“Yes, so sensible that she’s inciting me to get a divorce,” Ming Li said.
Zhu Hanxing: “…”
She thought Ming Xi only said those things to her. She hadn’t expected Ming Xi to be so brave.
“Well, if it’s not working out, just divorce,” Zhu Hanxing suggested. “You can’t dance in the Gu family. Every day you’re just navigating that complicated social web of theirs, and you have to take all those classes. Isn’t it exhausting?”
“Is filming not exhausting?” Ming Li countered. “Everyone is tired. My life right now is okay; I’m satisfied.”
“If you say so.” Zhu Hanxing didn’t have an obsession with forcing her to divorce. She just felt that Ming Li’s life was very different from before. Though she was still in a wealthy family, she had gone from being a socialite daughter to a “social tool” for the Gu family. It was heartbreaking.
But if Ming Li thought it was okay, then it was okay.
“Don’t overwork yourself. Let Gu Qingshuang handle some things. After all, it’s her family, and everyone knows she isn’t someone to be messed with. Her words carry more weight than yours,” Zhu Hanxing advised. “And all those useless classes—just coast through them if you can. There’s no need to take them so seriously. I bet the pile of certificates you have at home weighs ten pounds by now.”
Since marrying Gu Qingshuang, Ming Li had been required by Gu Qingshuang’s mother to take numerous courses: equestrianism, coffee brewing, flower arrangement, baking, and so on. She had gone from someone who “never lifted a finger” to a versatile “all-rounder.” Ming Li insisted on getting certified for almost every course.
Just hearing about it made Zhu Hanxing’s head spin.
But Ming Li had a streak in her that demanded she be the best at whatever she did.
Yet even an outstanding Ming Li was still considered “not good enough” to be a member of the Gu family in the eyes of Gu Qingshuang’s mother.
“It’s not that exaggerated.” Ming Li checked her watch; it was already 3:40 PM. “I have another class later. I have to go.”
“You’re only staying for this long?” Zhu Hanxing groaned. “I finally managed to finish early today. I wanted to have hot pot with you tonight. I haven’t eaten properly in forever.”
“Dieting again?” Ming Li asked.
Zhu Hanxing sighed. “This role requires me to be very thin. You know me—I gain weight if I even look at food. I have to eat ‘grass’ every day.”
“Don’t take it too far.” Ming Li paused. “I’ll send you a part-time nutritional meal tomorrow.”
Zhu Hanxing: “…”
The nutrition class Ming Li had recently finished was finally coming in handy. After comforting Zhu Hanxing, she hurried out the door.
Zhu Hanxing called out behind her, “Wait, take this.”
Ming Li stopped. Zhu Hanxing handed her a white scarf, which formed a sharp contrast with the black coat Ming Li had just put on.
“It’s new,” Zhu Hanxing said. “It really suits you.”
The corners of Ming Li’s mouth curled up. “Thanks.”
Before leaving, Ming Li specially found Zhu Hanxing’s manager and transferred a sum of money, asking her to order milk tea for the entire crew.
She made sure to do it in Zhu Hanxing’s name.
–
Despite her haste, Ming Li was still late.
The snow was heavy, and the accumulation was deep enough to cover the car wheels. Driving fast was impossible, and the street leading to the venue was congested for nearly ten minutes.
When she walked into the floral arrangement classroom, the teacher had already been waiting at her seat for twenty minutes.
Seeing her enter, the teacher’s expression chilled. “Miss Ming, you are late.”
“I’m sorry.” The snow on Ming Li’s eyelashes had just melted, making her look a bit disheveled.
She immediately returned to her seat and apologized to the teacher, explaining the reason.
“Knowing it’s snowing, you should have known the roads would be difficult. You should have left earlier instead of making excuses after being late,” the floral teacher said sternly. “You wasted twenty minutes of today’s lesson. I will be informing Madam Gu.”
Ming Li hung her head, pursing her lips in silence.
“Also, your floral arrangement score will be reduced by twenty points.”
Ming Li was shocked. “Isn’t that a bit much?”
Every course Ming Li took in the Gu family had a scoring system. These scores were directly tied to the “salary” she received every month.
The original standard was 50,000 yuan a month. If she failed a course or made a mistake at a banquet, deductions were made. Ming Li often only received twenty or thirty thousand.
Even though she tried her best to do everything perfectly.
Ming Xi was about to start university. Ming Li wanted to save some money for her. Although Ming Xi insisted she didn’t need it, Ming Li had never been deprived when she was in university, and she naturally wanted the best for her sister.
To study at the best age, one should stay in an ivory tower and spend four dream-like years. To play and to buy things—all of that required financial support.
But the teacher’s expression was cold. “Does Miss Ming have an objection to my decision?”
“No…” Ming Li didn’t dare argue, especially since this teacher was very old-fashioned. To her surprise, the teacher didn’t stop there, saying coldly: “In that case, please ask the Gu family to find someone more qualified. I cannot teach a student like Miss Ming.”
This was Ming Li’s second lesson with this teacher. During the first lesson, she had been very diligent and her final work was high quality, yet the teacher had still docked ten points. To call her nitpicking was an understatement.
She hadn’t expected that by the second lesson, she would already be down to 70 points. At this rate, she would definitely fail the course.
That would mean her “salary” for the month would be pitifully small.
In the Gu family, Ming Li was called the “Little Madam,” but she was more like a student being trained by Gu Qingshuang’s mother to help secure the family’s assets.
“Teacher, I’m sorry.” Ming Li was upset, but she suppressed her emotions and apologized politely. “My being late today is indeed my fault. But considering the weather, could you be a bit more lenient? Perhaps a ten-point deduction instead…”
“Time is money. Punctuality is the most basic professional quality. Every minute I spent waiting for you is worth one point; I don’t think that’s excessive.” The teacher refused to budge, her tone becoming even harsher. “If Miss Ming finds it inappropriate, you can apply to Madam Gu to have me replaced.”
Ming Li bit her lip.
What right did she have to do that?
“Then consider her replaced.” A cool voice suddenly came from the doorway. “The Gu family has no need for things that bully their superiors.”
“Especially those who bully their employers.”
Ming Li turned her head and saw someone who shouldn’t have been at the Gu residence at this hour: Gu Qingshuang.
