“Miss, don’t worry. I won’t leave this household.”
He Lilin didn’t interact much with Ji Rui, nor did she bother maintaining the relationship. But since she had promised He De, she would still do her best. And this matter hadn’t required much effort from her anyway.
Ji Rui had been fretting over having no one to vent to. The moment He Lilin arrived, Ji Rui dragged her to the sofa. He Lilin might have looked like a guest, but in reality, she was just an audience, listening to Ji Rui’s grievances and resentment.
“It’s ridiculous! I hired the person, and I paid the money. If she felt unwell, I would have gotten her treated too. How did it turn into me abusing and assaulting her, even stripping me of my right to hire Sern Hired Workers?”
“The law specifies that they are second-class citizens. If they’re second-class, then of course they can’t enjoy the same treatment as us. So how come sharing a few photos gets me in trouble?”
“They’re worried about Bangdu’s image? If the law says it, then they should enforce it properly! Why say one thing and do another? It’s like hanging sheep’s clothing over dog meat!”
After getting lectured by the Wei Investigation Institute and then by Ji Lanmu, Ji Rui had finally toned down her behavior toward the outside world. She put on an act of reforming herself and stopped mentioning Sern Hired Workers to avoid more reports.
But in front of He Lilin, she could let loose without restraint.
Back in middle school, Miss He had been the epitome of rebellion. All the restless teenagers had followed her lead.
And now, with the hired worker scandal making her a target, it had all started with He Lilin too. Confiding in her was the safest bet—better safe than sorry.
Sure enough, not only did Miss He listen attentively, but after hearing it all, she nodded in understanding, empathizing with Ji Rui’s bitter ordeal: she’d shelled out the money, but the worker had run off, and Ji Rui had ended up getting scolded.
Feeling validated, Ji Rui scooted closer by a few inches. “Right? I’m the real victim here! I just wanted to train a reliable hired worker who knew her place, but they painted me as a terrible employer, even banning my account. I have all this pent-up frustration with nowhere to vent!”
She claimed she had nowhere to vent, but she’d already spilled everything to He Lilin. Not forgetting her studious side, she humbly asked for advice. “I see you have Sern Hired Workers too. You use them smoothly without any issues. How do you do it? Teach me!”
He Lilin remained impassive, glancing at her.
This girl had lost her hiring rights and still wanted lessons. Even if she learned, where would she apply them?
“I treat them like regular hired workers. I pay money, they do the work.”
“I remember back in middle school, Duo Lin was always ungrateful. You kindly tried to befriend her, but she snubbed you and kept avoiding you on purpose. How’s she now? Have you straightened her out?”
The corner of He Lilin’s mouth twitched, its meaning unclear—whether in dissatisfaction or disdain.
“It’s not about straightening her out. She spends every day with me now. That’s her job. Willing or not, she has to do it.”
Ji Rui burst into laughter. She’d been full of deep-seated hatred moments ago, but now she beamed with joy, as if He Lilin had kicked the Police Bureau, the Guard Institute, and Ji Lanmu each once, avenging her completely and delighting her heart.
“Hahaha, that’s satisfying! That’s the ultimate revenge script. She used to brush you off, but now her job is to fuss over you daily, and you even grade her. If you’re not satisfied, she has to redo it. How are you so good at slapping faces!?”
He Lilin smiled too. After all, she was a guest in someone else’s home; she had to match the mood a bit. “From what you said, she should be the one plotting revenge now.”
“No, no,” Ji Rui denied repeatedly. “Don’t worry, she wouldn’t dare. If anything happened to you, she’d be the first to suffer. But stay vigilant. Lots of new companies have opened in the city lately, and many Sern Hired Workers are running off. Watch out in case she gets ideas!”
…
In the room, the young ladies were playing board games. The next activity was barbecue, but they didn’t need to lift a finger. The hired workers had everything ready in the kitchen. Each wore an apron and gloves, holding tongs as they gathered around the grill, flipping sausages and sardines now and then to ensure even cooking.
The aroma of the meats was already enticing, enhanced by red wine and rosemary, enough to whet anyone’s appetite and make their mouths water.
Even through the gloves, the workers’ fingers picked up the rich fragrance. The tongs doubled as utensils—grill, eat, enjoy on the spot.
But once the food was ready, it was neatly arranged on porcelain platters alongside bulgur salad and rosé wine. This wasn’t their lunch; they were just the delivery crew.
For hygiene, the hired workers all wore masks.
The heat from grilling billowed in waves. The masks impeded breathing and made their faces stuffy, causing the workers to furrow their brows. They occasionally removed them to catch their breath and wipe sweat.
But Duo Lin remained calm and composed, as if her mask had built-in ventilation to keep things fresh inside.
Not only that, but she split her attention: five parts on the grill, the rest on her companions, as if inspecting their techniques or attitudes.
Besides Duo Lin, there were three other hired workers, all meeting her for the first time. Seeing her masked face with cold eyes peeking out, they didn’t dare greet her. They just focused on their tasks. The air above the grill was scorching, but the atmosphere stayed chilly.
After wiping her sweat, Si Bailing grew drowsy. She missed a shrimp with her tongs, and it bounced right in front of Duo Lin, nearly landing on her.
“Sorry, did it burn you?”
“No,” Duo Lin wrapped the shrimp in a cloth and tossed it away. Amusement showed in her masked eyes. “Looks like this little shrimp doesn’t want to be eaten.”
“Hahaha, yeah,” Si Bailing relaxed a bit now that Duo Lin seemed approachable. “Did you come with Miss He?”
“Yes. Miss He knows I’m good at grilling, so she brought me along to let her friends try it. But today, I see everyone’s skilled. The young ladies are in for a feast.”
The meats were nearly done, glistening with oil on the round platters. Ting Na grabbed the pepper and cumin shakers and carried them into the board game room. The game seemed in full swing; the ladies weren’t ready to emerge.
With meats finished, next came seafood and vegetables, which demanded more precise technique—timing and positioning for flips.
But with focus on the grill, it didn’t stop them from chatting animatedly through their masks.
“My grilling skills came from a friend. We used to meet occasionally, but she job-hopped, and I haven’t seen her since.”
Job-hopping was a novel concept for them. Usually, it was employers firing workers. If a worker quit voluntarily, they risked a bad review from the employer—like a criminal record. No company or employer would touch them easily.
“What made her switch jobs?”
“She heard a bunch of foreign companies opened near Northern Ring Tech Park and were hiring widely. She gave it a shot and got in. They provide food and lodging; she lives in the Northern Ring area now.”
Ting Na returned just in time to catch this, tongs in hand, and jumped into the conversation. “Did her employer approve?”
“No,” Duo Lin’s expression returned to its usual indifference, though her voice brimmed with emotion, drawing them in. “Her employer let her go thinking she’d fail spectacularly. Didn’t expect her to get the offer.”
Qin Yi listened raptly, glancing up at her now and then. “These foreign companies have such lax standards?”
In their outdated view, foreign firms had higher bars than local Bangdu ones—degrees, experience, skills. Sern Hired Workers job-hopping? Even local companies shunned them as troublemakers. Yet foreign ones hired them!?
“Yeah, but foreign entrepreneurs set up here for cheap labor. As long as skills match and wage expectations are low, it’s fine. That’s our… my friend’s strong suit.”
“Sounds great,” Si Bailing wiped her hands. “What’s the pay like there?”
“I only saw her once. She looked plumper, much more spirited. She said the company has a communal gym, but she’s too lazy to go—hence the double chin.”
Qin Yi’s gaze grew bolder, settling on her. “Can she use the gym freely?”
“Sure. She didn’t specify rules. She even invited me. I’m tempted.”
Duo Lin kept busy with her mouth but focused intently on the tongs. The other girls’ eyes darted wildly, then they exchanged knowing looks. Only then did they carry the platters to serve the meal.
…
He Lilin’s hair was permed regularly into beautiful wavy patterns, like rippling water cascading over her neck and back.
Her features carried a natural, radiant charm. In conversation, her glances sparkled, her eyelashes shimmering. Besides glossy, voluminous curls, no hairstyle suited her deep, vivid face better.
Big curls complemented her, but styling was a hassle—not for her, but for her hired worker. Mainly for Duo Lin, the professional stylist.
Duo Lin wielded a wide-tooth comb, starting from the ends and working up. Her technique was expert: untangling knots with minimal damage, preserving the curls’ shape.
Usually, He Lilin would either skincare in front of the mirror or read quietly on her tablet.
When reading, aromatherapy and fruit wine were essentials. No one savored life like Eldest Miss He—whether services from others or ambient luxuries.
Tonight, the bedside lamp glowed, mirror set before her. He Lilin squeezed out some hand cream and rubbed her palms together.
Duo Lin’s comb had reached mid-length. The thick hair curved in a half-moon arc, draping to her cheek.
She reached for it, but as her fingers brushed the strands, her hand was seized—hair and all, gripped in a palm.
After spending so much time with He Lilin, Duo Lin was used to anything. Even mundane moments could turn into tempests under her, splashing waves everywhere.
This time, with her left hand caught, Duo Lin stayed composed. “Miss, what’s wrong?”
What madness now?
He Lilin released her hand and shifted. “I notice your hair’s always tied up. Who knows if it’s knotted inside. Want me to comb it for you?”
She stood, gripped Duo Lin’s shoulders, and pressed her into the wooden chair. In the next instant, she undid the hair tie.
Too fast for reaction. Duo Lin’s calm heart raced. She glanced at the door—thankfully closed, no sounds outside.
No one could see this, especially not Lan Zhijing. He Lilin would be fine, but Duo Lin’s pay would vanish.
A hired worker letting her disheveled employer comb her hair? Mildly unethical at best, outright insubordinate at worst.
With the tie off, deep brown strands bloomed between He Lilin’s fingers, soon filling her palms. Using fingers as a comb, she smoothed them, then picked up a vent brush, stroking from root to tip—like dressing a doll, aiming for satin-smooth shine.
Duo Lin sat straight, back not touching the chairback, hands primly on her thighs. Used to working, sudden idleness left her unsure where to place them.
From the mirror, she studied the other woman. He Lilin gazed down, lips curved in enjoyment.
“You’ve been going out a lot lately. Wherever I go, you follow. You’ve met all my friends now, right?”
“Yes, Miss has many friends. I’ve been fortunate to meet quite a few.”
“Right. Not just them—you’ve met their hired workers too. Chatted a lot, haven’t you?”
Duo Lin’s fingers intertwined, then clenched. “When working together, we talk daily topics. Everyone’s friendly.”
He Lilin suddenly lifted her eyes, shooting a sharp glance at the mirror’s reflection. “So, are you all satisfied with your employers’ treatment?”
Duo Lin met her gaze. “I don’t know about them, but I’m satisfied. Miss even combs my hair for me. Where else would I find such a good employer?”
Her cheeks had long marinated in resentment, forming a shell of detachment. Even shifting for cover, old habits died hard.
Like now—irritation flickered at her eye’s corner, but she forced a smile to dispel the hate in her eyes.
He Lilin toyed with the hair, glancing at the mirror’s her now and then. Was she combing hair or moods?
“Besides combing your hair, I’ve taken you everywhere too, like you suggested: jewelry market for necklaces, pet store browsing.”
She paused, expression steady, but pivoted. “But I know what you’re up to. You don’t follow to accompany me—you get close to your Sern friends, pass messages, urge them to job-hop.”
A sharp tug from above—brush snagged a knot, yanking scalp. Duo Lin’s head jerked, but she steadied with a hand. He Lilin gripped above the tangle, halting the pull.
She lowered her lashes again, focusing on smoothing.
“No matter. Persuade whoever. Even Mr. He if you want. But you, Duo Lin—don’t even think it. You won’t leave this household!”
The words came light, but pauses dripped threat. Duo Lin inhaled it deeply, then exhaled softly.
“Miss, don’t worry. I won’t leave this household. Even if someone drives me out or drags me away someday, I won’t go.”
After all, I plan to stay and witness this household’s downfall with my own eyes!
