Xixi, Mom Wants to See You

When Chu Tianqing appeared before Jiang Lean again, Jiang Lean's attitude was noticeably better.

"Do you really love cleaning toilets?" Jiang Lean asked, puzzled. "Even if you're no longer part of the Shen family, I heard you got into Jin University. You graduated from a prestigious university. Surely you could find a job without much trouble?"

"I didn't get in on my own. My former dad donated a building to Jin University, so I got to study there," Chu Tianqing said with a shrug, unconcerned. "Besides, you know I offended a lot of people. If I went back to my old circles, they'd trample me to death."

Jiang Lean's eyes flickered. She really wanted to see her trampled to death.

Chu Tianqing put on her mask and said with a smile, "Enough about that. I learned a few new tricks from the cleaning lady, and I'm going to try them out in the cesspit. We'll chat later."

Chu Tianqing left with her cleaning kit. Seeing how carefree she was, Jiang Lean hesitated again.

She's already gotten her comeuppance. Should I still keep going?

Chu Tianqing didn't notice Jiang Lean's inner struggle, or rather, even if she had, she wouldn't have said anything.

As the one who started it all, any words of comfort from her would have sounded like moral coercion. She would do her best to do what she should; the rest depended on Jiang Lean coming to terms with it herself.

Back to cleaning toilets, Chu Tianqing was clearly much more experienced and no longer locked horns with that bunch.

From midnight until three in the morning, she stayed out of the toilets and found somewhere to rest. Once they were done blowing up the cesspit, she came back and cleaned it all up at once.

By that reckoning, she only had to work about five hours a night.

The more Chu Tianqing thought about it, the happier she was, and she worked with boundless energy.

To everyone else, however, Chu Tianqing seemed strange.

One of the girls who knew Jiang Lean well came over and asked her, "Hey, is there something wrong with your new friend's brain? She's not bad-looking, so why does she insist on cleaning toilets?"

"She is... not very sharp," Jiang Lean said with a smile, half in jest and half in earnest. "If she went to drink with the customers, she'd probably offend every last one of them."

The girl took her at her word and went out gossiping, telling others that there was something wrong with Jiang Lean's friend's brain.

One person told two, and two told three, until the story became that Chu Tianqing had once had cerebral palsy.

The girls at the bar sighed over it, and from then on they were even kinder to Chu Tianqing. They would come over now and then to coax her into chatting and bring her all sorts of snacks and fruit.

Chu Tianqing was delighted. This workplace is amazing! Everyone likes me so much. It feels wonderful!

By contrast, in her previous life, she had finally managed to find a job after graduating, only to end up with a bizarre boss. She had worked overtime until nine every day and had to go mountain climbing for team building on weekends. It had left her exhausted in body and mind and sent her to her death. The whole story was enough to bring tears to her eyes.

Chu Tianqing couldn't help thinking that if she had been a little more carefree in her previous life and had been brave enough to quit when she was unhappy at work, she wouldn't have been struck by lightning or lost her life.

So in this life, she had to live well. The next time something made her unhappy, she had to be braver.

At four in the morning, the bar closed and the workday ended.

The girls gathered in groups of three and five and invited Chu Tianqing to breakfast.

Right behind the bar street was a breakfast street, catering specifically to customers who had been out having fun all night and employees who had worked through it.

After staying up all night, employees and customers alike looked as though their kidneys had been drained. But once they had a bowl of red date and pumpkin congee in their stomachs, they came back to life.

Everyone chatted and laughed about money, men, gossip, and manicures, while Chu Tianqing listened with great interest.

Suddenly, someone asked her, "Xixi, have you ever had a boyfriend?"

Chu Tianqing still wasn't used to the name Shen Xixi. She froze for a moment before answering, "Me? No, no, I've never had one."

Her slow response only lent more weight to the rumor that she had once had cerebral palsy.

The older girls looked at her affectionately and urged her with concern, "It's good that you haven't. Don't get one in the future, either. Men are all liars, so don't believe a single word of their bullshit."

Another added, "If anyone tries to pick you up, you must bring him to us first. Let your big sisters use these eyes of ours, which have seen countless men, to size him up for you."

Chu Tianqing was deeply moved. Other than family, who else would care about me like this? They really are a wonderful bunch of big sisters!

And so a pleasant week passed, and Chu Tianqing had grown accustomed to working at the bar.

Between midnight and three, she would change out of her cleaning uniform and sneak out to have fun.

She was so happy every day that she forgot all about the Shen family, until Shen Heng came looking for her.

It was a weekend, at eight in the evening. Chu Tianqing had just started work and was diligently cleaning the toilet floor.

A pair of men's black leather shoes suddenly appeared in the doorway. Without looking up, she said, "Sir, the floor was just cleaned. Please watch your step; it's slippery."

When she finished speaking, the shoes still didn't move. Chu Tianqing slowly raised her head and found herself looking straight at Shen Heng's expressionless face.

"Brother, it's you!" Chu Tianqing exclaimed in delight.

Shen Heng grunted in acknowledgment and surveyed her workplace, still unable to accept it. "Do you... really like cleaning toilets that much?"

Of course not. There were many complicated reasons, including Jiang Lean, her own desire for a change of scenery, and the chance to earn some money while she was at it.

But explaining all that to Shen Heng was too much trouble. She nodded silently and said with a perfectly straight face, "I do. It's a great stress reliever."

Shen Heng closed his eyes and took a moment to compose himself, then tilted his head toward the door. "Come out and talk. Tell me what's stressing you out."

Chu Tianqing glanced back at the toilet. She was just about finished, so she nodded and took off her gloves. "Let's go sit outside, then."

There were still very few people outside, and an overplayed love song was playing on the stage.

Chu Tianqing led Shen Heng over to the booths and asked warmly, "Brother, would you like something to drink? I know this place well. The mango juice is the best. Want a glass?"

"No, I'm allergic to mangoes." Shen Heng sat down and pointed to the seat opposite him. "Sit. Don't fuss over me. There's something I need to tell you."

Chu Tianqing smiled awkwardly and stopped fussing, obediently sitting down across from him.

"You seem to be doing well," Shen Heng said, raising his eyes to her. Then he asked unhurriedly, "You said you were stressed just now. What about?"

Chu Tianqing thought for a moment and answered seriously, "About finding my place in life. Brother, have you ever heard the saying that the most important thing in life is finding your place? I lost the place I had before, and now I've started looking for it again. I haven't found it yet, so I'm stressed."

Shen Heng watched her intently and nodded slightly in approval. "I understand. It's already remarkable that you've come to that realization in such a short time."

For some reason, Chu Tianqing felt especially happy to receive Shen Heng's praise.

She grinned foolishly for a while before suddenly remembering. "Oh, right, Brother, didn't you say you had something to tell me? What is it?"

Shen Heng was clearly conflicted. He leaned forward, interlaced his fingers on the table, and said solemnly, "Xixi, Mom wants to see you."