom’s illness-related matters are handled by him, I feel quite guilty towards him."