Ji Feng looked at Xu Mi Yu and mocked, “How can you be so sure that I’m helping you and compensating you?” Hearing Ji Feng’s words, Xu Mi Yu was taken aback for a moment. “Could it be…not?” she asked hesitantly.
“So now you’ve come to find me, feeling that this compensation for one night is not enough?” Ji Feng asked the question with a hint of mockery visible at the corner of his mouth. He deliberately made the question crude, wanting to embarrass Xu Mi Yu and also wanting to force himself to face what happened last night. He wanted to use her embarrassment to offset some of the self-loathing she had brought him. As he wished, he saw confusion, embarrassment, self-abasement yet forced calm appear on Xu Mi Yu’s face. His words had hurt her. He thought that maybe next second, she would turn into a furious shrew like his mother, unable to endure any longer. But she unexpectedly surprised him. She looked so weak yet was actually able to endure more than his mother. She even roused a calm stubbornness from her weakness. She raised her chin to look straight into his eyes and said, “Mr. Ji, what happened last night was an accident. I don’t need any compensation. The money your assistant Xu gave me, I must also return to you.”
Having said this, she raised her chin slightly. Her eyes also welled up with a hitherto unseen boldness. With this expression, she said to him again, “Moreover, strictly speaking, last night I didn’t lose out. Perhaps you lost more. Maybe I should be the one compensating you!”
Ji Feng looked at Xu Mi Yu and listened to her words, surprised almost to the point of astonishment. She was actually upholding her dignity. He had thought she was already so weak that she no longer had such a thing. She even said that perhaps he had lost more and that she should compensate him. Ji Feng was so angry that for a moment, he didn’t know what to say. She really dared!
On the other side, Xu Mi Yu, having stated her position, quickly reached into her pocket for the bank card before Ji Feng could say anything more vicious to her. She intended to return the money in person to Ji Feng. When her hand came out, resting on her palm was a folded bill with the card tucked inside. When she unfolded the bill, Xu Mi Yu was shocked. Tucked inside wasn’t a bank card but rather a used mobile phone top up card! Jiao Xiu Mei didn’t know how to top up her phone. She always bought these top up cards to add talk time. Xu Mi Yu was stunned for a moment. She ordered herself to think hard about where the bank card was now if she had a used phone top up card here. Her heart beat so hard it almost burst through her chest. So the bank card was still with Jiao Xiu Mei…Jiao Xiu Mei had snatched away the bank card…Xu Mi Yu thought miserably and desperately. No wonder Jiao Xiu Mei hadn’t come to find her again after getting off work. She must have also discovered the bank card! And she had just put on such a strong show of returning the card to repay the money…If only she hadn’t been somewhat absent-minded after the shocking incident last night, thinking that she had snatched back the bank card and hadn’t dared check it in front of Jiao Xiu Mei before stuffing it into her pocket. Afterwards, she had also been distracted and hadn’t remembered to check again. Who could have expected such a coincidence that Jiao Xiu Mei actually happened to have a used top up card on hand.
Xu Mi Yu ordered herself to stay calm amidst the panic in her heart. She didn’t know how to face Ji Feng next. She had said she would return the money and perhaps she should compensate him. After speaking boldly, she couldn’t produce the card. What she took out instead was a used top up card. This scene was simply absurd and laughable. What would the other party think of her? The more she thought about it, the more chaotic her mind became. All the stubbornness and imposing manner she had just mustered to uphold her dignity now withered away. She squeezed out her voice to say “I’m sorry” and awkwardly explained, “I don’t know why the bank card turned into a top up card…” After saying this sentence, she felt it was absurd herself. So she wanted to laugh naturally to indicate she wasn’t lying. But her smile trembled as if it might break.
And Ji Feng narrowed his eyes slightly in that crumbling smile of hers. His eyes never left Xu Mi Yu. He watched the rare sight of her bold words and deeds flip-flopping along with her various expressions, trying to see through this scene of catch-and-release she had deliberately acted out to charm and bewitch him. But in the end, he was annoyed to discover her performance had no flaws. She really seemed to want to return the money. It was just such an odd coincidence that the bank card had somehow turned into a top up card for some reason.
Ji Feng sneered disdainfully. His parents’ relationship already irritated him enough. This woman before him now irritated him even more. Impatient, he stood up with both hands tucked into his pant pockets. He looked down condescendingly at the woman in front of him, gazing at her as if she were beneath dust. Then he said very coldly to her, “Money given out, I never take back. If you don’t want it, feel free to throw it away or donate it. This 200,000 is to buy out any involvement between you and me. Remember, from now on, take the money and do your job well as the supervisor. Don’t ever appear before me again.”
He bent down to move closer to Xu Mi Yu. Squinting his eyes slightly, he took a clear look at Xu Mi Yu’s expression as she forced herself to stay calm. At the same time, he made sure she could see the undisguised disgust on his face. “Remember, from now on, I don’t want to see you again.” Using the gentlest tone, he issued the cruelest warning.
Hearing Ji Feng’s warning, Xu Mi Yu felt the oppression his entire being brought. She couldn’t help but take a step back. Calming herself, she raised her neck to reply Ji Feng, “Actually I also don’t want to see you again! Also, whether I can get the card back or not, I will definitely find a way to return the money to you! And if I can earn more money in the future, rest assured I will also compensate you!”
As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Ji Feng’s expression change. He seemed very angry, angry to the point his eyes narrowed. But he just glared at her for a moment before turning to leave, as if too lazy to engage in further verbal argument with her. As he walked away, after getting some distance, he mockingly threw a sentence over his shoulder, “Then I hope you keep your word!”
Xu Mi Yu watched Ji Feng walk away until his figure disappeared. She completely deflated. She stood stunned there at a loss. The lights in the swimming pool below the balcony came on, colorful. Lively rhythmic music followed. Someone was having a pool party. The revelry over there contrasted sharply with Xu Mi Yu standing desolately in the balcony corner. This city would never shine a spotlight on someone feeling lost. This hotel would never stall its happiness and luxury for anyone’s troubles.
Xu Mi Yu listened blankly to the various sounds of happiness and noise coming from the swimming pool. She had once possessed such happiness as well. But now for her, they were like a luxury. No matter how she lived, she didn’t understand what qualifications she had to experience happiness. Xu Mi Yu turned and jogged away, running from the happiness and clamor that didn’t belong to her, running down from the balcony and out of the hotel. She stood on the big street. Cars flowed like water, streaming along the riverbed built by the city streets at night.
She took out her phone and dialed Jiao Xiu Mei’s number. She demanded Jiao Xiu Mei, “Did you take a bank card from me at noon? Don’t touch that card. That money inside doesn’t belong to me. You have to return that card to me!” But Jiao Xiu Mei was unmoved. She was even delighted to tell her, “You child are just stubborn. That card was clearly prepared for me. The password was written on the back. After you left for work at noon, I found an ATM machine and checked—there was exactly 200,000 in the card! Look at you, isn’t this the 200,000 you prepared for your brother?”
Xu Mi Yu spoke almost tearfully, “Return this card to me. This 200,000 really doesn’t belong to me! Or let’s do this—I will definitely find a way to slowly save up this 200,000 for you in the future. But for now, you absolutely can’t touch the money in this card. You have to return the card to me!”
But Jiao Xiu Mei paid her pleas no heed. She had her own understanding: “Mom knows this is probably money you’ve been hiding away and couldn’t bear to take out. Once you take it out, you feel a bit regretful and want it back. You fickle child!” Jiao Xiu Mei’s throat seemed to contain several vocal cords—furious, coaxing, threatening, placating. She used them freely and smoothly. Now she spoke gently and had completely separated and isolated herself from the woman who had been ready to furiously jump off a building at noon.
“My silly one, when it comes down to it, you still care for your mom. You just can’t bear to see your mom really die in front of you.” As she spoke, her tone suddenly shifted: “Old Three, like I said, you child are crafty and suspicious. If I don’t threaten you with death, you truly won’t take money out. You child, when did you become like a sea sponge? You have to be squeezed and squeezed before you’ll ooze oil and flow water. Alright, we’re all family. No overnight grudges. Let’s put this past us. Mom isn’t mad at you anymore so don’t throw a petty tantrum either. But next time when Mom asks you for money, hand it over promptly. That way we mother and daughter don’t have to keep seeing each other on death’s door. Too sad for our feelings!”
Xu Mi Yu gave a cold laugh over the phone, laughing till her teeth chattered and her entire body shook. “I really wonder if you have any feelings for me or not. You feel fine forcing me to my death? Jiao Xiu Mei, I have to make something clear to you no matter what: you have to return this 200,000 to me. Don’t force me to call the police!”
Jiao Xiu Mei’s vocal cords immediately switched to furious mode. “What? Call the police? I’d like to see you try! You’ve really been spoiled. Do you think I don’t know anything? The police don’t meddle in family affairs. Even if they came, they would have to make the family resolve things themselves. Trying to scare me with calling the cops? I’ve really indulged you too much! Xiao Duo Yu, let me make clear to you—I’ve already withdrawn the money from the card. I’ve also snapped the card. If you want it back, dream on! You’ve even learned to make threats with me! I’ve really spoiled you rotten!” She hectored Xu Mi Yu loudly.
Xu Mi Yu held the phone away from her ear without hanging up. Expressionless, she walked into a nearby streetside food stand and ordered the cheapest noodles. She ate quietly until Jiao Xiu Mei finally vented her satisfaction and hung up. Xu Mi Yu lowered her head to drink the noodle soup. She gazed blankly at the soup, thinking confusedly—why was her mother so biased? In the past, she had always wanted attention and approval from family. This wish was like a belief that supported her again and again in compromising and wronging herself. But now this belief was beginning to shake and shatter. What exactly had she gained from repeatedly wronging herself and giving? It wasn’t approval. It wasn’t affirmation. It wasn’t familial attention and care. But rather her mother was still biased and forever unsatisfied.
She started wondering if she should expect intimacy and approval from this family. Who could teach her how she should act to shake off her blood-sucking leech of a mother attached to her? Without her even noticing, two teardrops fell into the noodle soup. So she lied to herself—the soup was salty, she hadn’t cried. Putting down the bowl, she looked up at the pitch black sky. No matter how difficult, she had to find a way to return that 200,000 to Ji Feng.
When Xu Mi Yu returned to the dorm, the other three were still discussing who would be the new supervisor. Luo Qing Ping made no attempt to hide her ambitions, frankly telling the others, “I won’t hide this from you all. Before leaving work, I sent emails recommending myself to the manager and director. Looking at our floor’s staffing now, I feel I’m more suited for this than any of you. I hope you all know your limits and don’t compete with me for this.”
Ke Wen Xue mocked her on the side, “Oh our esteemed supervisor Luo, your officialdom dreams can finally be realized!” Yin Xiang nudged her, signaling her not to offend the one most likely to become the new supervisor. “Be careful. If she really becomes supervisor, she’ll assign you the most dirty rooms in your work orders!” Yin Xiang whispered to Ke Wen Xue almost inaudibly.
Ke Wen Xue suddenly realized and immediately became an opportunistic turncoat. Switching from mockery to flattery took great skill, which she fully displayed: “But Ping Ping, I truly admire your candid spirit. Very upright!” She gave Luo Qing Ping a big thumbs up.
Just then, Xu Mi Yu entered the dorm. Ke Wen Xue immediately turned to her, “Xu Jie, you’re back! Xiang and I were just saying how Sister Ping Ping has an upright heart. What’s wrong with wanting to be supervisor? She’s never hidden such thoughts. Those who scheme privately are sinister people, right Xu Jie!”
Xu Mi Yu was stunned just inside the door, not knowing how to respond.
At one point, she even felt that Ke Wenxue knew everything, implying hidden meanings in her words.
But soon she realized, Ke Wenxue was just talking for the sake of talking.
Because she was pulled over directly by Ke Wenxue. Ke Wenxue invited her to eat melon seeds while speculating on the new team leader.
“Xu Jie, besides Ping Ping, do you think there’s anyone else who could be our new team leader?”
Xu Miyu pursed her lips, unable to say anything.
Whatever she said now, when looked back upon tomorrow, would seem hypocritical.
She could only say, “Maybe it will be announced tomorrow.”
Ke Wenxue immediately asked, “So soon? Xu Jie, did you hear something? Is there any inside information?”
Xu Miyu was stuck, not knowing how to answer. She found her mouth clumsy, unable to round off today’s events smoothly.
Yin Xiang, on the side, said, “You, the gossip queen uncertain about things, ask Xu Jie. She just arrived not long ago, just finished the probation period.”
Ke Wenxue added, “That’s right. Regardless of who becomes the team leader, it has nothing to do with Xu Jie. She just arrived not long ago and just finished the probation period.”
She clapped her hands, starting to collect melon seed shells. “Well, let’s just watch and see. It might as well be Ping Ping. From tomorrow on, I’ll make an effort to please you, Ping Ping. Hope you can take care of me well!”
Luo Qingping ignored her, just hmphed confidently.
For some reason, after listening to Ke Wenxue and Luo Qingping’s conversation, Xu Miyu felt uneasy all evening.
The next day at work, the supervisor personally came to hold an early meeting.
The first thing she announced to everyone was, “Come, let me announce the new team leader. She’s your colleague—Xu Miyu! Come, Miyu, come and say a few words to everyone. Didn’t I tell you yesterday before leaving work? You should be prepared, right? Come on, come and say a few words to everyone!”
As soon as the supervisor finished speaking, Xu Miyu’s heart sank.
Everyone’s gaze on her was filled with surprise.
She saw Luo Qingping widen her eyes, glaring at her as if she were an enemy.
She saw Ke Wenxue and Yin Xiang, both with expressions of shock and feeling deceived.
What should she do? It seemed that, in this moment, she had offended everyone.
Xu Miyu had no experience speaking in front of people. She reluctantly stood up, summoning all her courage and strength, and stammered out, “Thank you, everyone. I will do my best.”
After she spoke, the supervisor clapped her hands, applauding her. However, no one joined in, making the applause awkward and difficult to sustain.
The supervisor clapped twice and stopped.
“Alright, everyone wait here. Miyu and I will go to the office to arrange today’s work schedule. Come on, Miyu, come with me. I’ll guide you for the first two days, let you know what the team leader needs to take care of every day.”
As she spoke, she led Xu Miyu away.
At this moment, Luo Qingping stood up.
She blocked the path between the supervisor and Xu Miyu, her face turning blue as she asked, “Supervisor Yang, I think we need an explanation. Why is she the team leader? She just arrived not long ago. Why can she become the team leader as soon as she completes her probation? Any one of us here is more qualified than her. Is it just because she’s older?”
The supervisor, being publicly questioned like this, had an unpleasant expression. She retorted to Luo Qingping, “Do you need an explanation, or do you need an explanation?.”
Luo Qingping responded directly, “Yes, I need an explanation. I think I should be the team leader. It’s unacceptable for her to be the leader, and I don’t agree!”
The supervisor smiled, with a hint of mockery, “You think? You’re the one who thinks. Do you think the Swire Hotel should be chaired by you? Go on, work hard if you’re capable, or go home if you don’t want to. There are too many ‘you think’ every day. If you’re not satisfied, go talk to the higher-ups. The appointment of Xu Miyu as team leader comes directly from above.”
After saying this, the supervisor swept away the obstacles of Luo Qingping’s seven dissatisfactions and eight reluctances, taking Xu Miyu to the office.
At this moment, Luo Qingping stood up.
She blocked the path between the supervisor and Xu Miyu, her face turning blue as she asked, “Supervisor Yang, I think we need an explanation. Why is she the team leader? She just arrived not long ago. Why can she become the team leader as soon as she completes her probation? Any one of us here is more qualified than her. Is it just because she’s older?”
The supervisor, being publicly questioned like this, had an unpleasant expression. She retorted to Luo Qingping, “Do you need an explanation, or do you need an explanation?.”
Luo Qingping responded directly, “Yes, I need an explanation. I think I should be the team leader. It’s unacceptable for her to be the leader, and I don’t agree!”
The supervisor smiled, with a hint of mockery, “You think? You’re the one who thinks. Do you think the Swire Hotel should be chaired by you? Go on, work hard if you’re capable, or go home if you don’t want to. There are too many ‘you think’ every day. If you’re not satisfied, go talk to the higher-ups. The appointment of Xu Miyu as team leader comes directly from above.”
After saying this, the supervisor swept away the obstacles of Luo Qingping’s seven dissatisfactions and eight reluctances, taking Xu Miyu to the office.
At this moment, Luo Qingping stood up.
She blocked the path between the supervisor and Xu Miyu, her face turning blue as she asked, “Supervisor Yang, I think we need an explanation. Why is she the team leader? She just arrived not long ago. Why can she become the team leader as soon as she completes her probation? Any one of us here is more qualified than her. Is it just because she’s older?”
The supervisor, being publicly questioned like this, had an unpleasant expression. She retorted to Luo Qingping, “Do you need an explanation, or do you need an explanation?.”
Luo Qingping responded directly, “Yes, I need an explanation. I think I should be the team leader. It’s unacceptable for her to be the leader, and I don’t agree!”
The supervisor smiled, with a hint of mockery, “You think? You’re the one who thinks. Do you think the Swire Hotel should be chaired by you? Go on, work hard if you’re capable, or go home if you don’t want to. There are too many ‘you think’ every day. If you’re not satisfied, go talk to the higher-ups. The appointment of Xu Miyu as team leader comes directly from above.”
After saying this, the supervisor swept away the obstacles of Luo Qingping’s seven dissatisfactions and eight reluctances, taking Xu Miyu to the office.
Xu Miyu’s heart sank as her trembling steps continued down the road. The supervisor, whether intentionally or unintentionally, openly discussed many matters, as if deliberately creating enemies for her as the newly appointed leader. Her recent words blatantly implied to everyone that Xu Miyu had connections with higher-ups, suggesting that she became the team leader through the back door.
Anxious thoughts filled Xu Miyu’s mind; this revelation might make it even harder for others to accept her.
Her apprehensions proved correct as the team displayed clear dissatisfaction with her sudden promotion. The varied attitudes towards her instructions and explanations ranged from pretending not to hear to outright defiance. Some feigned ignorance, others disobeyed behind her back, and a few flat-out refused to follow her lead.
Though diverse in their reactions, they all converged on one point – they did not accept Xu Miyu as their leader.
Amidst this negative atmosphere, Xu Miyu spent the entire day anxious, unable to eat a single bite.
During lunch break, she had to step outside the hotel to make a call to Jiao Xiumei. Urgently requesting the return of the bank card, she even mentioned the possibility of reporting the incident to the police. However, Jiao Xiumei promptly hung up on her.
Frustrated and aggrieved, Xu Miyu stood on the roadside, shivering from head to toe. She realized that compromising this time might only worsen the situation. The 200,000 yuan, already dubious, would become even more unclear if handed over to Jiao Xiumei without resistance.
Firm in her decision, she went directly to the nearest police station, seeking advice on what to do if her mother took away her money. She questioned whether reporting it to the police would help recover the funds.
The officer asked a crucial question: “Can you prove that the money belongs exclusively to you, with no involvement from your family?”
Caught off guard, Xu Miyu couldn’t provide proof as the bank card wasn’t in her name.
Stammering, she said, “The money is in an account under someone else’s name, taken by my family. I want it back. Can you advise me on what to do?”
The officer advised her, “You need to prove that the money is yours. Contact the cardholder, ask them to intervene and reclaim the funds, or have them testify that the card and its contents were indeed given to you, unrelated to your family. Additionally, if the amount is substantial, it may involve hidden income and tax evasion, requiring coordination with the tax authorities. How much money is in that card of yours?”
Anxious, Xu Miyu downplayed the amount. The situation turned out to be more complicated than she anticipated. She doubted Ji Feng would help her prove that the money was intended for her. She couldn’t risk involving him in this matter, potentially exposing him to investigation due to transfer reasons and tax issues.
Leaving the police station, Xu Miyu felt lost, unsure of her next steps.
As the lunch break ended, she reluctantly returned to work. The afternoon proved equally challenging, with her colleagues’ resentment towards her leadership persisting.
In the evening, back at the dormitory, the situation worsened. Xu Miyu noticed a growing distance between her and Yin Xiang and Ke Wenxue, who had seemed to be getting closer. They no longer called her for casual conversations, and a subtle wariness had crept into their interactions.
Luo Qingping, on the other hand, openly displayed hostility. Her taunts and mockery intensified as she questioned Xu Miyu’s choice to live with the commoners even after becoming a team leader.
Feeling cornered, Xu Miyu contemplated finding a chance to talk to Yin Xiang and Ke Wenxue, apologize, and explain herself. It wasn’t her intention to hide anything, but the complexities of her situation made it challenging to articulate.
However, when she overheard Luo Qingping attempting to instigate resentment between Yin Xiang and Ke Wenxue, manipulating them into forming an alliance against Xu Miyu, she realized the extent of her predicament.
Luo Qingping targeted Yin Xiang first, emphasizing Xu Miyu’s supposed betrayal and labeling her as a schemer. To Xu Miyu’s dismay, Yin Xiang’s anger surpassed even that of Ke Wenxue.
The confrontation reached a peak when Luo Qingping accused Yin Xiang of aiding Xu Miyu behind the scenes, contributing to the third party’s attempt to undermine her. This allegation left Xu Miyu feeling betrayed and isolated.
The tension escalated as Luo Qingping continued to sow discord, exploiting any vulnerability in their relationships.
Xu Miyu, upon leaving the restroom, heard Luo Qingping’s inflammatory remarks echoing in the dormitory. Frustration overwhelmed her as she witnessed the distorted soap on the floor, a symbolic representation of her strained interpersonal relationships.
Realizing that she needed a comprehensive strategy to navigate this crisis, Xu Miyu, with determination, decided to face the challenges head-on. She acknowledged the possibility that Ji Feng’s promotion might not have been a genuine act of assistance but rather an attempt to see her struggle in a hostile environment.
Undeterred, Xu Miyu embraced her decision, understanding that perseverance in the face of adversity could be her second courageous act in life. Despite being a full-time housewife for the past six years, she drew inspiration from her exposure to various dramas, hoping that the accumulated knowledge might guide her through this difficult time.
With a newfound determination, Xu Miyu focused on finding ways to turn the situation around and demonstrate her capability as a leader.
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