Ji Wanyun’s expression nearly cracked at the question—was that really the point?
Fortunately, she had anticipated this. Reacting quickly, she let guilt surface on her face.
“My apologies, Master Fu. It was my oversight. This maid is new and unfamiliar with the villa, so she took it upon herself… to clean the Second Young Madam’s room.”
Fu Huaishan’s gaze lingered on her face with unreadable meaning for a moment before he turned and strode briskly into the villa.
That single look sent Ji Wanyun’s heart racing. She felt as though Master Fu was deeply displeased with her, and cold sweat began to bead in her palms.
Then she reconsidered—Master Fu was a man of strict rules and discipline, and her failure to manage the servants would naturally disappoint him somewhat.
Ji Wanyun bit her lower lip, continuously reassuring herself that she was only helping Huaishan get rid of that shameless woman.
As long as she successfully drove Li Qianqian away this time, with her work capabilities, making Huaishan think highly of her again would be effortless.
The two entered the bright living room one after another and saw a group of servants standing in the center with Li Qianqian.
Five shirts lay on the sofa, the most conspicuous one covered in lipstick marks.
Li Qianqian had seen it the moment she walked in—the shirt she hadn’t yet dealt with was exposed, and one was missing. She went into her room to look around and found that wasn’t all.
Her fingertips lightly scrolled across her phone. After finishing the video, she raised her head and swept her gaze over the servants, speaking in a measured tone: “Who entered my room?”
“Second Young Madam, at this point, does that still matter? All of these were found in your room.”
The maid Wang Chunhua spat out the words, unable to comprehend Li Qianqian’s logic.
“You. Pack your things and leave. The Fu family doesn’t need a maid who can’t answer the question asked.”
Li Qianqian let out a soft laugh, her gentle, warm tone delivering the cruelest words.
Wang Chunhua froze at the words. The Fu family’s wages were more than double what one could earn elsewhere, not to mention the various benefits. Anyone who managed to get hired here wouldn’t willingly leave.
She naturally couldn’t bear to go just like that, so she raised her voice: “You can’t fire me over this! I haven’t done anything wrong, and I wasn’t the one who entered your room.”
“Do I need a reason to fire a maid? The mere fact that you don’t suit my fancy is reason enough to dismiss you.”
A faint smile lingered on Li Qianqian’s lips, loose strands of hair falling on either side of her face, giving her a disheveled beauty that made her look all the more like a composed lady of a wealthy household.
Wang Chunhua’s face turned pale in an instant. She was at a loss for words. If Li Qianqian had broken down and argued with her as she used to, she could have played the victim.
But instead, she hid a knife behind her smile, and the reason she gave was impossible to refute.
Wang Chunhua said indignantly, “You… you’re being completely unreasonable…”
“Second Young Madam, isn’t it a bit rash to fire a maid like this?”
Ji Wanyun couldn’t bear to watch Li Qianqian throw her weight around like this. No matter what, this household wasn’t hers to rule.
“Is it your place to lecture me? If you don’t want to work here either, you’re welcome to pack your things and leave as well.”
Li Qianqian’s measured words effortlessly deflected her question.
Ji Wanyun was furious at the latter part—was she implying she’d fire her too?
Who did Li Qianqian think she was? Ji Wanyun had worked diligently at the Fu household for three years and had a personal rapport with Huaishan. What right did Li Qianqian have to fire her?
But there was no way she could go to the Old Madam, so she could only turn her gaze to the man beside her.
“Master Fu, this…”
“Big Brother, I’ll give you an explanation about your shirts, but I’ll need some time.” Li Qianqian remained calm and composed on the surface.
“Mm. I don’t interfere with household matters. Handle it as you see fit.” Fu Huaishan swept past the crowd of servants and headed upstairs with brisk steps.
Ji Wanyun felt a twinge of disappointment, though she was used to it. Huaishan had always been indifferent and uninvolved.
Watching Li Qianqian put on airs, she felt a surge of mockery inside. With the evidence and witnesses all present, no amount of explanation would help—it was just the struggle before death.
She swallowed her anger and said, “Second Young Madam, I am devoted to the Fu family—diligent, responsible, and giving my all. Naturally, I wish to continue working here long-term.”
“That’s for the best.” Li Qianqian let out a soft laugh, then cast a stern look around the room.
“The servants in this household are each assigned to specific areas. If no one identifies the person who cleaned my room, and you all choose to shield one another, then I suppose it’s time for a complete overhaul of the Fu family’s staff.”
These words landed heavily on everyone’s hearts. Even the servants who had only wanted to watch the drama could no longer stand idly by. They all knew what mattered more—who would ruin their own future to protect a stranger?
Immediately, someone stepped forward and pointed at the young girl with twin ponytails in the crowd.
“Second Young Madam, she’s the one who cleaned your room!”
The youthful girl with twin ponytails no longer hid. She stepped forward and spoke up on her own:
“I’m sorry. I’m here as a part-timer to earn some tuition money. I didn’t know I wasn’t allowed in your room.”
“It’s you.” Li Qianqian’s gaze settled on her youthful, unformed face, laden with meaning.
“Xinxin is just trying to lighten the burden on her parents. How can anyone lack compassion?”
Wang Chunhua deliberately muttered loudly. Since she was going to be fired anyway, she might as well make sure Li Qianqian didn’t come out of this looking good.
Her niece had come for a day of part-time work solely to find the shirt in Li Qianqian’s room, and getting kicked out was part of their plan all along.
Housekeeper Ji was the young miss of the Ji family—everyone knew exactly why she’d taken a job as a housekeeper. She was the future Young Madam Fu.
Once this was done, Housekeeper Ji had not only promised them a large sum of money on top, but she would also promote her in the future!
“Auntie, you don’t need to defend me. It’s all my fault, and I’ve dragged you into this too. I was too eager and proactive. Second Young Madam, I’ll leave on my own—I won’t put you in a difficult position.”
Xinxin bent down and gave a deep bow, then turned to leave.
The exchange between the two moved the servants present—after all, not many children these days were willing to take on part-time work—but no one dared to speak up.
Li Qianqian’s recent show of authority had made them all cautious.
“Hold on. Who said you could leave?” Li Qianqian called out to stop her, unhurried and calm.
Her high heels clicked against the floor as she slowly circled around to stand before Xinxin, letting out a low laugh. “You think you can just take something from my room and walk away? Things aren’t that easy in this world.”
Hearing this, Xinxin’s body gradually stiffened, and sweat soaked through her back.
She hadn’t expected this madam to notice so quickly—she’d deliberately picked out small accessories.
Fortunately, she’d also checked that there were no cameras in the room. As long as she stubbornly denied it, she’d be fine.
She lifted her head defiantly, her voice ringing clear: “Madam, I did not steal anything from you. You can insult my dignity, but you cannot insult my character!”
“Second Young Madam, you can’t just pin this on my niece because your own theft of Master Fu’s shirt was exposed. She’s an honest girl—how could she possibly take your things!”
Wang Chunhua stepped forward urgently, her back held straight. If this were blown out of proportion, it would be slander, and the psychological damage to the child in front of so many people would be severe.
Compensation for emotional distress and the like would be perfectly reasonable. At the thought of making a nice profit before leaving, she grew even more agitated.