Breakfast and an Unexpected Confrontation

Xiang Qing found herself staring, utterly captivated.

How could this woman look so captivating even while simply cooking?

“Xiao Qing, you’re awake?” Shen Lanzhi turned her head, her eyes crinkling in a warm smile as she looked at Xiang Qing. “Breakfast will be ready in just a moment.”

Only then did Xiang Qing fully snap back to reality.

“Why are you up so early?”

“I wanted to prepare breakfast for you,” Shen Lanzhi said, blinking playfully. “Thank you for keeping me company last night; this is just a small token of my appreciation.”

A flush crept across Xiang Qing’s cheeks.

This woman was treating her so kindly, yet Xiang Qing had been mentally labeling her a lunatic. It felt rather uncalled for.

“There’s no need to be so formal,” Xiang Qing murmured.

“Formal? Not at all,” Shen Lanzhi countered, spooning out the porridge. “Go get ready; it’ll be ready to eat in a few minutes.”

Xiang Qing nodded, then turned and headed towards the restroom.

Gazing at her reflection in the mirror, Xiang Qing found herself once again caught in a tangle of thoughts.

Shen Lanzhi was treating her with such exceptional kindness, even rising early specifically to prepare her breakfast. Had Xiang Qing perhaps misjudged the situation?

What if Shen Lanzhi genuinely harbored feelings for her?

At this thought, Xiang Qing’s heart began to thump with renewed vigor.

‘Wait, why am I getting nervous?’

‘Even if Shen Lanzhi did have feelings for her, that was Shen Lanzhi’s concern, and Xiang Qing was under no obligation to reciprocate.’

‘Besides, her utmost priority right now was settling her debts; matters of the heart could simply take a backseat.’

With these thoughts, Xiang Qing’s turbulent emotions finally began to settle.

Emerging from the restroom after freshening up, Xiang Qing found a lavish breakfast spread already awaiting her on the dining table.

There was pristine white porridge, perfectly fried eggs, an assortment of side dishes, and steaming hot baozi.

“Wow, this is quite a feast!” Xiang Qing exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise.

“Go on, try some,” Shen Lanzhi urged, her gaze filled with anticipation.

Xiang Qing took a spoonful of porridge, and her eyes immediately sparkled.

“Delicious!”

‘Shen Lanzhi’s culinary skills were surprisingly exquisite!’

“As long as you enjoy it,” Shen Lanzhi replied, her smile radiant with happiness. “I’ll make it for you every single day from now on.”

Xiang Qing nearly choked on her porridge.

‘Every day?’

‘What exactly was this woman planning?’

After finishing breakfast, Xiang Qing announced her intention to go to work.

“Work?”

Shen Lanzhi set down her chopsticks, her gaze fixed on Xiang Qing with an expression of bewilderment. “Xiao Qing, aren’t you a streamer? Why do you still need to go out for work? I’ve already told you I’ll cover all expenses for looking after me; you shouldn’t have to worry about living costs at all.”

Xiang Qing’s conscience pricked her terribly.

Confessing to Shen Lanzhi, who clearly harbored feelings for her, that she was working as Gu Wei’s maid would undoubtedly send Shen Lanzhi into a frenzy.

That would only lead to another mountain of complications.

“Sister Lanzhi, I truly apologize.”

Xiang Qing quickly offered an apology. “Sister Lanzhi, I truly apologize, but I can’t stay with you right now. I have something critically important to do, something I absolutely must undertake and cannot refuse.”

The smile vanished from Shen Lanzhi’s face in an instant.

“What kind of work is so important?”

She looked at Xiang Qing with genuine concern. “Xiao Qing, you haven’t been conned, have you? There are so many fraudsters out there these days, specifically preying on naive young girls like yourself.”

‘Naive? Me?’

Xiang Qing nearly burst out laughing.

‘If I were naive, then there wouldn’t be a single seasoned veteran left in this world.’

“Sister Lanzhi, please don’t ask any more questions. The bottom line is, I have to go.” Xiang Qing remained tight-lipped.

‘Joking aside, she would rather die than admit to the humiliating fact of being Gu Wei’s nanny.’

Seeing Xiang Qing’s unyielding stance, Shen Lanzhi decided against pressing further.

However, a careful calculation had already begun in her mind.

‘Xiao Qing’s sudden secrecy definitely signaled trouble.’

‘As her future girlfriend, she had to protect Xiao Qing and prevent her from being exploited by malicious individuals.’

****

Xiang Qing returned to her own apartment to change before taking the subway, then a taxi, to Gu Wei’s residence.

Throughout the journey, she found herself silently repeating a mantra.

‘President Gu, I was wrong. I truly understand my mistake. Please don’t torment me.’

‘I’m merely an employee; just treat me as a tool.’

‘Please, don’t pull any more strange stunts.’

Upon arriving at Gu Wei’s house, Xiang Qing pressed the doorbell.

Moments later, the door swung open.

Gu Wei stood there in a white silk nightgown, her hair slightly disheveled, clearly having just woken up.

“My little darling, you’re here!” Gu Wei exclaimed, her eyes shining as brightly as lightbulbs. “I honestly thought you wouldn’t show up.”

“Good morning, President Gu,” Xiang Qing managed, forcing a greeting through gritted teeth.

Just then, Gu Wei’s gaze drifted past Xiang Qing, settling on something behind her.

Xiang Qing’s heart lurched, and she slowly turned her head.

‘Damn it!’

Shen Lanzhi stood precisely three meters behind her, her expression terrifyingly sinister, her usually gentle eyes now as cold and sharp as daggers.

A shiver of fear ran down Xiang Qing’s spine, making her scalp prickle.

‘When did this woman follow me? How did I not notice her presence at all?’

‘And that expression… was this truly the gentle and virtuous Shen Lanzhi she knew?’

The moment Gu Wei spotted Shen Lanzhi, her eyebrows instantly furrowed in a frown.

“Well, well, isn’t it the meddlesome neighbor?” Gu Wei sneered, a cold smirk playing on her lips. “What, here to play the hero rescuing the damsel in distress again?”

Shen Lanzhi slowly approached, a peculiar, unsettling smile gracing her features.

“I’m merely concerned that Xiao Qing might be exploited by ill-intentioned individuals.”

Her voice was soft and gentle, yet it sent an inexplicable chill down Xiang Qing’s spine.

Trapped between the two women, Xiang Qing found herself utterly speechless.

‘This scene… it’s absolutely deadly!’

‘With two female lunatics clashing, I’m practically a sitting duck caught in the middle!’

“Ill-intentioned?” Gu Wei was so incensed she let out a short, incredulous laugh. “Who do you think you are, daring to call me ill-intentioned?”

“I didn’t explicitly call you ill-intentioned,” Shen Lanzhi corrected, her smile growing even softer. “I merely implied that certain individuals enjoy using their wealth to coerce others into doing things they’d rather not.”

Gu Wei’s face instantly darkened.

“What do you mean?”

“No particular meaning,” Shen Lanzhi replied, casting a pointed glance at Xiang Qing. “Xiao Qing, tell your sister, what kind of work did she make you do?”

Xiang Qing felt an overwhelming urge to cry.

‘Sister, you’re practically pushing me into a fiery pit!’

“I… I...” Xiang Qing stammered, utterly unable to form a coherent sentence.

Observing Xiang Qing’s evident distress, Gu Wei instantly grasped the situation.

“My little darling came to work for me entirely of her own volition,” Gu Wei declared, wrapping an arm around Xiang Qing’s shoulders. “And I pay an extremely generous salary, which she is quite pleased with.”

Witnessing Gu Wei’s arm around Xiang Qing, Shen Lanzhi’s gaze sharpened, becoming even more dangerous.

“Voluntarily?” she scoffed softly. “Xiao Qing mentioned she was planning to move just recently, and now she’s ‘voluntarily’ working for you today?”

Xiang Qing felt as though these two women were about to drive her utterly insane.

One was holding her in an unyielding embrace, while the other was practically skewering her with her gaze.

‘At this moment, she desperately wanted to scream: Ladies, fight all you want, but please, don’t drag me into your drama!’

“Xiao Qing, come here,” Shen Lanzhi instructed, extending a hand toward Xiang Qing. “Sister will take you home.”

“She won’t be going anywhere with you,” Gu Wei retorted, holding Xiang Qing even tighter. “She’s already agreed to be my nanny.”

‘Nanny?’

Upon hearing those two words, Shen Lanzhi’s expression utterly transformed.

“A nanny? Xiao Qing, you’re going to be her nanny?”

Xiang Qing wished desperately for a crack in the earth to swallow her whole.

‘It’s over, it’s completely exposed now.’

‘Shen Lanzhi is undoubtedly going to lose her mind.’

“Sister Lanzhi, listen to my explanation…”

“Explain what?” Shen Lanzhi’s voice was now laced with palpable anger. “You’re a streamer! Why would you ever be her nanny?”

Gu Wei, detecting the distinct note of jealousy in Shen Lanzhi’s tone, suddenly found herself quite intrigued.

“Oh? Do you have an objection?” Gu Wei challenged, raising an eyebrow. “My little darling is willing to be my nanny, which clearly indicates she likes me.”

Shen Lanzhi completely erupted.

“Like you?” she scoffed, a cold sneer twisting her lips. “Xiao Qing would never, under any circumstances, like someone like you!”

“Oh? And what kind of person does she like?” Gu Wei asked, observing Shen Lanzhi with amusement. “It couldn’t possibly be someone like you, a ‘green tea’ pretending to be gentle, could it?”

‘Green tea?’

Xiang Qing’s eyes widened in astonishment.

‘Gu Wei actually called Shen Lanzhi a ‘green tea’?’

‘While I did harbor some suspicions last night that Shen Lanzhi might have been feigning sleep to take advantage, the term ‘green tea’… it actually seemed rather apt, didn’t it?’

“Who are you calling a ‘green tea’?” Shen Lanzhi’s smile vanished completely.

“I’m talking about you,” Gu Wei retorted without a shred of politeness. “Outwardly gentle and virtuous, yet secretly full of schemes. My little darling is so innocent; she must have been completely twisted around your finger.”

‘Innocent…’

Xiang Qing was once again stunned by that particular word.

‘Both these women think I’m innocent?’

‘What kind of impression do I even give people?’

“Me, scheming?” Shen Lanzhi scoffed, a short, angry laugh escaping her. “Where exactly am I scheming? On the contrary, you’re the one using money to coerce Xiao Qing into being your nanny. What else would you call that if not scheming?”

“I threatened her with money?” Gu Wei’s anger flared. “This is a legitimate employment arrangement, isn’t it? Two hundred and sixty thousand a month, and she willingly agreed!”

‘Two hundred and sixty thousand?’

Upon hearing that staggering figure, Shen Lanzhi froze, utterly dumbfounded.