The female guest created quite a commotion. With the floor supervisor absent today, Zhang Cailu had no choice but to summon the manager of the Guest Services Center, Jian Gang.
Seeing the guest’s penchant for causing a scene, Jian Gang, in an attempt to minimize the impact, invited her to his office. Xu Miyu and Zhang Cailu followed suit.
Once inside the office, the guest, once again, angrily accused Xu Miyu of taking her expensive luxury diamond ring while cleaning her room.
“That was a gift from my husband for our wedding anniversary! What’s going on with this hotel? Can anyone off the street now join as a service staff? Should I call the media to come and publicize this situation?” The guest’s tone carried both mockery and threat as she spoke.
Zhang Cailu promptly inquired about the details of the lost ring, its value, and the brand.
The guest, still fuming, mentioned a luxury brand and said, “It’s the best-looking diamond ring in their £50,000 range!” As she spoke, her anger flared again, and she pointed at Xu Miyu, telling Zhang Cailu, “She must have been enticed by its value!”
First, Jian Gang tried to pacify her with words, then turned to Xu Miyu, his gaze chilling as he questioned, “What’s the truth? Did you take something belonging to the guest?”
Under Jian Gang’s stern gaze, Xu Miyu’s tongue felt a bit weak. “I didn’t take anything. When I went in to clean, this guest was in the room…”
The guest raised her hand to point at Xu Miyu, telling Jian Gang, “Listen, listen! Her tone reeks of guilt! Yes, she was cleaning while I was in the room, but!”
The guest turned her head, glaring at Xu Miyu, and asked vehemently, “When I told you to tidy up and not disturb me, did I say that to you when you came in to clean?”
Recalling the situation, Xu Miyu nodded.
“Yes.”
“And did I have my headphones on, head down, painting my toenails the whole time?” The guest’s tone escalated.
“Yes.” Xu Miyu’s heart sank as she remembered.
“Was I listening to music the entire time, not even aware of when you finished cleaning? Wasn’t I?” The guest’s voice, like a drawn sword, pointed straight at Xu Miyu.
“…Yes.” When Xu Miyu had to admit it, her heart dropped to the bottom like a heavy stone.
But something seemed off. Everything was too coincidental. Too perfect…
“So, look, even if I was in the room at that time, I was wearing headphones, concentrating on my own tasks. I didn’t hear or see what she was doing. Isn’t it entirely possible that she took advantage of this opportunity to boldly steal my diamond ring?” The guest’s accusation made Xu Miyu’s heart thump emptily.
Everything was too coincidental, making her defenseless. The guest, who had been with her in the room the whole time, seemed to have a clearer narrative than Xu Miyu, who wasn’t in the room.
She wanted to say something in her defense, but the words that came out sounded feeble and powerless. “Manager Jian, I really didn’t steal this lady’s diamond ring…”
Since the day her ex-husband was revealed to be unfaithful, her desire for the ring, once laden with promises, had vanished.
“I’m not interested in the ring, really…”
“Give it a rest! You’re not interested in the ring? Are you not interested in the diamonds on it?” The guest approached Xu Miyu, “Stop pretending to be innocent and pitiful, okay? In terms of innocence, the one who had things stolen is more innocent, right?”
As she spoke, she laughed vigorously.
“Then let’s call the police. If you think it’s troublesome, I don’t mind the trouble!” The guest was determined.
Xu Miyu frowned. Was this how things worked in the workplace? Even if an employee was suspected of being framed, for the sake of the company’s reputation, they couldn’t involve the police?
At this moment, Jian Gang exchanged a glance with Zhang Cailu and called her out of the office.
In the corridor, Jian Gang lowered his voice, restraining his anger. “What’s going on, Zhang Cailu? Why is there so much trouble on your floor all day long? A few days ago, I received complaints from the manager of the top-floor suite, saying that the service staff on your floor has questionable skills and too many hidden agendas. No, who brought this person in? How long have they been working here?”
Zhang Cailu hurriedly explained, “This is a new recruit arranged by the Deputy Manager of our Guest Services Center. They’re still in the probationary period.”
Jian Gang, somewhat impatient, said, “A newcomer causing trouble before finishing the probationary period! Just fire them already!”
Zhang Cailu hesitated, “Isn’t this inappropriate? After all, the person was arranged by the Deputy Manager. If we dismiss them directly, wouldn’t it be a blow to his face when he inquires about it later?”
Supervisor Jian, impatiently, responded, “As you said, it’s the ‘Deputy’ Manager. Moreover, how long they can last is still a question. Furthermore, I am only responsible for the Manager’s instructions. Do you understand what I mean?”
Zhang Cailu nodded, understanding that with him, the legitimate manager’s confidante, she didn’t need to worry too much about the Deputy Manager’s side.
“But so far, the accusation of stealing the ring is only the customer’s word. It might not be suitable to fire Xu Miyu immediately. What if she goes to arbitration…”
Jian Gang thought for a moment and said, “Can she prove she didn’t steal? If she can’t, we’ll have to go by the customer’s word. I have a dinner appointment with our manager tonight, so we need to resolve this issue quickly.”
After saying this, he returned to the office, addressing the female guest with a warm smile, “Madam, rest assured, we will definitely provide you with a satisfactory resolution.”
He then turned to Xu Miyu, the smile disappearing, his expression serious. “Xu Miyu, can you prove that you didn’t take the customer’s ring?”
Xu Miyu stood there, taken aback by the question.
Though she had been a housewife most of her life, the concept of ‘innocent until proven guilty’ was not lost on her, thanks to television and the internet. If this guest insisted that she stole the ring, shouldn’t it be the customer’s responsibility to provide evidence proving she did? How come she, the accused, had to prove her innocence?
She remembered what Zhang Cailu had said earlier: in the service industry, we must trust customers unconditionally and prioritize their needs.
Fine, she thought, she would have to try to prove her innocence.
She knew that if she couldn’t prove it…
“If, by the end of the afternoon, you can’t prove you didn’t steal this lady’s diamond ring, I’m afraid I’ll have to terminate your employment on behalf of the hotel.” Jian Gang asserted with unwavering determination, like a righteous deity.
With only two hours left until the end of the afternoon, Xu Miyu knew she had limited time to present her case. She had to pull herself together and not appear vague or confused.
Although lacking social experience, she wasn’t completely isolated from the world, learning from TV and the internet.
Considering what she had seen in dramas before and the current situation, the first thing she should do was probably to check the surveillance.
Thinking of it, she immediately requested permission from Jian Gang to view the corridor surveillance.
In the surveillance room, she observed the guest’s room. From the guest’s check-in to her intended check-out, only one person had entered and exited the room – Xu Miyu.
Xu Miyu stood in front of the surveillance video for a solid minute.
Initially hoping to find evidence of someone else entering and leaving the room, indirectly proving she wasn’t the only person related to the ring’s disappearance, turned out to be too coincidental. Apart from her, no one else had entered or exited the guest’s room.
She had hoped the surveillance would eliminate her as a suspect, but now it seemed to solidify her position as the main suspect.
Feeling a bit lost, Xu Miyu wondered, what should be her next step?
After leaving the surveillance room, Xu Miyu, in a daze, took the staff elevator back to her assigned floor.
Upon exiting the elevator, she immediately sensed that everyone already knew about her situation.
In the vast social network of people, she was surprised that negative news could spread so quickly.
For a moment, she didn’t know what to do, and she aimlessly walked back to the Guest Services Department.
Approaching the entrance, she found the door slightly ajar, and the conversation inside flowed freely, reaching her ears.
“Xu Jie is really unlucky. She hasn’t been here for long, and she’s caught up in such a mess. Anyway, I don’t think she looks like a thief.”
That was the voice of Ke Wenxue.
“Hmm.” This was Yin Xiang’s voice.
Next was Ke Wenxue again, “I heard the supervisor spoke up for Xu Jie in front of our department head, saying there’s no evidence proving she’s a thief. So, the termination process is inappropriate. This bought Xu Jie a chance to prove herself.”
Yin Xiang followed with another hum.
“I said, are you humming all day? Are you down with the humming disease today?” Ke Wenxue teased.
The voice of Luo Qingping also chimed in, “How do you know the supervisor spoke up for Xu Jie? Did the supervisor tell you personally? She’s good at this, always trying to make others know whenever she does something for someone. Even if it’s just a 1, she’ll find a way to present it as a perfect 10. Who knows what the supervisor is really thinking.”
Ke Wenxue’s voice carried a hint of impatience and sarcasm, “Yes, yes, in your eyes, any supervisor other than you is not a good person. It would be best if all supervisors, except you, die quickly, and you become the supervisor!”
After her sarcastic remark, Ke Wenxue went back to questioning.
“Yin Xiang, do you think Xu Jie can prove she didn’t steal the ring?”
Yin Xiang hummed again.
Then she said, “How can she prove it? There’s no way to prove it. If it were you, could you think of a way to prove it?”
There was a short silence, followed by Ke Wenxue’s sigh.
“I thought about it, and I really can’t think of a way to prove it. Xu Jie is done for this time; she’s as good as gone!”
Standing outside the door, Xu Miyu felt like a heavy stone was pressing on her chest, making it hard for her to breathe, and her feet seemed weighed down by a ton.
She mustered all her strength to lift her feet and walked into the room.
As she entered the room, Ke Wenxue approached her with a mix of sympathy and excitement, saying, “Xu Jie, Xu Jie, we know about your situation!”
Xu Miyu asked in response, “How did you find out?”
Ke Wenxue replied, “The supervisor came over and said that if you can’t find evidence before the end of your shift, you’ll be fired. She asked us to help if we can.”
A warm feeling spread in Xu Miyu’s heart.
Ke Wenxue continued with another question, “Xu Jie, your complexion looks particularly bad now. Are you feeling unwell?”
On the side, Luo Qingping scoffed, “It’s like you’re genuinely concerned about Xu Jie, or is it just to gather more details for your gossip team?”
Ke Wenxue retorted with hands on her hips, “Hey, why do you always speak in such a weird and unpleasant way!”
Luo Qingping laughed, “Did I say something wrong? Weren’t you gossiping quickly with Li Kunlun from the F&B department and Lu Xiaoyan from the front desk as soon as Xu Jie wasn’t back yet?”
Afraid that they might argue because of her, Xu Miyu quickly said, “No need to help, thanks.”
Now, she didn’t even know what to do herself. Even if she wanted others to help, she didn’t know how to instruct them to assist.
The most crucial thing now was to calm herself down and think about how to prove her innocence. Thanks to Ke Wenxue and others, news of the incident had spread throughout the hotel. If she couldn’t prove she didn’t steal the customer’s belongings before the end of her shift, leaving would mean carrying the stigma of theft.
Moreover, after being dismissed from the Swire Hotel, what could she do to support herself? Leaving a prestigious five-star hotel without even completing the probation period would raise suspicions. A simple call from the new company’s HR to Swire Hotel would reveal that she was dismissed with a charge of stealing from a customer. Who would hire her then?
Thinking about this, Xu Miyu almost felt a sense of despair. The doors to her life seemed to have closed all at once. To survive, she had to find a way to prove her innocence and kick open the closed doors.
She heard someone calling her. Snapping out of her thoughts, she focused and saw Ke Wenxue.
Ke Wenxue was asking her, “Xu Jie, Xu Jie? Do you need our help now?”
Ke Wenxue’s tone carried genuine sympathy.
Looking at Ke Wenxue and then at Yin Xiang beside her, whose emotions seemed more complex—like a mix of sympathy and restrained empathy—Luo Qingping chimed in, “You really seem to care about Xu Jie. Or is it just to gather more details for your gossip team?”
Ke Wenxue shot back, “What does she mean? She doesn’t even have a bit of sympathy on her!”
Yin Xiang answered her question, “She means, if Xu Jie asks us to lend her money to buy a ring, would we really be willing to pay? Ke Wenxue, why would Xu Jie ask us to lend her money to buy a ring? If she really took the customer’s ring, she should return it. If she didn’t, why should she dig into her own pocket to buy a ring as compensation?”
Ke Wenxue’s words left Yin Xiang visibly stunned.
“But overall, your assumption is still kind,” Ke Wenxue patted Yin Xiang’s shoulder. “At least you assumed that Xu Jie didn’t take the customer’s ring and needs to buy one for compensation.”
Yin Xiang pushed Ke Wenxue’s hand away, saying, “You’re talking nonsense. You’ve confused me with your nonsense.”
She turned to look at Xu Miyu.
Xu Miyu was deep in thought. Suddenly, she raised her head, her eyes shining, full of brightness. She smiled at Yin Xiang, her eyes and brows curved, and her lips upturned. It was as if she had transformed into a different person, leaving both Yin Xiang and Ke Wenxue momentarily surprised.
Xu Miyu smiled and said to Yin Xiang, “Thank you for reminding me. I think I know what to do now!”
She immediately got up, found a piece of paper and a pen, and then hurried out of the Guest Services Department, her steps carrying a hint of hope and excitement.
Yin Xiang went from being momentarily surprised to fully puzzled, asking Ke Wenxue, “What did she just say? Thank me? Why would she thank me? Is this a straightforward or reverse statement?”
Ke Wenxue answered unrelatedly, “Hey Yin Xiang, don’t you think Xu Jie looks like a different person when she smiles? I’ve always thought she looks too haggard and thin. If she gains a bit more weight and takes care of herself, she could be really beautiful!”
Yin Xiang glanced at her and shook her head, “Talking to you is like playing the zither to a cow.”
In the afternoon, Li Kunlun delivered afternoon tea to the top-floor suite. While Xue Rui was receiving the meal at the door, Ji Feng sat in the semi-open leisure bar area, managing his crops and collecting items on his tablet.
It wasn’t until he had finished all the tasks that Xue Rui brought the afternoon tea over.
“What were you muttering about outside? Why did it take so long?” Ji Feng frowned slightly, impatiently asking.
Instead of the usual banter, Xue Rui hesitated and didn’t say anything.
Ji Feng sipped his tea slowly, squinting at Xue Rui. The chill in his gaze turned into a sharp blade, as if it was forged with the word “poison”: Think carefully whether you want to keep something from me.
Xue Rui, pierced by Ji Feng’s icy gaze, felt uneasy.
But he was still caught in a dilemma, hesitating.
After all, just now, when he went out to receive the meal, Li Kunlun brought some fresh hotel gossip, and it was about that Xu… that woman whose full name was forbidden to be mentioned in front of Ji Feng, the one Ji Feng strictly ordered not to talk about.
Thinking of this, Xue Rui decided it was better not to say anything.
He went from being hesitant to pursing his lips.
Suddenly, a crisp sound of “ka-cha” rang out. Xue Rui’s eyes widened in surprise, and he quickly looked at Ji Feng.
Ji Feng had forcefully half-thrown, half-dropped the teacup onto the bar table.
Xue Rui cautiously approached to see Ji Feng’s cold expression, eyebrows raised, questioning him, “What were you mumbling about outside? Do tell.”
A single word choked Xue Rui’s soul.
—But you just told me not to mention her anymore!!
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