Due to connections, the interview could be considered a formality. The human resources informed Xu Miyu to report to the guest room department promptly the next morning.
After completing the check-in, when Xu Miyu came out of Swire Hotel, she truly understood what a mix of emotions felt like. Previously, she had come here to be served like a god. But starting tomorrow, she would transform into someone serving the gods.
Becoming a servant to the gods was unexpectedly not easy. It required interviews, training, and various job assessments.
Reflecting on the past few years, she realized that her life had shielded her from the hardships of the world. It turned out that even those who aspired to serve others had thresholds to cross, screenings, and selections.
On the day of reporting, she went to her elder sister’s house to collect her luggage. The hotel provided accommodation for employees, although conditions were average and involved shared living. Still, it was much better than depending on others.
After reporting, there were uniform distributions and onboarding training. Swire Hotel had a distinctive feature – everything was aesthetically pleasing, from the decor, furnishings, arrangements, to the uniforms of various job positions. Even the housekeeping staff’s uniforms, including the room service attendants, were more attractive than those in other hotels.
Wearing the uniform, Xu Miyu realized she hadn’t turned into the imagined cleaning lady. The uniform top was slim and waist-cinching, and the trousers didn’t make her look frumpy.
After styling her hair as required and putting on the uniform, she even appeared somewhat pleasing to the eye. However, her face remained thin and exhausted.
Several other girls also joined the room service department on the same day. Xu Miyu had noticed before that Swire Hotel emphasized “youthful service.” Not only were the front desk service staff outstanding in appearance, but the room service attendants were also young and attractive. Unlike other hotels that often employed older ladies, Swire Hotel had a different approach.
Comparatively, among the room service attendants joining on the same day, Xu Miyu was unexpectedly considered older.
During the onboarding training, many topics were covered, from the hotel’s history and culture to its organizational structure, and the specific requirements of the room service department.
Although Xu Miyu had been idle at home for the past few years, her memory had always been excellent. She effortlessly absorbed the information presented by the supervisors, even listening without much engagement, and managed to understand everything.
The supervisors informed everyone during the training that the hotel’s floor height and room category were directly proportional. The higher the floor, the more luxurious the room type.
Therefore, the top floor housed the most expensive and luxurious suites in the entire hotel, only two in total. Guests staying on the top floor were top-tier VIPs. All service personnel were required to treat them with the utmost respect and respond promptly and unconditionally to any requests they made.
The supervisors also mentioned that a dedicated elevator was set up for the top floor VIPs. Apart from cleaning and maintenance, everyone should avoid using this elevator.
If it were in the past, hearing this would have ignited a deep sense of shame in Xu Miyu. However, since her recent divorce, financial deception, and illness, she felt like a walking corpse. As the supervisor spoke, she just numbly raised her eyelids.
After the training, there was an assessment test. Xu Miyu mechanically participated, and surprisingly, she achieved a decent score. Her ranking was in the upper segment, so correspondingly, she was assigned to the executive suite area on the upper floors.
This outcome made Xu Miyu realize the theatrical nature of life and the ebb and flow of fortunes. Not long ago, she was consuming and enjoying services in an executive suite, but from now on, she would have to serve those who came here to consume.
The floor supervisor took her to the floor leader. The floor leader, named Zhang Cailu, was a capable young lady a few years younger than Xu Miyu. Xu Miyu found her to be friendly. Zhang Cailu greeted her warmly, saying, “Finally, human resources sent someone to me. Our floor was already short-staffed, and we unexpectedly lost one last week. Fortunately, you’ve come. Welcome, Sister Xu!”
If it were in the past, hearing the term “Sister Xu,” Xu Miyu would have anxiously stayed awake for half the night, unable to sleep. Early the next morning, she would have gotten up and scrutinized her face in the mirror, looking for wrinkles and any hidden white hairs.
But now, she just numbly smiled.
In the eyes of others now, she was both worn-out and old, truly a big sister.
Zhang Cailu also informed her, “From now on, I will be your mentor and responsible for your training. If there’s anything you don’t understand or aren’t proficient in regarding our work, feel free to ask me.”
Xu Miyu quickly expressed her gratitude to Zhang Cailu.
That night, Xu Miyu adjusted to the dormitory and moved into a room with her colleagues.
There were four people in the dormitory, including her. Xu Miyu remembered their names after just one introduction.
Firstly, there was Yin Xiang. When this girl glanced at her upon entering the room, she turned away and continued talking to another girl.
The girl she was conversing with was quite friendly. When she saw Xu Miyu enter, she took the initiative to greet her and introduced herself as Ke Wenxue.
Xu Miyu reported her name. Then, she heard Ke Wenxue approach her with a series of enthusiastic questions: How old are you? Are you a local? What are your hobbies? Where did you work before? Oh, are you married or have any children?
Xu Miyu felt a bit bewildered by this rapid-fire questioning. She stuttered, not knowing which three questions she had answered – 30 years old, not a local, stayed in this city after graduating, enjoys watching Thai, Japanese, and American dramas.
As for the other questions, she hesitated and didn’t answer.
When Ke Wenxue was about to follow up on the unanswered questions, Yin Xiang, who had been chatting with Ke Wenxue earlier, said to her, “You’re quite the gossip, Wenxue. Just let Sister Xu settle in; you’re so curious. Are you polite?”
Being called a gossip, Ke Wenxue immediately countered, “Don’t exaggerate, Yin Xiang. Sister Xu came in, and you just gave her a glance without saying hello. Are you polite? If it were the floor leader or supervisor coming in, you’d be the first one to rush up and inquire about everything. You’re such a snob!”
Xu Miyu thought they were about to start a fight. She became tense and uncomfortable all over, as if everyone’s arguments were because of her.
“Don’t…don’t…” Don’t fight.
But as soon as the words came out, she realized the two of them were just playfully teasing each other.
She felt nervous listening to their banter, sensing that she couldn’t keep up with the conversational style of young girls in society and the workplace. She quietly turned and went to arrange the only empty bed in the room. After finishing, Ke Wenxue approached her again to strike up a conversation.
Ko Wenxue told her, “Sister Xu, do you know where the previous occupant of the bed you’re making now went?”
Xu Miyu thought about the day shift manager’s remark that someone suddenly resigned last week. Still, the manager didn’t say why this person resigned.
She shook her head.
Immediately, Ko Wenxue revealed a vivid expression, the kind that says, “I’m about to tell you a secret that will make you go ‘wow.’”
“She, you see, claimed she accidentally entered the VIP exclusive elevator—though everyone understands whether it was truly accidental or intentional. Then, she took the opportunity to get close to a VIP gentleman who stayed on the top floor that day. After that, she followed the VIP gentleman home last week and became a little mistress, enjoying a life of luxury.”
“Wow,” Xu Miyu promptly expressed the anticipation Ko Wenxue hoped for before revealing this gossip.
Her reaction gave Ko Wenxue a sense of accomplishment. Unable to resist, Ko Wenxue adopted a dramatic tone, delivering a bonus after the gossip: “So, Sister Xu, do you understand why there are so many young and beautiful girls eager to work as room service attendants here? Because—seize the right moment, and you might find a good way to climb the social ladder!”
Xu Miyu half-opened her mouth, unsure of how to respond.
In reality, she wanted to ask Ko Wenxue why young girls come to work here with the idea of conveniently climbing the social and wealth ladder. The choice of the girl who became a little mistress by following a wealthy guest home only represented herself and couldn’t speak for others.
However, Xu Miyu wasn’t one to say “no” to people, and she never openly contradicted anyone. She silently disagreed in her heart.
Not knowing how to respond to Ko Wenxue, at that moment, the bathroom door opened. Another girl who had been showering walked out, drying her wet hair as she approached the bed next to Xu Miyu.
Feeling a bit awkward, Xu Miyu stood up, intending to greet her. However, the girl didn’t look at her; her gaze was fixed on Ko Wenxue.
She coldly sneered at Ko Wenxue and said, “Stop randomly speculating. I don’t know if you’re here to be a room service attendant for the sake of a good way to climb the social ladder with a wealthy person, but I’m not.”
Ko Wenxue, upon hearing this, furrowed her brows. “Luo Qingping, you’re pretending to be high and mighty!”
After saying this, she turned and walked back to her own bed, swiftly pulling the curtain shut.
The atmosphere made Xu Miyu feel a bit awkward. This awkwardness, in turn, made her feel somewhat at a loss.
It seemed like all the unusual vibes in this room were because of her. She was too afraid of this feeling.
In her confusion, she heard Luo Qingping speak to her, “Hello, I’m Luo Qingping. I’m actually easy to get along with. As long as you don’t mess with my things, cross my boundaries, or touch what I want, feel free to do whatever, and I won’t interfere or care.”
She finished speaking without waiting for Xu Miyu’s response, turning to the mirror to blow-dry her hair.
Amidst the whirring sound of the hairdryer, Xu Miyu said, “Okay,” as if she were conversing with the air.
Soon, Xu Miyu officially started her work. She fulfilled the duties of a room service attendant every day as required, working mechanically like a numb machine.
There was no enthusiasm for work, and she couldn’t envision any plans for the future. It felt like she was living day by day, like a monk banging a wooden fish.
Even in her actions, there was a sense of weariness. Even chocolate couldn’t provide her with comfort and motivation.
It seemed that the aftermath of her divorce was truly starting to show now. Before the divorce, her days were so comfortable—while tidying up rooms dirty and messy due to customers, when customers ordered her around to clean this and that but were never satisfied, she would often think like this.
Sometimes, when she was treated harshly, she genuinely wanted to let go and leave.
Yet, reason told her that, now with nothing, she didn’t have the luxury of such wilfulness.
Originally, after the divorce, she had some money on hand, and she felt secure. Even if she did nothing, relying on those savings could sustain her for quite some time.
But now, she was a penniless beggar. Even if she didn’t like this job, if she didn’t do it, she wouldn’t know how she would eat next month.
However, knowing that this job was crucial for her survival, she still couldn’t muster the enthusiasm. Besides eating a full meal, what else could this job offer her? She couldn’t find an answer.
It seemed that her colleagues quickly discovered her people-pleasing personality. When they asked her to cover shifts, the gratitude and politeness gradually turned into a taken-for-granted attitude.
She didn’t bother to argue because arguing would offend people. She was most afraid of making someone unhappy and then being ignored.
As long as the other person wasn’t too excessive, she would do a bit more. After all, doing a bit more didn’t hurt.
Yin Xiang sought her out the most for shifts. At first, Yin Xiang treated her with cold indifference, seemingly uninterested.
Then one day, Yin Xiang had a stomachache, and Xu Miyu cleaned several rooms for her. Yin Xiang’s attitude towards her suddenly warmed up.
Later, to Xu Miyu’s bemusement, whenever Yin Xiang saw her, she would suddenly complain of a stomachache.
So, Xu Miyu began cleaning rooms for Yin Xiang whenever the sudden stomachache struck.
As this continued, Yin Xiang’s stomachache didn’t just occur during the day; it started happening before the night shift. Xu Miyu began covering night shifts for Yin Xiang, one after another.
Sometimes, Xu Miyu also wanted to take a good rest and didn’t want to cover night shifts anymore.
However, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse. They were all younger sisters, and after exposing the lie about the stomachache, she was afraid it would be more awkward than the other person.
She convinced herself that it was just a small matter. Moreover, each time she helped Yin Xiang, she would receive sweet thanks and praises—Yin Xiang complimented her as a good and capable person and said she liked her as an older sister.
In those moments, Xu Miyu felt a bit content. Being acknowledged made her feel like she had a bit of presence.
One evening, Xu Miyu, Yin Xiang, and Ko Wenxue were all on the late shift together.
Around ten o’clock, the floor supervisor, Zhang Cailu, approached and said that the top floor was short-staffed, and they needed help cleaning the suites. The suite housekeeper specifically requested assistance from the high-level area, borrowing service staff to handle the workload.
Yin Xiang grumbled, “Why is the top floor always short-staffed? If you ask me, they should hire some older, less attractive service staff. It would save the trouble of beautiful girls quitting after a few days because they were whisked away by VIPs.”
Ko Wenxue asked Zhang Cailu, “Sister Cailu, is there a party going on up there?”
Zhang Cailu nodded and added, “Yes, and this time, apart from the usual gatherings, there’s also the well-known permanent VIP guest on the top floor.”
Ko Wenxue exclaimed, “Wow.”
Zhang Cailu confirmed, “And it’s not just that. Duan Aoxiang, the one who often throws parties, is also attending.”
Ko Wenxue had an expression that said, “I expected as much.” She then inquired, “Is it, by any chance, a party hosted by Duan Aoxiang?”
Zhang Cailu nodded again, saying, “Yes, and this time, there’s an additional VIP guest, Mr. Ji Feng.”
Ko Wenxue’s reaction was a sarcastic “Goodness.”
Zhang Cailu looked at the three of them and instructed, “Among the three of you, leave two on this floor for duty, and one person will go up. Discuss among yourselves who will go, and let me know after you’ve decided.” With that, she headed to her office.
Xu Miyu thought about what Ko Wenxue had said earlier – that the top floor was an opportunity to get close to the upper echelons. However, to her surprise, neither Yin Xiang nor Ko Wenxue seemed eager to take on this task. Instead, they were urging each other to go.
Pondering over this, Xu Miyu asked Ko Wenxue casually, “According to what you said before, isn’t everyone usually eager to take on assignments on the top floor?”
Ko Wenxue’s gossip box opened immediately. “It depends on who the guests on the top floor are. There are two people everyone tries to avoid: one is Duan Aoxiang, who often throws parties, and the other is the well-known chief VIP guest on the top floor – Ji Feng.”
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