The little useless system was practically screaming itself hoarse.
Lu Rao thought, How bad could it be?
Then she went in and saw it—and she almost laughed out of anger.
Qiao Shuxin really had some nerve. She was actually trying to take over her room?
Her brain must be malfunctioning.
“Miss, you’re back.” Aunt Wang immediately came over with a bowl of ginger tea when she saw Lu Rao return. “Drink this to warm your throat first, then go upstairs and deal with that damned thing.”
Lu Rao thought Aunt Wang was quite a character.
“Alright.”
She took the ginger tea, drank it in one go, then headed upstairs.
There was chaos above.
When Lu Rao arrived, Qiao Shuxin was standing at the door of her bedroom, instructing her people to carry in two thick cotton quilts.
“Miss…” The workers instinctively stepped back when they saw Lu Rao. The word “Miss” was already on their lips, but they swallowed it back after seeing Qiao Shuxin.
Qiao Shuxin also saw Lu Rao. She curled her lips in provocation and gave a fake innocent smile.
“Sorry, but I’m the real young lady of the Lu family now. This room used to be yours—but now it’s mine.”
Lu Rao glanced at her room. Several items were already inside.
She remembered Qiao Shuxin only came with a shabby bundle when she arrived. Now she’d even moved things from the guest room into here?
Not missing a single advantage, huh.
Perfect. These were originally Lu family belongings anyway—she’d just take them back.
Lu Rao tilted her chin at the two men carrying quilts.
“Put them inside.”
The two workers looked relieved and quickly carried the quilts into the room.
But they were still uneasy. They had worked for the Lu family for ten years and had never been allowed into the young lady’s bedroom before.
Seeing this, Qiao Shuxin smiled smugly at Lu Rao.
“You’re quite decent. At least you can listen.”
Lu Rao almost laughed out of anger. Was she seriously trying to disgust her?
After the workers finished and came out, Lu Rao waved at them.
“Alright. You’re fired. Go settle your pay with the butler tomorrow.”
“What? Fired us?” The two were stunned and immediately looked toward Qiao Shuxin for help.
Qiao Shuxin’s smile vanished instantly. “On what authority are you firing them? I am the young lady of the Lu family now. You have no right to make decisions here.”
Lu Rao looked at them calmly.
“Did I say I don’t have the right?”
The two men clenched their fists tightly.
But this was the Lu household. The one who paid their wages was still Lu Rao. They couldn’t argue.
In the end, they glared at Qiao Shuxin and left in anger.
Qiao Shuxin staggered back a step, clutching her chest in shock.
“You… you!”
“Enough.” Lu Rao interrupted lazily. “Don’t praise me. I’m not as nice as you think.”
Qiao Shuxin frowned deeply. She felt something was off about Lu Rao—but couldn’t pinpoint what.
Then she said coldly, “From now on, this room is mine. You sleep in the guest room tonight and leave the Lu family tomorrow.”
Lu Rao gave a faint smile.
This level of stupidity was honestly impressive.
Before she could respond, a man suddenly rushed out from the adjacent master bedroom and blocked Lu Rao.
“Miss Lu, please don’t hit her. Miss Qiao is weak—she can’t take your fists.”
Lu Rao paused.
“Oh? Li Jianye?”
She hadn’t expected it to be him.
This was the beggar her father had once brought home and given work to—told to protect her.
And now…
Seeing him come out of the master bedroom, Lu Rao’s expression darkened instantly.
There was a carved cabinet being dragged out of her parents’ room.
Qiao Shuxin actually dared to touch her parents’ belongings.
Lu Rao’s eyes turned cold.
“Put it back.”
The worker hesitated, then looked at Qiao Shuxin.
“This is my house! What’s wrong with me taking something from my father?” Qiao Shuxin shouted.
Lu Rao narrowed her eyes.
Her father?
She really dared to say that?
Without another word, Lu Rao looked at the worker.
“Put it back. Now.”
The man shuddered violently and immediately ran back inside with the cabinet.
Li Jianye frowned. “Miss Lu, please don’t make things difficult for Miss Qiao. She suffered in the countryside—taking a few things is only fair.”
Lu Rao looked at him expressionlessly.
“Li Jianye. You knelt before my father and swore you’d protect me for life. Now that I’m not the ‘real’ young lady, you’re switching sides?”
“I…” He stiffened, glancing at Qiao Shuxin, torn.
Lu Rao smiled faintly.
“Interesting.”
Without warning—
Smack!
One slap landed hard on Li Jianye’s face.
He staggered back in shock.
Before anyone could react—
Smack!
A second slap landed on Qiao Shuxin’s face.
“Fuck your protagonist halo,” Lu Rao said coldly.
She wasn’t done.
Smack!
A third slap.
“You dare touch my parents’ things? You’re asking for death.”
Qiao Shuxin covered her face, coughing up blood, eyes wide in disbelief.
“You… you hit me?”
She had been beaten by Gu Yucheng before—but now even Lu Rao dared to hit her?
She raised her hand to strike back.
Smack!
Another slap landed.
Lu Rao’s voice was icy.
“Go ask your ‘father’ why I can’t hit you.”
The word father was emphasized heavily.
Lu Rao turned and walked into her room, slamming the door shut behind her.
Qiao Shuxin stood frozen for a full ten seconds.
Then she finally snapped back to reality.
“Aaah—!”
Inside her mind, the system buzzed cheerfully.
【Loot successfully collected.】
【Loot successfully collected!!】