"Alright then..." Su Mei spoke as she unlocked her laptop to type a few quick messages. After five minutes, she turned her head to Cu Anyi.
"Sign here... From now on, you will be my exclusive assistant. Let's go to the temporary hotel where you're staying, pack your bags, and follow me. Oh, I have already sent your resignation to your manager. Since you are a contract employee, your salary up until now will be credited," Su Mei said as she sipped her latte.
"Thank you," Cu Anyi said, deciding that she would repay Su Mei with her actions rather than with empty words.
Soon, they went to an old hotel and packed Cu Anyi's luggage. Su Mei booked a cab to Xi Residence.
"Anyi... I can call you that, right?" Su Mei asked as they both waited for the cab.
"Yes... Yes, Ms. Su," Cu Anyi replied.
"I hope you won't call me Ms. or Young Miss. From now on, you shall be my friend. Call me Su Mei or Meimei. This is because, from now on, this journey won't be a smooth ride. But Anyi, I will protect you," Su Mei said.
"I have nothing to lose. Don't worry, I am aware of your family... but what I can't grasp is what people say about you," Anyi voiced her concern.
"You might have heard about the accident seven years ago, right? Back then, I lost my memory. It was only a few days ago that I regained it," Su Mei explained.
"Oh my god, so now you...?" Anyi began, just as the cab arrived.
"Yes... they kept me alive because I lost my memory. I will fill you in on more details later. But once we reach Xi Residence, I will act as if I haven't regained my memory. You shall be the person who saved me from the accident a few days ago," Su Mei said as she opened the car door.
Cu Anyi was quick-witted and understood what Su Mei was implying.
Within 30 minutes, they reached Xi Residence.
Both got down before the gate and paid the driver. Su Mei passed her laptop and phone to Cu Anyi.
"These are yours from now on... and don't be surprised by whatever you see inside," she said before walking towards the security, asking them to open the gate.
The moment Butler Zheng heard of her arrival, he rushed towards the gate.
"Young Miss... Young Miss, are you alright? Where have you been these last few days? This old man can't bear to live if anything happens to you," he said, examining her with concern.
Su Mei stared at the man who had aged more than she remembered. Although he had been by her side for the past seven years, she had initially kept her distance from him. Now, realizing his unwavering loyalty, she felt a pang of guilt.
"Butler Zheng, I'm back," she replied emotionlessly, cursing herself internally for almost revealing too much.
Although there was a slight panic in Butler Zheng's face, he quickly composed himself as he looked at Su Mei.
"Young Miss... Is everything alright? Who is the young lady beside you?" he asked, eyeing Cu Anyi, who carried two luggage bags.
"She is the reason I am alive right now. I was almost hit by a car a few days ago... she saved me and brought me to the hospital," Su Mei explained.
'Sorry, Senior... let me just give your credit to Anyi for now. Later, I'll make it up to you,' she silently apologized to Mo Hui in her mind.
"Oh... Thank you, Miss. Thank you so much. I can't begin to express how grateful I am for protecting Young Miss," Butler Zheng said, bowing repeatedly.
"It's okay, Mr. Zheng... I... I just did what anyone would do," Cu Anyi replied, embarrassed by the unearned credit.
"She lost her father and has no family, so I asked her to stay with me... Butler Zheng, am I allowed to do that?" Su Mei asked.
"Young Miss, this is your house, and you hold the absolute command. You can bring anyone you want," Butler Zheng replied with the utmost respect.
"Please take her to my room; she will stay with me," Su Mei instructed.
Butler Zheng wanted to suggest providing her with another room but held his tongue, realizing the situation within the residence.
"I am really fine with her in my room. Please take her there," Su Mei insisted, aware of Butler Zheng's concern.
The trio walked inside, only to find Qu Rui sitting on the sofa and Ah Po polishing her nails.
"Su Mei, ah... where did you disappear to these past few days? You know how worried Aunt was?" Qu Rui asked, her tone clearly unbothered as she continued to focus on her nails.
Cu Anyi was speechless. 'Really? Are you really worried?' she silently questioned Qu Rui with her eyes.
"I had an accident, and fortunately, Miss here saved my life," Su Mei said, her expression unreadable.
Qu Rui glanced at Cu Anyi briefly before turning back to her nails, clearly uninterested.
"Huh... one was already a burden, now another has joined," Qu Rui muttered, quickly covering her mouth as if she hadn't meant to say it out loud.
'Wow... is she even human?' Cu Anyi thought, barely restraining herself from wanting to kick Qu Rui's ass.
"Ms. Qu Rui, indeed... with her wealth, Young Miss has been feeding a lot of useless people," Butler Zheng said, stepping in front of Su Mei protectively.
'Way to go, Uncle Zheng,' Cu Anyi felt like clapping and cheering for him but knew better than to show it.
"How dare you...?" Qu Rui started, her face flushing with anger. Before she could take a step further, Su Mei intervened.
"Aunt... you don't think Butler Zheng meant those words for you, do you?" Su Mei asked, her tone calm but pointed, stopping Qu Rui in her tracks.
'Damn, boss hit that b*tch with a checkmate... If she moves, it proves she's leeching off the boss; if she stays put, she'll die of anger... Haha, genius,' Cu Anyi silently praised her new boss.
Indeed, Qu Rui couldn't take another step forward.
"No, no," she said, embarrassed, forcing a giggle as she awkwardly sat back on the sofa. Unable to direct her anger at anyone else, she lashed out at Ah Po.
"How dare you not do these three fingers properly... do it again," Qu Rui roared, making Ah Po helplessly nod and start to redo her work.
"Then I'll take my friend upstairs," Su Mei said expressionlessly, walking away with Butler Zheng and Cu Anyi.
Qu Rui and Ah Po glared at the trio as they left, their eyes filled with anger, as if they wanted to tear all three to pieces.
"Do a background check on that new b*tch. If she's anyone suspicious, get rid of her," Qu Rui ordered Ah Po as she stormed off to her room.
Ah Po nodded, touching her wounded cheek.
'Su Mei, you b*tch... If not for you, I wouldn't have to take this beating... I'll get my revenge,' Ah Po thought as she walked to the kitchen to get an ice pack.