Pei Buxian unhappily shifted his gaze and suddenly realized Qiao Chuchu was gone: "Huh? Where’s Qiao Chuchu?!"
Qiao Chuchu had already arrived at the HR department and knocked on the manager’s door.
The manager looked puzzled: "Can I help you?"
Qiao Chuchu spoke confidently: "I’d like to work as a temporary cleaner for a few hours."
The manager: "?"
The manager stared at her, confused: "We’re not short on cleaners, let alone temporary ones."
"I know," Qiao Chuchu stepped closer. "There’s something I need to do."
"Then I definitely can’t agree to that," the manager said, baffled. "Who are you anyway, just showing up and asking to be a cleaner?"
Qiao Chuchu pulled out a prepared red envelope of cash from her pocket: "I’m Pei Che’s eighth sister, the chairman. You can call me Miss Pei."
She then took out a photo, placed it on top of the envelope, and slid it toward the manager: "I just need to borrow the temporary cleaner identity."
The manager was stunned, first looking at the money.
One thousand yuan!
Then she glanced at the photo.
It was a family portrait from seven years ago.
Qiao Chuchu, dressed in a cheongsam, sat properly in the center, with Pei Che on her left and Pei Yuan on her right. Several brothers stood behind them.
It was clear that Qiao Chuchu was the center of the photo, and while her appearance had matured, she was unmistakably the same person.
Ten minutes later, Qiao Chuchu got her wish, dressed in a cleaner’s uniform, holding a mop at the stairwell.
Lin Qing: "..."
Lin Shen: "..."
Pei Fengnong: "..."
Pei Yuan: "..."
Pei Buxian: "..."
Qiao Chuchu tied up her hair and put on a mask she had prepared earlier.
[To understand how things happened, I needed to immerse myself in this environment. If Xia Xuechun was really being bullied, the employee who bullied her had to be removed first, so she couldn’t bully others.]
[The bully couldn’t stay, and the romantic subplot between Xia Xuechun and Pei Che couldn’t start either.]
In the video call, Lin Qing expressed doubt: "The plan sounds good, but can Qiao Chuchu actually do the work?"
Qiao Chuchu picked up the mop and started cleaning diligently.
This was the staff passageway, with both an elevator and stairs. She and Xia Xuechun were assigned to clean the stairs.
A cleaner passing by complimented her: "Are you new? You’re doing a great job."
Qiao Chuchu used a scraper to remove stubborn stains from the floor and smiled: "I’ve done this kind of work before, so it’s easier for me."
[In my past life, I was somewhat of a "jack-of-all-trades"—delivery person, temporary cleaner, cashier, waiter. I’ve done it all, so making the floor shine is no problem!]
Everyone in the video call was momentarily stunned, and a heavy silence fell over them.
Qiao Chuchu worked quietly until she heard a suppressed scolding from upstairs: "You’ve made the stairs like this—how are people supposed to walk down?!"
[Here comes the plot!]
She hurried upstairs and peeked around the corner.
Xia Xuechun and the cleaner lady were arguing.
A large puddle of water covered the marble stairs, dripping down to where Qiao Chuchu stood.
The cleaner lady pointed at the water angrily: "Many employees take the stairs to save time. If someone slips because of this, what then?!"
Xia Xuechun, standing below the cleaner, retorted stubbornly: "Adults don’t just slip! Besides, I’m here to warn them. I like wetting the stairs before mopping."
The lady was furious: "That’s not how we do it here! You’re supposed to clean one step at a time. If the boss sees this, I’ll be blamed for not instructing you properly. I’m the supervisor here, and I’m responsible for this area. Understand?!"
Xia Xuechun sneered: "So you’re just throwing your weight around because I’m new, huh?"
The lady widened her eyes in disbelief: "How can you be so unreasonable? You’re doing the job wrong, and as your supervisor, I can’t even point it out?"
Xia Xuechun scoffed: "Instead of wasting time blaming me, why not let me finish? Once I’m done, it won’t be wet anymore. If someone slips, it’ll be your fault for delaying me."
The lady’s face turned red with anger: "I only told you not to do it this way because it’s dangerous, but you insisted on talking back, saying you’ll do it however you want. That’s why I’m scolding you!"
Xia Xuechun dismissed her: "Why should I listen to you? We’re all human beings, and we’re equal. I don’t have to follow your orders!"
The lady shook her head in frustration: "I’m done talking to you!"
As she turned to go upstairs, her foot slipped, and she leaned back: "Ah!!"
Xia Xuechun was also bumped and lost her footing, tumbling down the stairs: "Ahhh!!!"
Qiao Chuchu reacted quickly, catching Xia Xuechun in her arms!
Xia Xuechun screamed as she fell into Qiao Chuchu’s embrace!
The cleaner lady, gripping the railing, looked back at them in panic: "Are you two okay?!"
Qiao Chuchu was drenched in cold sweat, holding Xia Xuechun tightly: "Are you hurt?"
Xia Xuechun’s face was pale as she slowly stood up: "N-no, I’m fine…"
Qiao Chuchu sighed in relief: [I thought the lady was bullying Xia Xuechun, but it turns out Xia Xuechun was causing trouble again. But since I prevented her from getting hurt, does that mean this chapter’s conflict is over?]
She relaxed: "You’re both fine, so I’ll head out now."
Xia Xuechun turned to her: "Wait, thank you—Qiao Chuchu?!"
Xia Xuechun’s voice rose sharply as she realized the person who saved her was Qiao Chuchu.
Pei Buxian and the others immediately became alert.
Qiao Chuchu turned her head, puzzled: "What?"
Xia Xuechun looked her up and down, nodding in realization: "No wonder that old lady was bullying me—you two were in on it together!"
The cleaner lady: "?"
Qiao Chuchu: "? What are you talking about? You made a mistake, and now you’re trying to blame me?"
Xia Xuechun laughed loudly, unapologetic: "I made a mistake? Mopping the stairs and wetting them is a mistake? You’re just nitpicking!"
Qiao Chuchu shot back: "Did you think I’m deaf? The lady wasn’t blaming you; she was just reminding you not to do it that way next time. But you argued back, and that’s why she got upset. If you hadn’t talked back, none of this would’ve happened."
"Oh, really?" Xia Xuechun pouted. "So you’re saying I should just take it quietly?"
The cleaner lady was so angry she could barely breathe: "How can you be so unreasonable? I’m your supervisor, and I’m just giving you a heads-up. Is that too much to ask?"
"You think I’m stupid? That’s not a heads-up!" Xia Xuechun glared at Qiao Chuchu. "You’re doing this on purpose. You ordered the cleaner to bully me! You’ve bullied me at home, and now you’re doing it here too!"