Chapter 10:
Cleaning services at Jinbiao Mingting were managed by the property management company.
SA, clutching a knockoff designer bag, stood downstairs at the property management office, waiting for Qi SiJia.
“So early! What brings you here?”
At 6:30 AM, Xiao Su from the property management office walked over, holding takeout noodles in one hand and soy milk in the other.
SA waved dismissively: “Waiting for a client.”
“Oh.”
Their relationship was lukewarm. SA was known for being opportunistic.
Xiao Su, not interested in small talk, was about to excuse herself,
When SA’s “client” arrived.
“Miss Qi, this way.” SA’s face lit up with an enthusiastic smile, a stark contrast to her earlier indifference towards Xiao Su. Her eyes, fixed on the woman getting out of the car, shone as if she were looking at a gold coin.
A perfect example of her two-faced nature.
Xiao Su, curious to see this important client, followed SA’s gaze.
A bright yellow Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV came into view. The car was so compact that the driver seemed cramped inside. A long, slender leg emerged, clad in a black sneaker, followed by a flexible, narrow waist as the driver maneuvered herself out.
Finally, she gracefully extracted her other leg from the tight space.
“Wow, legs for days…”
The woman’s back was turned. Xiao Su estimated her height to be at least 1.73 meters. But that wasn’t the main attraction. Xiao Su loved observing people’s fashion.
Long legs, small waist, balanced proportions – the woman seemed to embody the perfect figure.
She wore a dark gray coat that reached her knees, light blue high-waisted wide-leg pants, and black sneakers. Her face was buried in a blue and white scarf, her expression hidden.
She exuded a cool, androgynous aura.
Xiao Su’s eyes widened in anticipation, waiting for the woman to turn around.
But after a minute, the woman retrieved a travel backpack from the backseat, slung it over her shoulder, and turned.
Xiao Su let out a disappointed “ah.” The long-legged beauty wore a black mask, her face completely concealed by the scarf, and a cleaner’s cap.
The ordinary orange cap didn’t detract from her overall elegance.
Xiao Su, observant as she was, didn’t immediately connect the cap to the woman’s profession.
Nudging SA, Xiao Su, no longer sleepy, asked, “Is she really not your friend? I really want to see what she looks like. With legs like that, her face can’t be bad. Have you seen it?”
“No.” SA, having never seen Qi SiJia’s face either, resisted the urge to roll her eyes, forcing a smile as she whispered, “She’s a client.”
“What kind of client?”
With most of the units at Jinbiao Mingting sold, many sales consultants were seeking other opportunities, juggling multiple jobs.
SA also had several side hustles, including headhunting, which Xiao Su knew about.
But if it were just about finding someone a job, SA wouldn’t be here so early.
Xiao Su exchanged a look with SA, probing, “Is she an owner? She drives a Mini EV?”
SA thought, what’s so unbelievable about that?
There were even more unbelievable things. Remembering she needed Xiao Su’s help with Qi SiJia’s onboarding, SA gave her a knowing look.
“Both,” SA said. “But today, I’m bringing her here for onboarding with you.”
Xiao Su’s jaw dropped, her voice rising, “What? I haven’t heard of any new hires in property management.”
“Not property management.”
Qi SiJia was within five meters. SA paused, put on a smile, and stepped forward to greet her, explaining to Xiao Su, “Cleaning.”
“She’s joining the cleaning staff.”
Xiao Su: …
“In our line of work, attentive service and cleanliness are paramount.”
As Xiao Su led Qi SiJia to the cleaning staff’s locker room, the supervisor, dressed in a uniform, was lecturing the team.
The reason: another complaint from the penthouse owner of Building 8.
“The penthouse owner has repeatedly pointed out our shortcomings, and yet, not only have we not improved, but we’ve given them more reasons to complain. Yesterday, they called headquarters directly, forcing the CEO to apologize. Aren’t you ashamed?”
There were about twenty cleaners in the room, mostly in their fifties and sixties. They hung their heads, not daring to speak.
The supervisor, wearing a red armband, continued her tirade, “So, who wants to clean Building 8 today?”
Silence. No one volunteered, afraid of being chosen.
Xiao Su returned after taking a call, briefly telling Qi SiJia she had to leave.
Qi SiJia nodded, declining Xiao Su’s offer of special treatment.
If possible, she preferred to be left alone, no special attention.
Xiao Su felt awkward, unable to persuade her further.
She knocked on the door, interrupting the supervisor, “Sister Yang.”
“Oh, Miss Su, what brings you here?”
In most residential complexes, cleaners were at the bottom of the hierarchy, with property management as their direct superiors.
The supervisor’s face transformed, her features softening into a welcoming smile, her voice becoming higher-pitched.
Qi SiJia stepped back, pulling her cap lower.
A pair of worn-out flats appeared in her field of vision.
Xiao Su, eager to leave, quickly introduced Qi SiJia, “This is Miss Qi.”
“Your new cleaner. Please take good care of her.”
All eyes turned towards Qi SiJia. Xiao Su coughed awkwardly, “This is Auntie Cai.”
Qi SiJia, expressionless, nodded to the supervisor in greeting.
After Xiao Su left,
The aunties’ eyes lit up, and a few approached enthusiastically. But Qi SiJia subtly distanced herself.
Her demeanor was cool and aloof, especially when she wasn’t smiling.
And her tall stature, even with her face hidden, made her stand out among the aunties, creating an unintentional sense of intimidation.
The aunties stopped, falling silent.
Qi SiJia was actually uncomfortable, the crowd making her anxious.
She lowered her gaze, not wanting to speak.
It wasn’t an act of coldness; being the center of attention was overwhelming.
She’d expected to be assigned a building directly, not to attend a meeting in the cleaning staff room.
Qi SiJia frowned, grateful for her gas mask.
Without waiting for introductions, she turned to the supervisor: “Where’s the locker room?”
Her voice was quiet, emotionless, cold, like ice water.
She sounded like she was in charge.
The supervisor, caught off guard, pointed her towards the locker room.
The awkward atmosphere didn’t last long. The cleaning job was low-skilled.
The supervisor only had the authority to assign buildings.
The topic returned to Building 8. The aunties, all old friends with the supervisor, tried to pass the task to each other. Finally, the supervisor glanced at the aloof and seemingly defiant Qi SiJia and assigned her Building 8.
Qi SiJia changed into her uniform in the locker room and checked her gas mask, making sure it was secure.
When she came out, there was a new young woman in the cleaning staff room.
The young woman’s name was Gui XiaoLian, a 20-year-old college student.
“Where’s your mother?”
“She’s sick.” Unlike Qi SiJia, the aunties knew Gui XiaoLian, their conversation familiar and casual.
The supervisor said, turning a blind eye, “Your mother is too reckless. She was so sick a month ago and didn’t tell me. Only after you came home for break did she finally agree to rest for two days. Why work so hard? At our age, health is more important than money.”
The young woman looked down.
“I heard your apartment building is being demolished. Have you found a new place?”
“Do you have any recommendations? Even subsidized housing is too expensive for us.”
The supervisor, knowing her situation, sighed and patted Gui XiaoLian’s shoulder comfortingly.
The busiest time for cleaners was in the morning. If they weren’t quick, they wouldn’t finish their work.
The supervisor didn’t waste any more time. After assigning tasks and briefly explaining the procedures to Qi SiJia, she left.
Qi SiJia was responsible for cleaning Building 8 and tending the communal garden downstairs.
During the morning rush hour, as the other aunties rushed into the buildings, Qi SiJia carried a bucket of water to the garden.
The garden happened to be in front of her new house.
The building was beautifully decorated, the villa surrounded by a European-style fence. The outer area was communal, the inner area her private property.
Through the gaps in the fence, she could see the layout of the villa and its small courtyard.
She imagined planting vegetables in the courtyard, building a shelter for Big Orange to sunbathe, coming home directly after work, minimizing unnecessary travel.
Her priority was to find a designer and furnish the place.
Lost in thought, she realized the bucket was empty. Qi SiJia turned to refill it, encountering Gui XiaoLian by the faucet.
The young woman had a dimple that deepened when she smiled, her face radiating warmth as she approached: “I’m covering for my mom. Are you covering for yours too?”
Qi SiJia shook her head, uncomfortable with the proximity, stepping back, “I’m here for work.”
“Cleaning?”
“Yes.”
Gui XiaoLian was stunned.
After a moment of silence, she finally found her voice, “Sorry, you seem about my age. It’s surprising to see you doing this job.”
Gui XiaoLian assumed Qi SiJia, like her mother, was forced by circumstances to do manual labor.
Feeling sympathetic, she offered some advice.
“Be careful later…”
“The penthouse owner has severe OCD. The last cleaner was fired because of her complaints.”
Qi SiJia didn’t look at her.
Receiving no response, Gui XiaoLian coughed awkwardly, “Of course, the previous cleaner might have been slacking off—”
“I understand,” Qi SiJia looked up at Gui XiaoLian, then added, “Thank you.”
Meeting her cool gaze through the protective glasses, Gui XiaoLian paused, thinking she wasn’t so unapproachable after all. She was about to offer more tips when she realized Qi SiJia had already left.
She picked up her bucket and rags and returned to Building 7.
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