Chapter 377

Page 175

“The two thieves were taken away by the plainclothes police called in by the security guards, and I managed to retrieve this watch. After that, I joined the Tan Family Services to settle down first before making plans for the future… Then, our group received your commission.”

Yin Tianjie narrated the story from her perspective.

It was a cliché tale of a prince saving a princess, but for the “princess” herself, she would never forget it.

“Ling Qing, did you know about this when you commissioned this company?”

When Aunt asked her, Miss Ling Qing shook her head and denied it: “I wasn’t aware beforehand. I just chose a reputable housekeeping company within the city, but perhaps Xiao Man knows something. Miss Yin is directly responsible for her.”

Yin Tianjie pointed at the liquid reservoir on the back of the watch and replied: “Yes, Director Ke knew about my situation. She advised me to join the Tan Family Services first and helped me consider many things, even suggesting I use my spare time to catch up on my high school studies… Although she transformed me like this, I am still very grateful to her.”

Miss Ke Man took the fall for Ba He’s mistake.

With Xia Xia always holding her head high and blinking her big eyes.

“To repay someone by offering oneself? Xia Xia knows! Sister Yin has fallen in love with that brother!”

Look, even such a young child can see through it… But does Xia Xia understand what ‘offering oneself’ means?

But Yin Tianjie quickly denied it.

“There’s nothing like that! I’m a man and have no interest in that kind of thing!”

And this denial was the epitome of being haughty yet endearing.

Aunt immediately smiled: “Now that you’re a woman, it’s understandable to fall in love with the person who saved you when you were in trouble.”

“The one who came to save me isn’t just him; if I had to choose, it should be Ah Yi! Who would like a guy with yellow hair…”

The more Yin Tianjie explained, the quieter she became, and her face turned red. This reaction clearly showed she was moved by a young girl’s feelings.

Aunt Bianfang asked again: “I remember Fanni is Wu Qinglan’s maid, right?”

I flapped my bat wings and landed on her palm, replying: “Yes, Sister Qinglan has two maids.”

Aunt narrowed her eyes.

“So, the boss behind the renovated office building by the river is now dining next door?”

“Miss Fanni is a proper maid from England, hired by Sister Qinglan with a large sum of money. Perhaps they could really afford that abandoned factory area with their savings?”

Although this investment was under Sister Qinglan’s guidance, the final investors should still be Fanni and Margaret. This is how Sister Qinglan rewards them…

But if the renovated office building suffers losses, it would only be exploiting people.

I asked: “Aunt, in your opinion, does that factory area have value?”

“Investments aren’t absolute. That land might be valuable in the long run, but short-term losses are inevitable. The stubborn holdouts in the commercial area won’t last long, but there are more than just the Balance Commercial District interested in that land. At least, I want to secure the land around the low-rent apartments. I plan to build a modern sanatorium there.”

With Grandma’s support, Aunt indeed has the capital to challenge the Xia and Lin families.

However, Yin Tianjie’s attention was somewhat off track.

She asked: “Wait, you called her aunt?”

“Who’s the ball of fur? I said this is a clone! The main body is already eating next door. Hurry up and join us. Mom is already urging us!”

“Who are you people?”

“Xiao Yin, do you believe in magic?”

Aunt threw out an ambiguous question. Before Yin Tianjie could understand, she laughed and said: “To put it in terms you can understand, we are modern witches. And the price of provoking a witch is to repay it with your entire life.”

Yin Tianjie still didn’t understand.

But she didn’t dare to ask further.

—

Only I, Wu Qinglan, Juzi, Youzi, Xiao Bin Yi, and his subordinate were at the table.

Mom magically brought dishes out of the kitchen non-stop, soon filling the entire table. This was the result of her two hours of hard work.

She urged: “Hurry up and finish these plates. I still have the main courses to serve!”

Mom was so enthusiastic that even with Aunt and others not yet arrived, this table was overflowing with food.

“Miss Xiao Wei, you’re too polite. We’re here for high hygiene standards, but instead, we’re sitting and eating at the client’s home…”

Xiao Bin Yi held his chopsticks hesitantly and said: “How about this, after cleaning the exterior this afternoon, we’ll also clean the interior, of course, free of charge, as part of the meal fee?”

“No, we don’t need to trouble you with the indoor cleaning.”

I spoke on behalf of Mom and refused his proposal: “I cleaned the whole house yesterday, so it’s already very clean.”

I spent the whole night scrubbing and wiping. If Xiao Yi and the others cleaned it again, it would feel like all my efforts were for naught.

“Understood, then we’ll leave the professional cleaning to you this afternoon.”

It sounded like a challenging task, especially the stove and the limescale…

After discussing the cleaning with Mom, he looked at me and said: “Miss Ying, actually, I have a question for you.”

I knew what she wanted to ask, so I countered: “Let me guess, you want to ask about my relationship with Ling Meng?”

“…Yes.”

“Ling Meng is my… sister, but she’s gone far away and can’t come back temporarily.”

As soon as Ling Meng was mentioned, the atmosphere at the table turned somber.

Despite noticing this, Xiao Bin Yi still nodded.

“Yes, Miss Ling Meng and you are almost the same… To be honest, I once had some conflicts with her, but looking back, it all seems so foolish.”

Xiao Bin Yi was one of Long Tao’s subordinates before. He wasn’t a significant character, and I had indeed forgotten about him.

“You used to be Sister Tao’s subordinate. I just remembered that.”

“I apologize, I was immature before… Eh? Sister Tao?”

Juzi also squinted her eyes and said to Xiao Bin Yi: “Not to mention, you should visit your former good friend.”

“But her phone is disconnected, and I can’t reach her. You seem to know her well?”

Juzi replied: “We’re close friends. Give me your phone, and I’ll give you her number.”

“Oh, thank you!”

Xiao Bin Yi handed over his phone, visibly relaxed after mentioning Sister Tao’s connection.

“We’re here! Where’s Sister Xiao Wei? Aunt!”

Xia Xia ran in from the entrance, but unlike the food on the table, she found Mom in the kitchen first.

“This child hasn’t changed at all since we last saw her…”

“Aunt hasn’t changed either. Xia Xia loves having her head patted by Aunt!”

“Stop being cute, go taste the food I made.”

Mom picked up a piece of braised meat and fed it to Xia Xia.

Miss Ling Qing and Aunt supported Yin Tianjie into a seat, filling the long table.

“We can start eating now, let’s finish everything!”

Miss Ling Qing laughed bitterly: “Miss Xiao Wei, you should consider the number of women here. How can we eat so much?”

Mom worked too hard. The table filled with chicken, duck, fish, and meat in just two hours, topped off with a giant pot of bone broth. No idea where she got it from. Though we ate late, we were quite full.

Juzi sighed.

“It would be great if Xiao Lei were here. She could definitely clean up.”

This girl must think Lei is a glutton.

Though, in fact, it’s pretty much true…

Ah Yi took charge of the kitchen and dining room cleanup, citing that housekeeping includes washing dishes. Mom was exhausted from battling in the kitchen for an hour, so she didn’t refuse this time. Later, she was dragged into a chat with Aunt about family matters by little Xia Xia.

“Aunt, Xia Xia is going to school tomorrow!”

Xia Xia hugged Mom proudly and said. Mom asked: “Elementary school?”

Aunt Bianfang: “No, I plan to send her straight to Biyang Middle School.”

“Starting middle school right away, will she keep up?”

“Bei Hai values education. This child can keep up with her studies.”

Xia Xia pouted: “Hehe, that’s all thanks to Sister Shan’s teaching!”

“Hmph, Xia Xia will surely make lots of friends.”

Mom held Xia Xia, relaxing and leaning back on the sofa. Soon, she fell asleep. Xia Xia’s return somewhat healed her grief over losing Xiao Kai, and she quickly drifted into a deep sleep due to fatigue.

“I’m full, I’ll go back and clean up.”

Ah Yi hadn’t rested much.

Mom’s generous hospitality made him feel indebted, and with little progress in morning cleaning, he hurried back to the neighboring house to clean.

“Then I’ll… Oh, I need to adjust first.”

To better adapt to the job, Yin Tianjie increased her age to her twenties and put on a hat, then followed Xiao Bin Yi out.

“She’s quite adept with that watch. She doesn’t seem to mind being turned into a woman by Ba He anymore, does she?”

Upon hearing this, Miss Ling Qing, who was close to Ba He, chimed in.

“Xiao Ying, do you think this is punishment? She was successful, but her past was a complete failure. Becoming a woman and starting anew isn’t bad. Plus, she gained the ability to regulate her age, though she’s restrained by the research institute. Ke Man wouldn’t truly harm her.”

Yin Tianjie understood this point, so she didn’t express any dissatisfaction.

“You’re right, but Ba He violated regulations. It can’t be overlooked! Using an incomplete ritual on someone is practically murder!”

“The Boss has already punished her.”

“I don’t think that counts as punishment. You’re too lenient with her, Miss Ling Qing.”

“I am not… I need to take a call.”

The secretary’s phone rang, instantly shifting her expression from relaxed to focused. Seeing the caller, she quickly showed a hint of disdain.

“What is it?”

Her tone was not at all courteous, likely from Grandpa or Zhú Běihǎi, “Understood, I’ll arrange for a video conference.”

After hanging up, she looked at me and said:

“Xiao Ying, good news. Grandpa figured out how to connect to ‘there’.”