Chapter 7 The End is the Beginning

A/N:Thanks for the reviews. Please R&R, rewiews delight me and delight leads to more updates^^

"Shit." Cristina flopped down on the bed, staring down at the diploma in her hands, feeling the urge to curse the universe.

A M.D. diploma? What the hell? After all the contradictions and internal struggles, just when she was determined to throw away her past and begin the new life journey, she found out that this Fiona Lin had survived 6 years of medical training.

This is pure irony and hatred from life. Cristina put the green cover of the diploma into her mouth and chewed it hard to let out her rage.

No, hell no, I'm not doing this again. Last time, she sacrificed so much to thrive for the best and to be the extraordinary surgeon. How could she repeat the same path again and end up all alone again? Screw it. Even if the original Fiona Lin did graduate from medical school, so what? Now she- Cristina Yang is in charge of this body, the future is in her hands.

OK, it is settled then. None of these happened. She didn't find the M.D. diploma and no way in hell would Cristina yang become a doctor again, whatever doctor it is - a surgeon, a gynecologist or a dermatologist. Hell, she doesn't want anything to do with medicine. It is true that the hospital gave her a high and a rush. She doesn't regret a single decision she made in the past. Her career used to be the only thing that spoke values to her. But now she knew, this job was not enough for her. She needed more, she wanted more. She couldn't live like this anymore. She couldn't be that woman lying in the coffin alone. Her new start has to be far away from medicine, far away from the hospital, far away from anyone or anything she knew before...She had sweared to draw a line between her memories and her present. She has no intention to cross the line in any near future. Ok, great. The deal is done, the decision is made.

Cristina spit out the plastic chunks left in her mouth and stared contently at the crushed diploma. Damn, this thing was nasty, even more stink than the formaldehyde. But at least I destroyed it to some extent. With a perfect parabolic curve, Cristina threw the piece of paper to the bin. The next thing that came in line was how to feed herself. Cristina jumped off the bed and went for a stroll around the only property Fiona's parents left their girl with - a house in the suburb.

What about a lawyer? This is the perfect job for her hostile characteristics. But that also meant 5 years of training starting over at law school. She's not scared to study, it's just though Fiona Lin might seem young, she was actually around 27. Wasting 5 years in school, especially for women- the weaker sex is a big deal. Let alone law field is similar with medicine, you have to be a shark, both mentally and physically. Dragging a 32-yr-old body and fight with 20-yr-old eager wolfhounds... she doesn't want to lose at the starting line.

Then what else? Office worker? Fiona Lin's diploma is more than qualified for the job, but then again the regular job with repetitive contents, fighting tooth and nails for a promotion or pay raise didn't sound attractive to her at all.

What about a sales or a waitress? No fixed hours, salary depends solely on her work hours, no pre-requests for qualifications. The job description doesn't sound bad to her. Even if the social status is low, she never cared about that, she used to try out a bartender and she actually enjoyed that. Except for the part of kissing the asses of cocky customers and putting up with their harassment. Cristina nodded her head in disapproval instinctively. She could already imagine her sarcastic comments stunned the female customers or beating the crap out of the lady-killers. Anyway it would end up badly as a crime or an assault.

Then what should I do? Cristina paced back and forth on the floor with bare feet. Suitable for my personality traits, not wasting too much time to study...suddenly, she stopped her tracts at the mirror placed at the corners of the room. Her sight locked with the slim and beautiful figure in the mirror.

This is indeed a perfect girl. Gorgeous features, pale skin that's nearly transparent, warped boobs, slim waists, peach-honey butt and long legs.

Cristina marveled at the body in the mirror. She couldn't help but gasped. Though she didn't consider appearance as a must for females to express their charisma, she still had to admit that this new body was more stunning than her own. This woman is God's craft. If what Yang had in her previous life was standardized mass production, then what Fiona Lin had was the real limited edition handcraft. Gosh, these beautiful women had it all. Recalling the hospitality the neighbor across the road blessed her with, Cristina signed in defeat. The former Cristina Yang lived in Zurich for two years yet the concierge of the apartment still couldn't recognize her face. Fiona stayed in the hospital for 3 years yet the wrinkled middle-aged man still managed to recognize her at the first glance and scrambled to help her carry her luggage.

"Cause you're the most beautiful angel in our community, sweetheart. Oh, don't be upset baby, though your parents aren't here anymore, all of us are your family." Listening to his sycophantic flatters, Cristina couldn't wait to take a photo of the lechery look on his face and sent the photo to his wife. So this is the so-called privilege of the beauty? That they could caught men's attention instantly? She wondered how Izzie must felt all the time...

Wait...Izzie...The old memory suddenly flooded back to Cristina. She could still remember how she made a crack that if she had Izzie's body she would walking around naked all day. It suddenly occurred to her that the best job that would make the optimum use of this body would be...a model. Since her look is her strength, it would be a pity to waste it. Even if her height would be a flaw compared to natives like Izzie, modeling is two-dimensional and could be retouched, this face would be enough to speak volumes for her. Another advantage of this jobwould be she doesn't need to talk much, therefore the Chinglish accent of this body wouldn't be exposed. As a woman of her words, Cristina picked up the magazines left on the side table out of curiosity and got a flying start to search for interviews. The original Fiona Lin had these natural features and still chose to go to medical school? That's just...a crime against nature!

Damn, this is beyond exhausting. Cristina cursed inwardly whilst putting the so-called 'sexiest' pose under the spot light. For 5 hours, for godsaken 5 hours, she had to tolerant these jackass Nazi and annoying man stick ordering her around, switching various outfits and changing all kinds of pose: lifting her boobs higher, lifting her butt higher, separating her legs more apart. She wasn't sure if it was her false impression, but she felt she was becoming more and more exposed and lascivious.

How dare these photographers still keep bossing me around like they are purely professionals? They really think she's too dumb to acknowledge what their nasty eyes were engaged in? Cristina wanted to ask them to wipe their drooling saliva that was nearly reaching their chins. These jackasses were meaner than the hobos harrassing female waitresses. They doesn't even have the courage to face their preys, they just hid behind the cameras and had imaginary sex with the model.

*Ring, Ring* Just when Cristina couldn't suppress the urge to teach the photographer a lesson, her phone rang.

"What are you doing? Stand still!" Watching her softened her body and left the backdrop, the photographer screamed at her. Who does he think he is to tell me freeze? Cristina ignored his instruction, grabbed a blanket to cover her body that was only left with a thong and scurried towards the exit. You should be grateful for the phone call or I would have already practiced Izzie-in-the-trailer mode on you!

"If you get out of that door, you'll never get a chance to come back!" The photographer was still barking orders in her back. Cristina gave him the finger without turning around. Lady killer, go to hell.

Cristina let out a breath the moment she stepped out of the narrow studio swamped with the strong scent of tobacco and sweats that nearly suffocated her. This is the bottom of the modeling food chain? Being sliced open like a corpse by flirting eyes, let alone sleeping with the photographer to get a good angle? Damn it! The thought of the old man's hands touching her body inside out made her nauseous. That was physically unacceptable!

*Ring, Ring* The person calling her from the other side of the line wouldn't give up.

Cristina knitted her eye brows in confusion. Who would that be? She just bought the new cell phone, the only one that knew the number was the doorkeeper of her community apart from the hospital. She didn't even bother to gave it to the shameless middle-aged neighbour bugging her every day. She took a close look at the number. She didn't recognize it but it sound familiar. Cristina thought about it for 2 seconds then pressed the 'answer' button decisively.

"Hello, this is um...Fiona Lin." Cristina hesitated for a moment before she finished her self introduction for the first time.

"Hello, this is NBME."

National Board of Medical Examiners? Cristina stiffened at the rigid voice. Why do they have to put sand in the wheels just when she decided to make a clean break with medicine?

"What do you want from me?" Cristina sounded a little impatient. A long day of 'audition' left her with no patience to slight over the target she had no interest in.

"Oh, Miss Lin, here's the thing." He seemed like he hadn't sensed her crappy mood at all and continued matter-of-factly. "We received the call from Grey-Sloan Memorial informing us that you woke up from the coma. I guess congratulations are in order."

"Thank you." What does that have to do with you? Do you really care about me? Since when did Grey-Sloan Memorial become busybodies? Why did they inform NBME? Cristina cursed inwardly.

"Since you're a registered physician with our committee, we managed to pull out your record for the exam you took four years ago. You took the phase two exam four years ago and then went through one year's surgical intern training. You applied for sitting the phase three examination, however you missed the exam due to the car accident, which is a pity. So we're calling to confirm if you still want to proceed with the test. If you do want to continue your career as a surgeon, we have to revaluate..."

"Thanks for asking. I'm not interested in being a doctor." Cristina cut his endless stream of words rudely. No kidding, she would never put herself through all that heart break again, even if he begged her.

"Oh...that's good to hear." He notably breathed a sign of relief. "We were worrying about...never mind, this is a win-win then. Congratulations again for your revival, we..."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Cristina was pissed by his weird wording and phrasing, she questioned him in disgust. "A win-win?"

"Please don't mind my words. I'm just saying your choice would be the wisest decision for both of us and saved our precious time." Though he was a bit slow, he sensed Cristina's unpleasant tone and tried his best to explain himself. "You've been in coma for two years after all. You know what that would do to your brain and intelligence. And being a doctor requires constant learning and topping yourself. If you wish to proceed with your career, we would have to reevaluate your professional skills and knowledge to decide your competence. Now that you claimed you don't want to be a doctor anymore..."

"Wait, are you implying my intelligence was influenced that I'm too dumb to be a doctor?" Cristina began to act like a challenged hedgehog with its hairs standing on end at his humiliating comment. "Who gave you the right to judge me!" "Miss Lin, I didn't mean it..."

"Then what do you mean? If you want to debase my professional qualification and capability, you have to state your evidence! Slanders without evidence is not acceptable!" Cristina cut him off furiously.

"Miss Lin, I never intended to..." Scared by Cristina's outbreak, the person on the other line started to slur on his words. Sounds of swallowing his saliva were passed on through the line. "I'm...I'm just saying if you wish to proceed with your medical training, you have to prove to us you're still capable of...um...your position...so..."

"Spill it, how do you want me to prove it?" The man's despise drove her crazy. Cristina blustered out of her mind.

"Retake the phase two exam." He declared in a low voice but added in fear, "Of course, we could give you six months top to get ready."

"Not necessary. I don't need any time to prepare for it. As long as you have standardized tests and patients, I could take the exam tomorrow!"