Jiang Fuyue remained unaware of what was happening.
She thought: This guy’s alcohol tolerance is terrible—just two bowls of Four Joy Soup and he’s already drunk?
Xie Dingyuan didn’t dare lean his full weight on her, subtly keeping himself steady.
His hand rested on the girl’s slim shoulder, and as Jiang Fuyue leaned slightly forward, her collar opened a little. From Xie Dingyuan’s angle, he could just…
He swallowed hard. Unlike the fleeting glance earlier, this time the distance was closer—and the view much clearer.
Gritting his teeth, Xie Dingyuan felt like a pervert. His eyes swirled with self-loathing and restraint before he finally forced himself to look away.
Jiang Fuyue helped him settle into the private room and then went out to the main hall.
She was going to find that waitress.
The search was surprisingly easy—right as she stepped out, she saw the woman standing at the cashier’s desk, smiling sweetly as she gave change or directed customers to scan and pay.
“Thank you for coming, we look forward to seeing you again~”
Her voice was as sugary as her smile.
Jiang Fuyue called over Cao Dou and motioned with her chin, “New hire?”
“Yeah, just brought her on last week. Sweet talker, good appearance—perfect for front desk work. Why?”
“She applied on her own?”
Cao Dou replied, “Of course. We don’t do nepotism here. Even if someone’s referred, they still have to go through the interview process. Pass or fail—it’s all based on merit.”
Thinking Jiang Fuyue was checking up on him, Cao Dou explained thoroughly, nearly pounding his chest to emphasize his fairness and integrity.
“Get me a copy of her resume.”
“Huh? Right now?”
“Yes. Now.”
Two minutes later, Jiang Fuyue had the resume in hand, the corners of her mouth lifting in a half-smile: “Lin Xiaowen?”
Cao Dou looked confused: “What about her?”
“Nothing. Go on with your work.”
“…Okay.”
Now that she had the woman’s basic info, Jiang Fuyue returned to the private room to check on Xie Dingyuan.
“Feeling better?”
“Yeah.”
“Let’s go. Time to head home.”
The man was caught off guard. “Didn’t you say…”
“I changed my mind.”
“So… we’re leaving now?”
“Mhm. Can you drive?”
“I can.”
Half an hour later, the car pulled into the Yutian Huafu neighborhood and stopped in front of the Jiang family villa.
“I’m heading in.”
“Jiang Fuyue—”
The girl stopped and turned, her eyes questioning.
Xie Dingyuan smiled: “Goodnight.”
She curved her lips slightly in return: “Goodnight.”
…
When she got home, her younger brother wasn’t there—he’d been picked up after school by Wu Qian to go take promo photos.
She didn’t bother turning on the living room light and went straight upstairs to her room.
After showering and changing into pajamas, she opened her laptop.
As soon as she logged into her email, several new messages popped up.
They were all from the same sender—Peter Drucker.
Jiang Fuyue opened them. Dense with experimental data. She skimmed through. There were three research topics in total, each one valuable, but all of them had stalled at the analysis stage.
She got absorbed reading and didn’t realize it was past midnight.
A knock on the door pulled her out of it—
“Yueyue, are you asleep?”
“Not yet. Mom, come in.”
Han Yunru opened the door, carrying a cup of warm milk.
Jiang Fuyue reached out to take it—it was just the right temperature.
“Don’t overwork yourself. Health comes first.”
“Mm. I know.”
Han Yunru gently stroked her casually tied ponytail: “Rest early.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll leave you to it, then.”
“Mom—”
The woman turned under the soft glow of the lamp, her peach blossom eyes gentle and shimmering: “What is it?”
“…Do you want to know your background? We could ask Hu Ben to investigate—he has the connections.”
Of course, she wouldn’t really have Hu Ben do it. If Han Yunru agreed, she’d go straight to Niu Chunhua for help.
Based on the personal items found on Han Yunru when she was rescued from the river years ago, it shouldn’t be hard to trace her origins.
As for why she brought up Hu Ben—it was because among her trusted circle, Han Yunru and Jiang Da only knew him and Little Six.
Jiang Fuyue thought the answer would be easy—after all, Han Yunru had once shown interest in her past.
But now, the woman hesitated, dazed for a moment, then shook her head: “…No need. Things are good the way they are. Let the past stay in the past.”
A flicker of doubt crossed Jiang Fuyue’s eyes, but she ultimately respected her choice: “Alright.”
Before going to bed, Jiang Fuyue suddenly remembered that mistress of Jiang Hua’s. Did she get involved with Jiang Hua only after joining Jiang Ji? Or had she been planted there from the start?
If it was the former, fine.
But if it was the latter—her second uncle deserved to rot!
Now that she knew, there was no way she’d let a ticking time bomb hang around Jiang Da and Han Yunru. She planned to deal with that woman first thing tomorrow.
….
Unfortunately, she didn’t get the chance—because something happened before she could even reach the restaurant the next day…
That day, Jiang Ji opened for business as usual.
All staff were required to be in position by 7 a.m. for prep work.
Lin Xiaowen was no exception.
When her alarm rang, she dragged herself out of bed sluggishly, washed up, dressed, and wore a face full of resentment.
What a miserable mistress I am.
Other women get to dress up, go shopping, swipe credit cards, or lounge at home waiting on their men—pampered and spoiled, skin soft and glowing.
And her?
Not only did she have to accompany Jiang Hua to drink with clients, but now she’d been ordered to work at some restaurant?
Though Jiang Hua hadn’t said what for, Lin Xiaowen knew—he was a ruthless man, definitely up to something.
Once she’d stayed there long enough, he’d surely ask her to act.
She actually hoped he’d hurry up and get to the point so she could finish and be done with it.
She couldn’t stand Jiang Ji’s noisy, chaotic environment. She had to smile at strangers all day—her face felt frozen.
And she only got fifty grand a month.
Lin Xiaowen thought it was time for a raise, but Jiang Hua… looked all proper and high-class, yet was stingy to the bone.
At 7 a.m., she arrived at the shop, counted the cash drawer, wiped the counters.
The store wasn’t huge, but the rules were strict—no dust allowed on counters, and every time you finish a transaction, you have to say “Thank you, come again.”
So fake!
By 8 a.m., a line had already formed at the door. The front desk was getting overwhelmed, and she occasionally had to help out.
All of it made Lin Xiaowen hate the job more and more.
While turning to pour tea for a guest, suddenly—a woman charged in and grabbed her hair—
“You slut! Seducing my husband? I’ll skin you alive today!”
The attack came too fast. Before Cao Dou could react, Lin Xiaowen was already yanked to the ground, accompanied by screams and swearing.
“Who are you?! You dare hit me—ah! Let go! I’m calling the police! I’m going to sue you!”
Yang Jinqiu’s eyes were red with rage. She pinned Lin Xiaowen to the floor and clawed at her face.
“Think you’re all that? Without this face, let’s see who you seduce!”
Lin Xiaowen wasn’t winning. Then—suddenly her chest felt exposed—the crazy woman was trying to rip her clothes off?!
“Oh, you like flaunting your body? Great! Let’s show everyone then—”
“You shameless tramp, rotten to the core! So desperate for a man you go seduce someone old enough to be your dad? Feeling proud now?”
Lin Xiaowen fought back. She now recognized who the woman was—Jiang Hua’s wife!
Those photos must’ve worked…
She gritted her teeth, headbutted Yang Jinqiu, knocking her back. Then she pounced, pinning her to the floor.
Tables turned. Yang Jinqiu was down, and Lin Xiaowen didn’t hold back—she stomped on her face.
“So what if I stole your man? Jealous? You’re just old and dried-up—no wonder he doesn’t want you. Auntie, how pathetic.”
She stomped with every word.
This old woman tried to strip her just now?!
Lin Xiaowen was furious, each stomp harder than the last.
Yang Jinqiu howled in pain, grabbed Lin Xiaowen’s leg and heaved—nearly flipping her over. She scrambled up, hair a mess, nose bleeding, face stamped with a shoe print.
Cao Dou called two male staff to finally separate them.
It wasn’t that he hadn’t wanted to step in—he just couldn’t manage alone. When he ran out for help, he also called Jiang Fuyue.
Jiang Ji was too popular. Now a scene like this broke out in front of customers—everyone had their phones out filming. The video would definitely hit the internet, and rivals might seize the chance to make trouble. Only Jiang Fuyue could handle it properly.
“Take them both to a private room—don’t let them out to embarrass the place. Calm the customers, give out extra gifts. No need to hide what happened—just be honest, but respectful.”
Cao Dou: “And you?”
A cold glint flashed in Jiang Fuyue’s eyes: “I’m on my way.”
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