The Battle of Wits and Venomous Tongues

Two hundred and sixty thousand a month? That much money?

No wonder Xiang Qing had agreed.

But…

“Even with all that money, you can’t let Xiang Qing do anything dangerous!” Shen Lanzhi watched Xiang Qing with a worried gaze. “Xiang Qing, has she done anything untoward to you?”

In that instant, the memory of Gu Wei touching her leg yesterday flashed through Xiang Qing’s mind.

Did that count as untoward?

It certainly seemed… quite untoward.

But for the two hundred and sixty thousand yuan, she had endured it!

“No!” Xiang Qing quickly shook her head. “CEO Gu treats me very well!”

Shen Lanzhi was clearly unconvinced.

“Xiang Qing, don’t be afraid. Tell Big Sister if anything happens, and Big Sister will protect you.”

Gu Wei rolled her eyes upon hearing this.

“Protect her? With just you?”

“What’s wrong with just me?” Shen Lanzhi puffed out her chest. “I’m Xiang Qing’s neighbor, and it’s only right for me to care for her!”

“Neighbor?” Gu Wei scoffed. “I think you want to be her girlfriend, don’t you?”

At these words, an immediate silence fell over the scene.

Shen Lanzhi’s face flushed crimson in an instant.

Xiang Qing, too, was utterly petrified.

Gu Wei’s tongue was truly venomous, wasn’t it?

Her single remark hit the mark, directly exposing Shen Lanzhi’s hidden affections.

“I… I didn’t…” Shen Lanzhi stammered, attempting to deny it.

“Didn’t?” Gu Wei sneered. “The way you’re looking at Xiang Qing, you’re practically devouring her with your eyes, and you still say you didn’t?”

Xiang Qing felt as though she might lose her mind.

These two women were discussing her so candidly, right in front of her; where was she supposed to put her face?

“In any case!” Shen Lanzhi took a deep breath, striving to compose herself. “I won’t let Xiang Qing be alone with you!”

“Then what do you propose?” Gu Wei arched an eyebrow.

“I’m coming in too!” Shen Lanzhi declared firmly. “I’m going to supervise you, and you are not allowed to bully Xiang Qing!”

Xiang Qing nearly fainted.

My dear woman, what exactly were you trying to achieve?

Wouldn’t it be even more awkward with three people together?

Upon hearing this suggestion, Gu Wei’s eyes instantly gleamed.

“Supervise me? Interesting.” She offered a captivating, almost wicked smile. “Then come on in. I’m eager to see what you can supervise.”

And so, under Xiang Qing’s despairing gaze, the three women entered Gu Wei’s home together.

And just like that, things had taken a turn.

She had originally only needed to face one Gu Wei, but now there was also Shen Lanzhi.

How was she ever going to get through this life?

Shen Lanzhi followed Xiang Qing into Gu Wei’s home, and the sheer opulence stunned her the moment she stepped through the door.

The scale of it was astonishing!

The living room alone was larger than her entire apartment, crystal chandeliers sparkled, and the polished floor was reflective enough to serve as a mirror.

Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows stretched the panorama of the entire city. How much must this place have cost?

Shen Lanzhi felt a prickle of annoyance.

What right did this woman have to live in such a splendid place?

While she wasn’t exactly lacking in funds herself, her own abode paled in comparison, like a minor sorcerer before a grand wizard.

No, she absolutely could not allow this woman to underestimate her!

“Wow, CEO Gu’s home is truly luxurious.”

Shen Lanzhi said with a smiling face, her tone laced with obvious sarcasm. “It looks like the kind of place a rich second generation, who knows nothing and only relies on family money, would reside.”

Gu Wei’s face instantly darkened.

“What did you say?”

“I didn’t say anything at all.” Shen Lanzhi continued to maintain her gentle smile. “I merely believe that truly capable individuals earn their mansions through their own abilities.”

Xiang Qing listened from the side, her scalp tingling.

Oh no, oh no, Shen Lanzhi was clearly intent on stirring up trouble!

Gu Wei, having been struck where it hurt, struggled to maintain her composure.

“I’m unlearned? How dare you make such an accusation? Do you have any proof?”

“Proof?”

Shen Lanzhi chuckled softly. “If CEO Gu were truly capable, she wouldn’t be playing such a perverse game, would she? Spending hundreds of thousands to hire a young girl as your live-in helper – what else is that if not perverted?”

Gu Wei absolutely erupted!

“Perverted? Who are you calling perverted?”

“I didn’t name any names.” Shen Lanzhi still smiled gently. “However, if CEO Gu feels she’s been hit, then I’m afraid I can’t help her.”

“You green tea b*tch!” Gu Wei stomped her foot in anger. “What are you pretending for? Do you think I can’t see through your little schemes?”

“Green tea b*tch?”

Shen Lanzhi’s smile grew even sweeter. “For CEO Gu to speak like that, it truly seems her upbringing isn’t very good. No wonder she can only throw money at people; after all, she has nothing but money, doesn’t she?”

“Say that again, I dare you!”

Gu Wei completely broke down. “So what if I have plenty of money? At least I’m upfront about it, unlike a scheming b*tch like you who pretends to be pure on the surface but calculates all sorts of things behind people’s backs!”

“Scheming b*tch?”

Shen Lanzhi tilted her head, her expression utterly innocent. “CEO Gu’s words are truly becoming more unpleasant. It seems money really can’t buy manners. Poor Xiang Qing has to stay with such a person.”

“You damn woman!”

Gu Wei’s face was red with anger. “Stop putting on an act! Do you think I don’t know what you want? You just want to snatch my little darling, don’t you? Dream on!”

“Snatch?”

Shen Lanzhi smiled even more elegantly. “I’m merely protecting Xiang Qing from being bullied by certain people. After all, some people, besides threatening others with money, have no other abilities, do they?”

“I threatened her? That was legitimate employment!” Gu Wei gnashed her teeth in anger. “You hypocritical b*tch, stop trying to sow discord!”

“b*tch?” Shen Lanzhi’s voice remained gentle, but her eyes had turned cold. “It seems CEO Gu’s vocabulary is quite limited. But then again, that’s to be expected, isn’t it? After all, what kind of cultural level can one expect from a good-for-nothing who relies on family money?”

“Who are you calling a good-for-nothing? Believe it or not, I’ll tear your mouth apart!”

“Oh dear, is CEO Gu going to resort to violence?”

Shen Lanzhi took a step back. “It seems I’ve hit a nerve. But that’s alright, I understand. After all, people who have nothing but money do tend to lose their temper easily.”

Xiang Qing watched these two women tear each other apart from the side, feeling utterly numb.

Good heavens!

Were both these women truly so sharp-tongued?

Gu Wei’s insults were direct; words like green tea b*tch, scheming b*tch, and b*tch all tumbled out.

Shen Lanzhi, outwardly gentle, pierced with every word: unlearned, reliant on family money, good-for-nothing, ill-mannered—every sentence drew blood!

This was no gentle and virtuous neighbor sister; this was clearly a high-level green tea with a knife hidden in her smile!

Xiang Qing now understood completely: Shen Lanzhi’s usual gentle demeanor was all a facade!

This woman was utterly devious!

“Can you two please quiet down?” Xiang Qing could no longer bear it. “What are you arguing about so early in the morning?”

“Xiang Qing, look at her!” Gu Wei pointed at Shen Lanzhi. “This woman is just looking for trouble!”

“Where did I look for trouble?” Shen Lanzhi looked at Xiang Qing, feigning grievance. “I was just telling the truth.”

Xiang Qing’s head throbbed excruciatingly.

These two madwomen, each more exasperating than the last!

Fine, if she couldn’t confront them, surely she could avoid them?

“I’m going to clean!” Xiang Qing quickly slipped away. “You two continue chatting!”

With that, she scurried into the kitchen.

Gu Wei and Shen Lanzhi watched Xiang Qing’s retreating back, both simultaneously letting out a cold snort.

“It’s all your fault! You scared Xiang Qing away!” Gu Wei glared at Shen Lanzhi.

“Clearly you were the one who started cursing, alright?” Shen Lanzhi was not to be outdone. “Xiang Qing is so kind, of course she can’t stand a rude person like you.”

“I’m rude? Weren’t those passive-aggressive remarks you just made rude?”

“I was just stating facts.” Shen Lanzhi smiled very innocently. “If CEO Gu feels offended, perhaps she needs to reflect on herself.”

Gu Wei was so incensed, she yearned to strike her.

This woman was utterly infuriating!

Her mouth was clearly more venomous than a knife, yet she pretended to be innocent!

Xiang Qing listened to the sounds of argument coming from the living room in the kitchen, her head throbbing.

Why were these two women still bickering?

And with each escalating word, they seemed to gain more vigor!

Gu Wei’s voice grew louder and louder, while Shen Lanzhi’s voice, though still gentle, became increasingly venomous.

“I said, you two!” Xiang Qing finally couldn’t hold back, sticking her head out. “Can you give me a quiet working environment? I still have to clean!”

Gu Wei and Shen Lanzhi looked at her simultaneously.

“Little darling, don’t mind her!” Gu Wei pointed at Shen Lanzhi. “This woman is just here to cause trouble!”

“Xiang Qing, don’t be fooled by her!” Shen Lanzhi was not to be outdone. “She just wants to use you!”

Xiang Qing looked at these two women, suddenly feeling an urge to cry.

What karmic debt had she accumulated in a past life?

Why was she fated to encounter these two women?

One was a perverse stalker, the other a devious green tea schemer.

She just wanted to quietly earn some money, so why was it so difficult?