Chapter 11:
Cleaning didn’t require any special skills, and there wasn’t a strict age limit. As long as you were healthy, anyone could do it.
The pay, however, was significantly lower than in other industries. Even with diligent work and spotless results, the monthly salary wouldn’t exceed 2500 yuan.
That’s why experienced cleaners avoided demanding clients like the penthouse owner of Building 8. The effort simply wasn’t worth the meager reward.
Qi SiJia was an exception. That morning, she not only trimmed the withered leaves and mopped the marble floor in the garden, but she also meticulously wiped down the long-neglected advertising board by the stairs.
Around noon, Auntie Cai, finding some free time, went to Building 8 to check on Qi SiJia.
She was surprised to find the marble floor in the lobby spotless.
Each flower petal in the garden held two perfect drops of water.
Then she saw Qi SiJia, more professionally equipped than a pandemic worker, in her gas mask and rubber gloves, carrying a bucket of water. The water rippled as she walked, yet not a single drop spilled. She stopped a meter away from Auntie Cai.
Qi SiJia looked down and asked, “Is there something I can help you with?”
She disliked being interrupted, especially with the way Supervisor Cai was scrutinizing her.
Normally, she would have just walked away. But remembering her reasons for taking this job: exercise and gradually adapting to people,
Qi SiJia suppressed her discomfort, asking neutrally.
Supervisor Cai coughed, adopting a managerial tone: “How’s the work going? Can you finish on time?”
Qi SiJia replied without hesitation, “Yes.”
Her intended offer of help was thwarted. Supervisor Cai opened her mouth, a forced smile on her face, but she had other motives anyway.
“Xiao Qi, you seem quite young.”
“25,” Qi SiJia replied, glancing at the elevator stuck on the 28th floor, calculating the time.
“Wow, so young.” Supervisor Cai clicked her tongue, reaching for the bucket, but Qi SiJia evaded her.
Undeterred, she moved closer: “You’re young enough to be my daughter. Why choose this line of work?” Such a waste of those long limbs.
Qi SiJia thought seriously: “I like it.”
Nonsense.
Supervisor Cai: “…”
If any of the other aunties had given her such a flippant answer, she would have been furious.
But she had her reasons for being so attentive. Firstly, Xiao Su from property management had specifically asked her to look after Qi SiJia. Secondly, it was rare to have a young woman on the team.
Though she hadn’t seen Qi SiJia’s face, her figure and demeanor were comparable to the picky and refined penthouse owner of Building 8.
And Auntie Cai happened to have a son.
A suitable age.
“25 isn’t young. In my hometown, girls your age who aren’t married are considered old maids. Do you have a partner?”
“No.”
“My son is about your age.”
Auntie Cai pulled out a photo of her son at his slimmest, the man wearing an oversized black t-shirt.
“Here, isn’t he handsome?”
Qi SiJia, determined to overcome her social anxiety, glanced at the photo with a deadpan expression, replying honestly, “Thick waist, saggy butt, looks like a glistening winter melon.”
Adults generally disliked harsh truths. Seeing Auntie Cai’s face darken, Qi SiJia paused, thinking, socializing is so troublesome.
She mentally reviewed textbook social interaction correction methods.
After a moment, she amended her statement: “He looks nice.”
Auntie Cai: “…”
“Pfft—”
Su Wan couldn’t hold back her laughter.
She’d been standing by the elevator with Meng Jiang for a while, overhearing the conversation.
The unexpected and blunt comment was too much.
She only realized her gaffe after laughing, noticing Meng Jiang’s frown.
Su Wan, unsure what to make of it, said, “Sister, I didn’t mean to laugh…”
Meng Jiang didn’t reply, her eyelids drooping lazily: “Let’s talk upstairs.”
Her tone was neutral, betraying no emotion.
Su Wan, having spent several days with Meng Jiang, knew this indifferent tone was worse than anger.
Su Wan was there to apologize. She’d pulled strings with her uncle at Lantai Station, hoping to get another chance as Meng Jiang’s assistant.
But she’d only made things worse.
Realizing the potential consequences of her outburst,
Su Wan blushed, glancing at the two cleaners. Sure enough, her laughter had drawn their attention to Meng Jiang.
Meng Jiang had just returned from Lantai Station, still in her retro Hong Kong-style outfit from the show, unable to change due to Su Wan blocking the dressing room.
Red dress, curled hair, a white blazer with a deep V-neck, and high heels.
With Meng Jiang’s status, protecting her privacy was ingrained in her.
Su Wan saw Meng Jiang pull her black and white rabbit fur hat lower, her face hidden behind a mask. Even without showing her face, if the cleaners were industry insiders, her outfit could be recognized.
Realizing the trouble she’d caused,
Su Wan lowered her head, blurting out, “For my uncle’s sake, please don’t fire me. My uncle is at Lantai…”
Name-dropping and making demands in front of others was incredibly rude.
According to Qi SiJia’s interpersonal communication studies, the best way to handle such forced interaction was to walk away.
But the elegant woman before her didn’t. Her words were as graceful as her appearance.
“Su Wan—” Meng Jiang looked up, glancing at her over the brim of her hat. Despite her lack of amusement, she didn’t lash out, maintaining Su Wan’s dignity, repeating calmly, “Let’s talk upstairs.”
Su Wan finally detected a hint of firmness and displeasure.
They entered the elevator. Qi SiJia, no longer interested in joining them, stepped aside, intending to leave. But as she looked up, she met the eyes of the woman in the rabbit fur hat.
Qi SiJia paused, a sense of familiarity washing over her.
She instinctively looked again, but as the elevator doors closed, their gazes met once more. The woman narrowed her eyes, seemingly disliking being stared at. Qi SiJia saw her expression turn cold.
As soon as the elevator doors closed, Supervisor Cai’s face darkened.
Qi SiJia’s earlier comment had offended her deeply. Without giving Qi SiJia the penthouse access code, she walked away.
So Qi SiJia took a different elevator, unable to reach the top floor directly. She had to climb an extra flight of stairs through the fire escape.
And as she opened the fire escape door, she ran into the two women again.
Su Wan, who had been tearful earlier, was now pale.
“Sister, Sister, please listen to me…”
“Go ahead.”
“Please give me another chance. I won’t laugh again.”
“I’m sorry,” Meng Jiang’s voice was quiet, but her tone had changed completely.
Su Wan’s eyes reddened, unexpected by her coldness, “I’ve admired you for years.”
“I didn’t expect you to be like this, two-faced. Your public persona is a lie.”
Su Wan stepped back, a bitter smile on her face, “If you’ve already decided to fire me, why not just say it directly at the studio or downstairs? Why waste our time?”
Meng Jiang didn’t reply immediately. She went back inside, grabbed a pack of tissues, and handed it to the distraught Su Wan.
“There are people watching,” Meng Jiang said calmly, “I wouldn’t want you to be embarrassed.”
A few seconds of silence.
Su Wan froze, speechless.
She realized that Meng Jiang had indeed fired her last night in private. But today, in public, despite Su Wan’s disrespectful behavior, Meng Jiang had controlled her temper, preserving Su Wan’s dignity.
This was the goddess she had admired for years, the reason she had pulled strings to work for her.
Her only regret was failing as an assistant.
Understanding this, Su Wan was overcome with shame, her ears burning.
Unable to even apologize, Meng Jiang, seeing her expression, smiled gently, “Alright, since you’re here, I can’t let you leave empty-handed.”
“Can you take out the trash for me?”
“Huh?”
Su Wan’s eyes lit up: “Yes, yes! Thank you—”
“Thank you, Sister.”
Qi SiJia, adjusting her mop, happened to see Meng Jiang after Su Wan had left.
She didn’t understand why Meng Jiang had given Su Wan a chore, but it had clearly stopped her tears, a look of relief washing over her face.
Qi SiJia didn’t pretend to understand things she didn’t. She always sought to learn.
She observed that the supposedly temperamental and demanding penthouse owner had a surprisingly effective way of handling social situations.
Qi SiJia filed this away mentally, a faint smile appearing in her eyes.
Unbeknownst to her, in her gas mask and protective gear, Qi SiJia looked less like a cleaner and more like a paparazzi to Meng Jiang. Qi SiJia was thrilled to have learned a new social skill from a stranger.
But she didn’t know that her excitement, in Meng Jiang’s eyes, was the glee of a paparazzi who had just gotten their hands on some juicy gossip.
Meng Jiang leaned against the door, scrutinizing Qi SiJia’s mask, her delicate brows furrowing slightly.
“The new cleaner?”
Qi SiJia corrected her after a moment of thought: “Cleaner, not auntie.”
Meng Jiang: “…”
Wasn’t it the same thing?
“That gas mask is interesting. Does the cleaning company provide those?” Meng Jiang’s expression was hidden behind her mask.
Qi SiJia, not detecting the probing tone, and perhaps because this person didn’t seem like the demanding and unreasonable owner she’d heard about, felt no social anxiety.
She smiled faintly behind her goggles, “I brought my own.”
Her smile, though hidden, seemed genuine.
Meng Jiang, an experienced actress, could distinguish a fake smile even from an award-winning actor.
This one… seemed different.
Meng Jiang glanced at her again, about to close the door, when her eyes fell on Qi SiJia’s seemingly ordinary rubber gloves. The disposable gloves had a large “DD” printed on the back.
A luxury brand.
Meng Jiang’s lips curved into a smile.
“I’m quite particular about cleanliness. Have you heard?”
Qi SiJia nodded.
Meng Jiang’s smile deepened: “Then do a good job.”
Qi SiJia nodded thoughtfully, “Thanks for the reminder. I will.”
Meng Jiang, expecting her to be intimidated and leave, was speechless.
Meanwhile, Qi SiJia, remembering her goal of improving her social skills,
paused, then asked, “By the way, may I know your name?”
…
Meng Jiang’s eyes met the cleaner’s obscured gaze. After a moment of silence, she frowned and looked away.
She couldn’t discern the other person’s intentions through the goggles.
But regardless, it wasn’t worth her time.
Could a paparazzi meticulously clean?
Of course not.
A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she slammed the door shut.
Qi SiJia heard her dismissive reply: “No.”
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